Dragoon

A dragoon was traditionally a soldier trained to fight on foot, but transport himself on horseback. In other words, he moved as cavalry but fought as infantry. The name derives from the dragoon's primary weapon, a carbine or short musket called the dragon. Sometimes, dragon carbines are said to have been so-called because they "breathed fire" — a reference to the smoke they emitted when fired.

Related Topics:
Soldier - Horse - Cavalry - Infantry - Carbine - Musket

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Dragoons were organized not in squadrons or troops like the horse, but in companies like the foot, and their officers and non-commissioned officers bore infantry ranks. However, dragoons were at a disadvantage when engaged against true cavalry, and constantly sought to improve their horsemanship and armament to the cavalry standard. Thus, "dragoon" had come to mean medium cavalry by the time of the early wars of Frederick the Great, in the 1740s. By the late 18th century, it was the usual designation for cavalry regiments.

Related Topics:
Squadron - Troop - Companies - Officers - Non-commissioned officer - Frederick the Great - 1740s - 18th century - Regiment

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The term "to dragoon" dates from the earlier mounted infantry period. Dragoons were the most efficient and economical form of cavalry for police work and guerrilla warfare.

Related Topics:
Police - Guerrilla

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From the late 18th century, some regiments started to be designated as Light Dragoons, who rode faster and lighter horses and carried lighter sabres. They were trained in reconnaissance, skirmishing and other work requiring speed. In the early 19th century, the British Light Dragoon regiments converted to Lancers and Hussars.

Related Topics:
Sabre - Reconnaissance - Skirmish - 19th century - British - Lancer - Hussar

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A current unit designated as Dragoons is the United States Army's 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Known as the "2nd Dragoons", it was organized as the Second Dragoon Regiment until it was renamed the Second Cavalry Regiment in 1860. It is the oldest active combat unit in the U.S. military and uses HMMWVs in the same manner that horses were once used.

Related Topics:
United States Army - 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment - HMMWV

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In the present-day British Army, one regiment is designated The Light Dragoons and three as Dragoon Guards. In the Territorial Army, one of the five squadrons of the Royal Yeomanry, W (Westminster Dragoons) Squadron, also bears the title.

Related Topics:
British Army - The Light Dragoons - Dragoon Guards - Territorial Army - Royal Yeomanry - Westminster Dragoons

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In Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have the status of a regiment of Dragoons.

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