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Because I have the time today I started surfing and found a copy of the last Cavalry manual put out by the US Army. It is FM 2-5 Cavalry Drill Manual, Horse 13 March 1944. I was surprised because I though the last edition of the Cavalry manual was 1938. The last Horse Cavalry unit dismounted in 1941 so I have no idea why they produced an updated manual, especially since there were no plans to reintroduce Horse Cavalry after the war. Ironically, the army has dusted off some of their old horse and mule manuals because pack animals have been and are being used in Afghanistan. I have heard a rumor that the army has even bought some pack frames built according to WWII specs for use in Afghanistan, I do not know if that is true though.Interesting manual. Especially for a modern cavalryman like myself.
Have you seen what DARPA is trying to make with robots just for this purpose? Four-legged robotic dogs are being developed as pack units.
It's neat to hear that so-called “outdated” technology or know-how from ages past gets dusted off from time to time to benefit us in our modern day. In cases of mass power outages (or war), you can pretty much be assured that we'd be scrambling to find that kind of knowledge in order to live.
Sorry, I will take a good old-fashioned biological mule over a robot any day. Technology is not the panacea that many make it out to be. Friends of mine who have been to Afghanistan tell me there are places up north where it is literally impossible to drive and aerial resupply or pack mule is the only way to go. Weather also shuts down most flying for a good part of the year. I have even heard stories of casualties getting evacced by mule because the Medevac birds could not fly.
Ironically, the army has dusted off some of their old horse and mule manuals because pack animals have been and are being used in Afghanistan. I have heard a rumor that the army has even bought some pack frames built according to WWII specs for use in Afghanistan, I do not know if that is true though.Interesting manual. Especially for a modern cavalryman like myself.
An eduring legacy in the Marine Corps is the "Small Wars Manual" published back in the 1930s. This book is such a treasure trove of accumulated knowledge that it was "highly recommended" reading even back in the 1980s and experienced a resurgence of sorts when we went into Afghanistan. This book has everything from lessons learned in packing mules and horses to jungle patrolling and working with the local gendarmerie.Concerning robots versus biologicals -- it's always easier to find fodder in the countryside than it is to find batteries or power for recharging.(Scout - is that a Wallace and Grommit sheep in your profile picture?)
No, that is Shaun the Sheep. He has his own show but has done cameos on Wallace and Grommit. He is done by the same production company too. He is also one of my favorite short animated shows. I have a Shaun alarm clock, which my son says makes me uncool. ;DI am engaging in my proclivity for changing my avatars up 🙂
