73rd Cavalry Regiment (United States)

73rd Cavalry Regiment
73rd Cavalry Regiment coat of arms
Active	1941
Country	United States
Branch	Regular Army
Part of	USARS
Nickname(s)	Airborne Thunder (Special Designation)
Motto(s)	HONOR, FIDELITY, COURAGE
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Unit flashs of the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Squadrons

The 73rd Cavalry Regiment is a Cavalry Regiment in the U.S. Army, first formed in 1941.

The 3 squadrons of the 73rd Cavalry Regiment ("Airborne Thunder") provide reconnaissance, surveillance & target acquisition (RSTA) to the Brigade Combat Teams of the 82nd Airborne Division. 3rd Squadron is assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Squadron is assigned to 2nd Brigade and the 5th Squadron is assigned to 3rd Brigade. There is currently no 2nd or 4th Squadron, nor is there a regimental command.

Formerly organized as the First Battalion of the 68th Armor Regiment, the 3rd Battalion was equipped with M-551 Sheridan armored reconnaissance vehicles to support the 82nd Airborne Division with light armor support until after Operation Desert Storm.

Constituted 13 January 1941 in the regular army as the 76th Tank Battalion

Activated 1 June 1941 at Fort Lewis Washington

Activated 1 August 1948 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Assigned 10 November 1951 to the 7th Infantry Division (United States)

Reorganized and redesignated 2 October 1962 as the 73d Armor a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System.

The three currently active squadrons are all subordinated to the three Brigade Combat Teams of the 82nd Airborne Division stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina
1st Squadron is the Cavalry Squadron of the 2d Brigade Combat Team
3d Squadron is the Cavalry Squadron of the 1st Brigade Combat Team
5th Squadron is the Cavalry Squadron of the 3d Brigade Combat Team