Firepower Research Paper

Cavalry formations have historically combined a higher mobility, with greater firepower to allow both stealthy and forceful maneuver. Employing M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles (CFVs), M1127 Stryker Reconnaissance Vehicles (RVs) light-armored High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and at times, small off-road vehicles, they have also benefited from the added capabilities of integrating more firepower, such as the M1A2 Series Main Battle tank, and the M1128 Stryker Mobile Gun System. LTG H.R. McMaster, who commanded the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment during Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-06 (OIF III), remarked that the mechanized cavalry possessed the lethality and survivability required to enable corps and divisions to “move unimpeded,
The situational awareness that is attained by ground commanders, in both linear and non-linear environments, (from the integration of organic AH-64D Longbow and OH-58D Kiowa aircraft) is unparalleled, with both airframes also providing ample firepower to support troopers on the ground. While the BCT cavalry squadrons also benefit from the added capabilities of air-ground integration, the support that BCT scouts receive is purely external. This might not sound like an issue, but there is a direct correlation between a pilot who is directly assigned to your cavalry formation (in the regimented system), and the level of support they provide to troopers on the ground, and a pilot who is not. Bottom line; aviation, coupled with echeloned fires, has the capability to greatly enhance command-potential on the
By virtue of the cavalry’s mission, they are arguably in the best position to utilize and assess a wide variety of emerging battlefield