Yugoslav Cavalry

Yugoslav Cavalry

1945-1959

by Borivoj Radojcic
(translated and edited by Ivan Bajlo)

On 20th July 1945, in accordance with directive of Marshal Tito, orders for forming of 'Cavalry inspection' as branch of Ministry of People's Defense with General Milan Pavlovic as it's first commander have been issued. General Milan Pavlovic was commander of Yugoslav Army cavalry from 1945 to 1948.

On August 6th 1945, Marshal Tito issued order:

Immediately form three independent cavalry brigades: 10th 11th and 12th cavalry brigade. Brigade HQ's:

10th Cavalry Brigade in Nis

11th Cavalry Brigade in Cakovac with detachments in Varazdin

12th Cavalry Brigade in Subotica

brigades will be formed by Armies HQ's:

HQ of 1st Army will form 10th Cavalry Brigade

HQ of 2nd Army will form 11th Cavalry Brigade

HQ of 3rd Army will form 12th Cavalry Brigade

For 10th Cavalry Brigade personnel form existing cavalry brigade will be used, missing personnel will be filled from other operational units within the army. 1st Army has to provide:

1987 raiding horses,

117 artillery draught-horses,

171 wagon draught-horses.

For 11th Cavalry Brigade:

a) People's Defense Corps (KNOJ): 300 cavalry men , 300 raiding horses and raiding equipment;
b) 2nd and 4th Army are to supply personnel 60% (2nd Army) and 40% (4th Army), 2nd Army has to provide: 747 raiding horses, 57 artillery draught-horses and wagon draught-horses, 4th Army has to provide: 940 raiding horses, 60 artillery draught-horses and 100 wagon draught-horses.

For 12th Cavalry Brigade, 3rd Army has to give:

186 raiding horses,

117 artillery draught-horses,

131 wagon draught-horses.

On October 1st 1945, Cavalry school was formed in Zemun, in 1952 school is renamed Cavalry school center and is transferred to Vrsac. Training lasted 11 months (5 in troop). From 1948 to 1951, commander of Yugoslav Army cavalry is General Dragoslav Pavlovic. On April 30th 1949 Cavalry inspection is renamed into Cavalry command. Cavalry role was from reconnaissance, patrol, guard duties to pursuit of retreating enemy.
By order MNO of January 29th 1948 organization-formation changes have been done in cavalry units. From 10th and 11th Cavalry Brigade, 9th and 15th Cavalry Regiment have been formed, 12th Cavalry Brigade was disbanded. New horse-farms have been formed in Kutjevo, Zobnatica, Ljubicevo and Butimir also Service Depot No. 1, 2 and 3 where formed.
In 1949, Yugoslav Army had:

190th Cavalry Regiment in Aleksinac

34th Cavalry Regiment in Smederevska Palanka

12th Cavalry Regiment in Cakovac

4th Guard Cavalry Regiment in Zemun

Cavalry Regiment July 24th 1949

Regiment Headquarters (32 officer, 13 professional NCO, 6 NCO, 25 soldiers, 3 military clerks)

Liaison troop (4 officer, 3 professional NCO , 9 NCO, 26 soldiers)

Reconnaissance platoon (1 officer, 3 NCO, 26 soldiers)

Rifle Troop (18 officer, 3 professional NCO, 33 NCO, 234 soldiers)

Rifle Troop

Rifle Troop

Machine-Gun Troop (5 officer, 1 professional NCO, 9 NCO, 59 soldiers)

Artillery Battery B-176 (5 officer, 1 professional NCO, 8 NCO, 79 soldiers)

Mortar Troop (10 officer, 2 professional NCO, 12 NCO, 80 soldiers)

Mortar Troop

Engineer Platoon ( 1 officer, 1 professional NCO, 2 NCO, 24 soldiers)

Chemical Platoon (3 NCO, 16 soldiers)

Supply Platoon ( 2 professional NCO, 3 NCO, 33 soldiers)

Warehouse RR (1 officer, 2 professional NCO, 1 solider)

Artillery workshop (1 NCO, 1 solider)

Quartermaster workshop (1 NCO, 1 solider)

Regimental Band (1 officer, 19 military clerks)

Men: Horses:

78 officer
28 professional NCO
90 NCO
22 military clerks
615 soldiers 712 raiding horses
98 other horses

Total: 833 851

ESKADRON = (Cavalry) Troop

On August 5th 1959, in the spirit of directive from Supreme Commander of JNA, Josip Broz Tito, from May 27th 1959, cavalry units have been disbanded in favor of developing mechanized and tank units.

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