Editing Cavalry (section)

==Role==
{{Main|Cavalry tactics}}

Historically, cavalry was divided into [[light cavalry]] and [[heavy cavalry]]. The differences were their roles in combat, the size of their mounts, and how much armor was worn by the mount and [[Equestrianism|rider]].

Heavy cavalry, such as [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] [[cataphract]]s and [[knight]]s of the [[Early Middle Ages]] in Europe, were used as [[shock attack|shock]] troops, charging the main body of the enemy at the height of a battle; in many cases their actions decided the outcome of the battle, hence the later term ''battle cavalry''.{{sfnp|Lynn|1997|p=490}} Light cavalry, such as [[horse archers]], [[hussar]]s, and [[Cossack]] cavalry, were assigned all the numerous roles that were ill-suited to more narrowly-focused heavy forces. This includes [[reconnaissance|scouting]], deterring enemy scouts, [[Military logistics|foraging]], [[Raid (military)|raiding]], [[skirmishing]], pursuit of [[retreat (military)|retreating]] enemy forces, [[Screening (tactical)|screening]] of retreating friendly forces, linking separated friendly forces, and countering enemy light forces in all these same roles.

Light and heavy cavalry roles continued through [[early modern warfare]], but armor was reduced, with light cavalry mostly unarmored. Yet many cavalry units still retained [[cuirass]]es and [[helmet]]s for their protective value against [[sword]] and [[bayonet]] strikes, and the [[morale]] boost these provide to the wearers, despite the actual armour giving little protection from [[firearm]]s. By this time the main difference between light and heavy cavalry was in their training and weight; the former was regarded as best suited for harassment and reconnaissance, while the latter was considered best for close-order charges. By the start of the 20th century, as total battlefield [[firepower]] increased, cavalry increasingly tended to become [[dragoon]]s in practice, riding mounted between battles, but dismounting to fight as infantry, even though retaining unit names that reflected their older cavalry roles. Military conservatism was however strong in most continental cavalry during peacetime and in these dismounted action continued to be regarded as a secondary function until the outbreak of World War I in 1914.<ref>{{cite book|first=Alan|last=Steele|page=14|title=Combat. British Cavalryman Verses German Cavalryman |date=16 August 2022 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-4728-4882-6}}</ref>

With the development of [[armored warfare]], the heavy cavalry role of decisive [[shock troops]] had been taken over by [[Armored division|armored unit]]s employing [[medium tank|medium]] and [[heavy tank]]s, and later [[main battle tanks]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=eARMOR The Principles of the Employment of Armor |publisher=United States Army |url=https://www.benning.army.mil/armor/earmor/content/Historical/Principles.html|access-date=2021-04-11}}</ref> Despite horse-borne cavalry becoming obsolete, the term ''cavalry'' is still used, referring in modern times to units continuing to fulfill the traditional [[light cavalry]] roles, employing fast [[Armored car (military)|armored car]]s, [[light tank]]s, and [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s instead of horses, while [[air cavalry]] employs [[helicopter]]s.