Lancer

The lancers are a unit of Cavalerie of line, combatant with a Lance.

History

Even if there always were riders combatant armed with a lance, the lancers with the modern direction of the term are originating in Poland, at the 18th century. The Polish lancers proved their effectiveness with the service of the Large army of Napoleon I {{er}}, and at the end of the Guerres of the Revolution and of the Empire, all the European States had their own regiments of lancers.

The armed German, Italian, Belgian, Portuguese, Russian and British included/understood all of the regiments of lancers in 1914, at the beginning of the First World War. Almost all the German cavalry used the lance besides as arms principal, as well the hussard S and the Cuirassier S that the lancers (called Uhlan S in Germany).

The British lancers did not have any more a lance of the end of the Guerre of Boers (1902) to 1908, date on which these units were again equipped with it, until 1928. Although the French Army did not have lancers as such, all the regiments of dragon S and a few units of light cavalry were equipped with it. These two characteristics illustrate the wild debate which took place pre-war period to know if the weapon of cavalry more the mortal were the saber or the lance; one like the other appeared toys in the flood of fire of the trench warfare.

A few units of cavalry preserve the name of lancers today, even if those move in the armored vehicles.

Equipment

The lancers have a uniform typical, composed of a jacket with broad reverses coloured formant drill plate in front of, a coloured belt, and a square hat (the Chapska ) of Polish origin. Their lances are usually decorated small pennons just below the spearhead

Their Germanic equivalent are the Uhlan S.

List regiments of lancers

Belgium

  • the 3rd regiment of lancers (site)

The United Kingdom

In activity

  • the 9e/12e royal regiment lancers
  • the royal Regiment of the lancers of the queen
The regiments of lancers are placed with the hussards and the dragons in the order of the line of cavalry, all following the dragons of the royal Guard. They are used in reconnaissance missions, and use the light armoured tank Scimitar.

Portugal

  • the 2nd regiment of lancers

The lancers are the military Police of the Portuguese Armée.

See too

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