3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment

 

Another Cavalry unit that saw duty along the Iron Curtain was the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Organized by Congress in 1846 as The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen, the unit and its extensive combat history served twice as a border cavalry unit.

The first time the Regiment served on the Iron Curtain was in August, 1955, when it replaced the 2nd ACR as part of the Army's Gyroscope plan that rotated entire units between Germany and the U.S. In February,1958, the cycle repeated and the troopers of the Brave Rifles Regiment returned to the States as the 2nd ACR resumed their former mission. The 3rd ACR, though, would not remain stateside for long.

In November, 1961, the Regiment was deployed to Germany once again in response to the Soviet threat during the Berlin Crisis. The troopers were stationed in Baumholder but the unit soon found itself once again patrolling the border. Cavalry Troops within the Regiment were soon attached on a monthly, rotating basis to the 14th ACR to assist with patrols in the 3/14 ACR sector. Additionally, the 1st and 2nd Squadrons relieved units of the14th Cavalry for two one-month periods during 1962 and 1963. During 1964, though, the Regiment would play a larger role in border operations.

Since the11th ACR  was scheduled to return to the U.S. in the summer of 1964, a unit was needed to fill the gap along the Iron Curtain in southeastern Bavaria. To meet this requirement, the 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR, was redesignated as the 1st Squadron, 11 ACR, and rotated back to the states with the 11th Cavalry.  At the same time, the 11th Cavalry's 1st Squadron stationed in Straubing was redesignated as 2nd Squadron, 3rd ACR, and conducted border operations under the regimental colors of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. The unit conducted border operations from its two border camps until March 1965 when it was relieved by 2/9 Cav of the 24th Infantry Division. The Regiment remained in Germany until July 1968.

Today the Regiment  serves as the Army's only intact, heavy Armored Cavalry Regiment and maintains the traditions of its rich lineage which is listed below:

  • 1846:  Formed as The Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.
  • 1847:  Participated in the Mexican War where it distinguished itself in six campaigns and participated in the battle of Chapultepec. Following the war the Regiment returned to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, and began to establish military outposts on the route to Oregon.
  • 1851 - 1856:  The regiment was ordered to Texas where it fought  against the Indian tribes.
  • 1856:  Moved to the New Mexico Territory to quell Indian problems.  It also garrisoned  at Fort Bliss, Texas.
  • August 1861:  Redesignated the 3d United States Cavalry Regiment. Between October 1863 and March 1864, the Regiment fought in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and North Carolina, participating in the Chattanooga Campaign as part of the advance guard of Sherman's Army.
  • April 1866: Moved to subdue an uprising of the Chiracahua Apaches led by Geronimo. 
  • Spanish-American War: Participated in the attacks on San Juan and Kettle Hills. After the war, the Regiment was sent to the Philippines for garrison duty.
  • 1917:  Sent to  France in November 1917 where it operated remount depots for the duration of the war.
  • 1919: Returned to the US.
  • World War II:  Redesignated the 3rd Cavalry Group (Mechanized).
  • August 1944:  Landed in France and became the spearhead of the XX Corps. The Regiment was the first unit of the 3D Army to reach the Meuse and Moselle Rivers and were the first elements of 3rd Army to enter Germany. Upon returning to the United States at the end of the war, the unit was redesignated the 3D Armored Cavalry Regiment.
  • 1955:  Assumes border mission from 2nd ACR.
  • 1958:  Returns to US.
  • 1961:  Deployed to Germany in response to the Berlin Crisis
  • 1964:  2/3 ACR assumes the border mission from the 11th ACR.
  • 1965:  Replaced for border duty in March of that year by 2/9 Cav.
  • 1968:  Redeployed to Fort Lewis, Washington.
  • 1972:  Moved to Fort Bliss, Texas.
  • September 1990: The Regiment arrives in Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Storm.
  • February 22, 1991:  F Troop leads the Regiment's attack into Iraq. In 100 hours, the Regiment moved over 300 kilometers and left behind the remnants of three Iraqi Republican Guard Divisions. 
  • April 5, 1991:  Return to Fort Bliss, Texas.
  • April 1996:  The Regiment moves Fort Carson, Colorado.
  • May 19, 1996: The Regiment celebrated its 150th anniversary.