Cavalry division (Soviet Union)

On 26 December, the RVSR increased the authorized strength of a cavalry division to 8,346 personnel and 9,226 horses, and added a political department.

On 4 January 1919, a technical squadron, consisting of telegraph-telephone and radiotelegraph departments, sapper, motorcycle, and auto platoons, was added.

The new divisions used the 1918 TO&Es and interim organization created by the Southwestern Front command, which differed in the numbers of personnel and horses.

The cavalry division was to include three two-regiment brigades, separate communications and sapper squadrons, and a horse artillery battalion, along with support units and headquarters.

In June 1926, RVSR introduced a three-year plan for the cavalry branch, which eliminated brigades and reduced divisions to four four-squadron regiments.

A year later, five separate "national" cavalry brigades were expanded into divisions, initially retaining the original numbers but in 1936 were renumbered 17 through 21.

As a result of the increasing role of tank and mechanized units, cavalry lost its importance and began to drastically decline.

[8] The cavalry corps were of two-divisional composition and approximately corresponded to a motorised division, possessing somewhat less mobility and lesser weight of artillery volley.

[12] This expansion produced some 87 new cavalry divisions by early 1942, many of which were later disbanded as the Red Army rebuilt its tank and mechanized formations.