4 New Armored Cavalry Graphics (US, France, Spain, Italy)
Four new modern day armored cavalry company graphics.
1. US Army Stryker Cavalry Weapons Troop before the Stryker MGS's retirement this year. It provides direct fire support (MGS) and anti-tank capabilities (ATGM) as direct attachments to Cavalry Troops and Infantry Battalions within Stryker BCTs. This type of troop was created in 2016 once Stryker ATGMs and Stryker MGSs were consolidated from the Brigade Engineer Battalion and Rifle Companies respectively in order to increase readiness by centralizing gunnery and maintenance (and reducing the number of Stryker MGSs authorized to the brigade from 27 to 12 officially).
2. French Army Wheeled Gun Squadron equipped with the AMX-10RC and VBL. These squadrons provide direct fire capabilities to brigades that lack Leclerc MBTs, either supporting infantry task forces or being the prominent maneuver force in ad hoc battalion task forces (GTIAs). In the future the AMX-10RC is slated to be replaced in its role by the EBRC Jaguar.
3. Spanish Army Cavalry Squadron equipped with the Leopard 2E and VEC-M1. These are the reconnaissance elements of Spain's heavy brigades. Spain's 6 Armored Cavalry Groups has a Staff/Service Squadron and 2 Maneuver Squadrons (this). Light Armored Cavalry Groups in other brigades are similar, but have Italian Centauro wheeled tank destroyers rather than Leopards.
4. Italian Army Reconnaissance Squadron equipped with B1 Centauros and Iveco LMVs. These are the primary reconnaissance elements of Italy's brigades. A Brigade Reconnaissance Squadrons Group currently has 3 Recon Squadrons (this) and a Heavy Armour Squadron, which has platoons with 4 Centauros. In the Recon Squadron, the Centauros provide direct fire support and security to lighter recon teams and fight for information, while the Heavy Armour Squadron's Centauros act more as light tanks for tasks such as counterattacking or conducting penetrations. B1 Centauros in the Recon Squadrons will be replaced by Freccias and those in the Heavy Armoured Squadron will be replaced with the upgunned (120mm) Centauro II.
Comments (4)
It may be wishful thinking to hope the MGS returns. I am still very much interested in an assault gun for the infantry.
Also two of the four Strykers in a platoon will have a CROWS-J with can shoot a Javelin, not to mention the two other CLUs the dismounts have that can shoot javelins. That’s four Javelin’s per platoon. Very robust ATGM capability from a infantry platoon
Since the Stryker MGS is being removed from service, I wonder how that will affect the Weapons Troop. Will they gain more ATGMs or the new MPF?
I think it's too early to tell, but I don't think the MGS will be offset with more Stryker ATGMs because they fulfill different functions. My speculation is they saw the Stryker Dragoon is capable of fulfilling many of the MGS's functions and wanted to free up funds and manpower for their other Stryker modernization efforts. The MPF won't be in Stryker units though. The intent is for an MPF battalion in light infantry divisions (including airborne and air assault) which will attach companies to IBCTs within the division. Stryker brigades will coexist with ABCTs in standard heavy divisions under Waypoint, so if the Strykers need a protected mobile gun they could likely form a task force with attached Abrams.