Editing Motorized infantry

{{Short description|Infantry transported by trucks and other motor vehicles}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}
[[File:Exercise - Cooperative Osprey '98 - 16.jpg|thumb|[[Estonian Land Forces]] motorized infantry during a training exercise in the United States (1998)]]
[[Image:47RN37-Norway.jpg|thumb|A [[Royal Marines]] snowmobile on patrol in Norway (1975)]]
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'''Motorized infantry''' is [[infantry]] that is transported by [[truck]]s or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from [[mechanized infantry]], which is carried in [[armoured personnel carrier]]s or [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s, and from [[light infantry]], which can typically operate independently from supporting elements and vehicles for relatively long periods and may be airborne.

== Operations ==
As defined by the [[United States Army]], motorization is "the use of unarmored wheeled vehicles for the transportation of combat units."<ref name=IDTBT>Infantry Division Transportation Battalion and Transportation, Tactical Carrier Units.&nbsp;(1962).&nbsp;United States:&nbsp;Headquarters, Department of the Army. p. 11</ref>  Motorizing infantry is the first stage towards the [[mechanization]] of an army. Civilian [[truck]]s are often readily adaptable to military uses of transporting soldiers, towing guns, and carrying equipment and supplies. Motorization greatly increases the strategic mobility of infantry units, which would otherwise rely on [[marching|march]]es or [[rail transport|railroads]]. In practice, armies have found it advantageous to develop trucks to military specifications, such as all-wheel drive, to have vehicles that function reliably in extremes of weather and terrain.

Motorization provides no direct tactical advantage in small-unit combat, as [[military truck|truck]]s and [[Military light utility vehicle|light utility vehicle]]s are vulnerable to [[artillery]] and [[small arms]] fire. However, in larger battles, motorized infantry has an advantage in mobility allowing them to move to critical sectors of the battlefield faster, allowing better response to enemy movements, and the ability to outmaneuver the enemy.<ref name=IDTBT/>

The disadvantage of motorization is that fuel is critical; if motorized divisions run out of fuel, they may be required to abandon their vehicles.

== History ==
The [[World War I|First World War]] was the first major war to see use of [[Internal combustion engine|petroleum-powered vehicles]] used to transport supplies and personnel, and to fight the enemy. Unarmored and [[armored car (military)|armored car]]s were dispatched to attack enemy positions and trains, and were used to patrol the front. However, this was on a small scale and a majority of movement was on foot and logistics with trains and [[Horse-drawn vehicle#Vehicles primarily for carrying goods|horse-drawn logistics]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_mech.php|title=Army Mechanization Before WW II|website=olive-drab.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805173629/https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_mech.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Pancho Villa]] [[Pancho Villa Expedition|Expedition]] was a notable use of the armored car by the United States Cavalry under the command of [[John J. Pershing|General Pershing]]. There a Lieutenant [[George S. Patton]] was introduced to mechanized warfare when he led a small group of men against Villa's forces at San Miguelito Ranch.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pattonhq.com/timeline.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021009230324/http://www.pattonhq.com/timeline.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=9 October 2002|title=The Famous Patton Speech|website=www.pattonhq.com|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/05/18/archives/our-cavalry-kill-5-bandits-seize-2-rescue-captives-ringleaders-in.html|title=OUR CAVALRY KILL 5 BANDITS, SEIZE 2; RESCUE CAPTIVES; Ringleaders in Glenn Springs Raid Overtaken 135 Miles South of Border. PAINE AND DEEMER FREED Langhorne's Men Ride Day and Night and 30 Volunteers Make Final Dash. PRISONER POSED AS GERMAN Deemer Says Outlaw Told of Order to Protect Germans as Supporters of Brigands.|last=TIMES|first=a Staff Correspondent of THE NEW YORK|date=1916-05-18|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-08-05|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

After the war, the major militaries of the world saw the great benefit that motorized vehicles could have on the [[Military logistics|logistics]] and [[combat effectiveness]] of their infantry units.

In the 1920s, the British created the [[Experimental Mechanized Force]] between the wars to test the capabilities of all-arms formations of mechanized units, this included motorized infantry ("Motor Battalions").

The speed advantages of motorized infantry first became important in World War II in the German [[Blitzkrieg]]. While it was no more robust than the regular infantry that moved on foot, its increased speed became decisive in the [[Blitzkrieg]] strategy, as it could follow the [[panzer]] forces and defend its [[flanking maneuver|flanks]].

Notwithstanding the obvious advantages of motorization, most countries opted for only partial motorization of their infantry because of the cost and logistical implications caused by the deployment of so many vehicles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_ww2.php|title=Horses & Mules During WW II|website=olive-drab.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805173627/https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_ww2.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Even large armies were affected by such factors. The motorization of armies required massive industrialization of the economies in order to meet the heavy cost for vehicle production, replacement parts, and fueling.

The bulk of German and Soviet infantry remained on foot.  While some units of the [[Wehrmacht]], such as its armored divisions, were highly mechanized, most of the army was still using horses due to its inconsistent oil supply.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_ww2.php|title=Horses & Mules During WW II|website=olive-drab.com|access-date=2019-08-05|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805173627/https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_ww2.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

US infantry divisions were able to motorize a major portion of their infantry due to their industrial base. Likewise, infantry divisions of the British Empire could motorize chosen subordinate units, but infantry usually advanced on foot.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_mech.php|title=Army Mechanization Before WW II|website=olive-drab.com|access-date=2019-08-05|archive-date=5 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805173629/https://olive-drab.com/od_army-horses-mules_mech.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After WW2, most armies completely motorized and partially mechanized their infantry. The engineering improvements throughout the 20th century allowed for increasingly bigger vehicles to be deployed.

In [[Russia]] and the former [[Soviet Union]], the term ''motostrelki'' ('''мотострелки'''{{Citation needed|reason=A published source that describes Russian motorized rifle infantry as "motostrelki"|date=March 2022}} in [[Russian alphabet|Cyrillic]]) is used to indicate mechanized infantry; that term was used in some [[Warsaw Pact]] countries. These "motor rifle" divisions were mostly mechanized but had a core of motorized infantry with them. In practice, this meant that the infantry of the Soviet and Russian "tank" divisions rode in fully tracked BMP vehicles, while those in "motor rifle" divisions were equipped with wheeled BTR vehicles.

== Present day ==
[[File:MATV Kuwait.jpg|thumb|An M-ATV in Camp Buehring, Kuwait in a live fire exercise on 30 August 2017.]]
After the [[Vietnam War]], the US military saw the need for light squad based transportation. This project became the [[Humvee]] which was used extensively by the [[United States Army|Army]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] in the [[Gulf War]], [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Early War in Afghanistan]], and [[2003 invasion of Iraq|Early Iraq War]]. The latter two conflicts resulted in a large scale [[insurgency]] and saw the increase in use of [[Improvised explosive device|IEDs]]. This soon became the largest source of casualties to NATO forces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/10/20/pentagon-report-ied-casualties-surge-in-afghanistan/ |title=Pentagon Report: IED Casualties Surge in Afghanistan |last1=Winter |first1=Jana |first2=John |last2=Kester |website=Foreign Policy|language=en-US |access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> The result was a shift away from lightly armored vehicles to more mechanized vehicles or more heavily armored [[MRAP]]s. During the duration of the Humvee's use in Iraq and Afghanistan and before the roll-out of MRAPs, it slowly became more heavily armored with larger turret shields, bulletproof glass and extra plating on its doors and components. Less armored but faster and lighter MRAPs were developed under the [[Joint Light Tactical Vehicle]] program, which is now phase in the [[Oshkosh L-ATV]] and [[Oshkosh M-ATV|M-ATV]]. It has been described as "the first vehicle purpose-built for modern battlefield-networks".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/223482/army_approves_jltv_full_rate_production|title=Army approves JLTV Full-Rate Production|publisher=United States Army|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref> These vehicles have seen deployments in [[Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria|Rojava]], [[Syria]] in [[Operation Inherent Resolve]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/news/46ac439f-bc49-4b0d-b443-0419b956eb59|title=Officials in Syria's Manbij say both Russia and US now patrolling|last=Kurdistan24|website=Kurdistan24|language=en|access-date=2019-08-05}}</ref>

For transportation outside of combat, the US military fields a variety of trucks including the [[Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement|Medium Tactical Vehicles replacement]] for the Marine Corps and the [[Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles]] for the Army. The [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] and other reserve units also field older models such as the [[M939 series 5-ton 6x6 truck|M939 5-ton 6x6]].

== See also ==

* [[Infantry mobility vehicle]]
* [[Dragoon]]
* [[Mounted infantry]]
* [[Tank desant]]

== References ==
; Citations 
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [https://www.7af.pacaf.af.mil/News/Video/videoid/548038/dvpTag/Sustainers/ 548th Transportation Co. Convoy Live Fire]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Motorized Infantry}}
[[Category:Motorized infantry| ]]
[[Category:Infantry]]
[[Category:Warfare of the late modern period]]