Discussion

The Cavalry Assault Gun Troop was a supporting unit within the Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron during World War II. The troop was commanded by a Captain and consisted of a Troop Headquarters and four Assault Gun Platoons, serving eight M8 Howitzer Motor Carriages, 10 M3A1 half-tracks, two ¼ ton trucks, a 2 ½ Truck and an M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle. 

In 1943, the number of soldiers assigned to the troop was 116, but fell to 107 by the end of the war. Most of them were armed with the M1 Carbine, except for drivers who were equipped with the M3 Submachine Gun and the riflemen in the Platoon HQs who carried M1 Rifles.

If the Mechanized Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron was part of a Cavalry Group, the Assault Gun Troop had one less Platoon because the squadron had only three Reconnaissance Troops rather than four. This meant there was one less subunit for the assault gun platoons to support. Also, the Motor Sergeant in the Maintenance Section was a Staff Sergeant rather than a Technical Sergeant.

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Troop Headquarters

The Troop HQ housed the company's command, administrative and replacement personnel. It was split into 1 Headquarters Section, 1 Administration, Mess and Supply Section and 1 Maintenance Section.

The Headquarters Section was mounted on a half-track and a ¼ ton truck. The half-track was armed with an M1919A4 .30 Cal Machine Gun and carried an M8 Rifle Grenade Launcher for mounting on an M1 Carbine. The half-track initially carried a SCR-528 radio, which was replaced by an SCR-508 on December 1944. The truck (a jeep) was driven by the Bugler and carried the Liaison Agent and the Troop Clerk. The Clerk was attached from the Administrative Section and worked with the Squadron Personnel Section in the march. The half-track carried the Troop Commander, a Communication Chief, a Driver and the First Sergeant, who were attached from the Administrative Section.

The Administrative, Mess and Supply Section provided food and supplies to the Troop. It was mounted on a 2 ½ ton truck, which was armed with an M2 .50 Cal Machine Gun, carried an M9 Bazooka and towed a 1 ton trailer. The Mess Sergeant, 2 Cooks, a Cook’s Helper and a Driver stayed on the truck, while the rest of the personnel were attached to other parts of the troop. The First Sergeant and Troop Clerk were attached to the HQ section while the Supply Sergeant was attached to the Maintenance Section. There were also 10 Basic Duty Privates, 2 of which were attached to the Maintenance Section and 2 to the Ammunition Section of each Platoon. After August 1944, the total number was reduced to 5 and the number in each section was reduced to 1.

The Maintenance Section had 3 vehicles and performed second echelon maintenance and recovered damaged or destroyed vehicles. A ¼ ton truck transported the Motor Sergeant, the Supply Sergeant (who was attached from the Administrative Section) and a Radio Repairman, who also drove the truck. A half-track transported an Artillery Mechanic, an Armorer and 2 Automobile Mechanics, one of which also acted as a driver. Before June 1944, there was also a Basic Duty Private. The half-track was armed with an M2 .50 Cal Machine Gun. Vehicle recovery was done by an M32 Tank Recovery Vehicle, which was crewed by an Artillery Mechanic, 2 Tank Mechanics (one of which was the driver) and an attached Basic Duty. The TRV was based on the chassis of an M4 Sherman and was fitted with an A-frame boom for transporting vehicles. For defensive purposes, it was armed with an 81mm mortar, an M2 .50 Cal Machine Gun, a bow mounted M1919A4 .30 Cal Machine Gun and it carried an M9 Bazooka. Between October 1943 and July 1944, the TRV was replaced with a modified M5A1 Stuart. The vehicle initially carried an SCR-538 radio, which was replaced by an SCR-528 after July 1944.

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Assault Gun Platoons

Each Platoon was commanded by a Second or First Lieutenant and consisted of a 1 Platoon Headquarters, 2 Gun Sections and 1 Ammunition Section. The platoon was authorized 2 M8 HMCs, 2 M3A1 half-tracks and 20-21 soldiers.

The Headquarters Section was led by the Platoon Commander and included the Platoon Sergeant (who assisted the Commander and performed administrative tasks), a Driver and 4 Riflemen (who provided security and could also assist other personnel). The section was mounted on a half-track, which was armed with an M2 .50 Cal Machine Gun and carried an M9 Bazooka and Rifle Grenade Launchers. An SCR-528 radio was added on December 1944.  

Each Gun Section contained an M8 Howitzer Motor Carriage, which was based on the chassis of the M5 Stuart Tank and mounted an M1 75mm Pack Howitzer. It was crewed by a Section Leader, Gunner, Cannoneer and Driver. The Section Leader directed the vehicle, spotted targets, directed the gunner and manned the M2  Machine Gun. The Gunner aimed and fired the piece while the Cannoneer loaded it. Initially, there was a dedicated Machine Gunner, who manned the .50 Cal, but was removed after only a month. The M8 had an SCR-510 radio and towed an M10 ammunition trailer.

The Ammunition Section consisted of a Chief of Section, Driver and 2-3 Ammunition Handlers. The Ammunition Handlers transferred ammunition from their section to the Gun Sections and could also provide security. Originally there were two, but a third was soon added. The section also contained a 1-2 Basic Duty soldiers attached from the Administration Section who assisted the Handlers and other personnel. Originally there were two, but one was removed after the number of Basic Duty soldiers in the Troop was reduced. The section was mounted on a half-track, which was armed with an M1919A4 .30 Cal Machine Gun, carried an M9 Bazooka and towed an M10 ammunition trailer.

The Platoons were habitually attached to the Reconnaissance Troops, but they can also be attached to the Light Tank Company. The Assault Gun Platoon operates as a unit and is usually held in reserve with one of the Reconnaissance Platoons. Sometimes sections can be attached to Platoons to provide organic support and quickly react to threats. In such occasions, the Platoon HQ and the Ammunition Section remained with the Reconnaissance Troop HQ. The Assault Guns were able to provide both direct and indirect fire and primarily employed against anti-tank guns and machine gun nests, but can also provide suppressive fire against infantry and destroy armored vehicles. For that purpose, the Assault Guns were provided with High Explosive and High Explosive Anti-Tank ammunition. Smoke ammunition was also carried to conceal friendly units and disorient the enemy.