| Mechanized Cavalry Regiment Μηχανοκίνητο Σύνταγμα Ιππικού | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1937–1941 |
| Country |  Kingdom of Greece |
| Branch | Hellenic Army |
| Type | Mechanized infantry |
| Part of | Cavalry Division (1937–1940),8th Infantry Division (1940–1941) |
| Engagements | Greco-Italian War |
TheMechanized Cavalry Regiment (Greek:Μηχανοκίνητο Σύνταγμα Ιππικού) was amechanized infantry unit of theHellenic Army, created in 1937 atThessaloniki as part of theCavalry Division. It fought in theGreco-Italian War of 1940–41, before being amalgamated into the19th Mechanized Division in March 1941.
Greece's first contact witharmoured warfare was in 1925, when theFrench military mission to Greece (1925–32) introduced up-to-date French tactical manuals. The creation of a Tank Regiment was ordered in 1926, but the effort was abandoned a year later due to financial constraints.[1] In 1931, Greece acquired its first tanks—twoVickers 6-Ton light tanks, one each of Type A and Type B, and twoCarden Loyd tankettes. Initially used for training, they were formed into a tank battalion in 1935, with the expectation that they would be complemented with 14 light tanks ordered in Britain and France, at a cost of 40 millionGreek drachmas. In the event, these were never delivered due to the priority given by Britain and France to their own rearmament and the outbreak ofWorld War II.[1][2]
In 1937, in an apparent imitation of the FrenchDivision Légère de Cavalerie model, the Mechanized Cavalry Regiment was formed atThessaloniki, as part of the Hellenic Army's singleCavalry Division.[1] Its structure was as follows:[3]
In total, the regiment comprisedc. 165 trucks (44 each of theMercedes-Benz W 152 4x4 cars andMercedes-Benz LG 2500 6x6 trucks, and 75 other 2.5-ton trucks, probably mostlyFiats), as well as motorcycles and other vehicles, but no armoured cars or tanks.[4] The battalion commands were designed to provide tactical flexibility, by detaching squads from the support companies and attaching them as needed to the Battle Companies.[4]
With theItalian invasion of Greece on 28 October 1940, the regiment, under Cavalry Lt. Colonel Epameinondas Asimakopoulos, mobilized in the Lebet army camp in Thessaloniki and joined the rest of the Cavalry Division (Maj. GeneralGeorgios Stanotas) atLangadas.[4] On 29 October, the Light Company, along with other units of the Cavalry Division, were detached to the Cavalry Brigade also being formed at Langadas. The rest of the regiment followed the Cavalry Division toKalambaka, where it arrived on 31 October. During this move, the inexperience of the drivers led to several accidents, which led to dozens of casualties in dead and wounded.[4]
Along with the rest of the Cavalry Division, the regiment participated in the final stages of theBattle of Pindus against the elite Italian3rd Alpine Division Julia. The first elements of the regiment arrived atMetsovo, the target of the Julia Division's advance, on 3 November.[4][5] On 7 November the Mechanized Regiment was detached from the Cavalry Division and placed under the command of the8th Infantry Division (Maj. GeneralCharalambos Katsimitros) further west.[4][6] On 11 November, the detached Light Company, which along with the Cavalry Brigade had also participated in the fight against the Julia Division Until 10 November, was reincorporated into the Mechanized Regiment.[7][8]
On 15 November an Anti-Tank Rifle Squad (Ουλαμός Αντιαρματικών Τυφεκίων), equipped with twentyBoys anti-tank rifles was formed,[4] followed a month later by a Tank Company (Ίλη Αρμάτων) comprising 35L3/35tankettes captured from the Italians in theBattle of Elaia–Kalamas.[4] To support the tanks in close combat, a lorry-borne squad of 60 men with two Mercedes-Benz W 152, four Mercedes-Benz LG 2500, and a motorcycle was attached to the Tank Company.[4]
The regiment participated in the Greek offensive operations towardsTepelenë, during which the captured Italian tanks—affectionately nicknamed "littlebouzoukis" by the Greek soldiers— were employed as mobilefire bases to cover and support the Battle Companies.[4] Finally, on 23 March 1941, the regiment was moved toKaterini to provide the fighting core of the newly formed19th Mechanized Division. During the 600 km march, two tanks were lost—one to mechanical failure, and one by falling into a ravine.[9] Despite the harsh terrain and constant use, the Italian tankettes proved generally reliable, but the lack of spare parts soon became an acute problem and reduced their combat-worthiness.[9]
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