Cavalry

The Dutch cavalry regiments were being phased out at the time of the invasion. The four remaining husar regiments were functioning as corps reconnaissance regiments and were designated as the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th Husar Regiments. These units were formed with two battalions containing a total of three bicycle companies (six LMG each), one company of horse cavalry (six LMG), one motorized heavy mortar platoon (two 81mrn mortars), one motorized anti-tank platoon (four 37mm antitank guns), one motorcycle-mounted heavy machinegun platoon (six HMG), and an armored car section (two armored cars).

The three other cavalry regiments had already been converted to other uses. One regiment had provided the personnel for the armored car squadrons, while the other two had been converted to the 1st and 2nd Motorcycle Husar Regiments. These two units were assigned to the "Light" Division, but they were hardly more than battalions in strength. Each contained three motorcycle companies (nine LMG each) and a motorized anti-tank platoon (four 37mm anti-tank guns).

Anti-Aircraft

The Dutch heavy anti-aircraft guns were formed into two regiments of two battalions, each with three batteries of four 75mm Vickers M-35 anti-aircraft guns. These motorized units were part of the Dutch Field Army. The Dutch Air Defense command, in addition, deployed about 60 light anti-aircraft guns, mostly in fixed positions throughout the country. These were either Swiss 20mm Oerlikon guns or Swedish 40mm Bofors guns.

Artillery

The Dutch Field Army contained some 648 artillery pieces organized into twentytwo artillery regiments, as shown on the accompanying chart.

The 150mm howitzers listed were either German 149.7mm Krupp sFH-13 left over from World War I or British 152.4mm (6") howitzers also left over from World War 1. The 120mm howitzers were World War I vintage German Krupp and Swedish Bofors designs. The 120mm guns of the 13th and 14th Artillery Regiments were also World War I pieces manufactured by Krupp. The more modern artillery pieces of the Dutch Army were the domestically produced Siderius manufactured versions of the 75mm Krupp gun M-03 (built in the late 1920's and early 1930's) as well as the L-40 and L-42 versions of the 105mm Bofors gun (manufactured in the late 1930's). At the time of the invasion, the Dutch Army was receiving delivery of an order for 105mm howitzers manufactured, ironically, by Germany's Krupp Works. This howitzer was the leFH-18, which was at the time becoming the standard gun of its type for Germany's own army. It would appear that only twenty howitzers had been delivered out of an order of 80, and that these had not yet been distributed to the field units.

Dutch Artillery Regiments

1st, 2nd, 4th, and 7th (horse-drawn) Divisional Artillery Regiments

2 battalions of 3 batteries with 4 (75mm) guns
1 battalion of 3 batteries with 4 (120mm) howitzers

3rd, 5th, 6th, and 8th (horse-drawn) Divisional Artillery Regiments 2 battalions of 3 batteries with 4 (75mm) guns 1 battalion of 2 batteries with 4 (1 50mm) howitzers

9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th (motorized) Corps Artillery Regiments 2 battalions of 3 batteries with 4 (105mm) guns

13th and 14th (motorized) Independent Artillery Regiments 3 battalions of 3 batteries with 4 (120mm) guns

15th (motorized) Independent Artillery Regiment 3 battalions of 2 batteries with 4 (11 50mm) howitzers

16th and 17th (horse-drawn) Independent Artillery Regiments 2 battalions of 2 batteries with 4 (75mm) guns

18th and 19th (horse-drawn) Independent Artillery Regiments

3 battalions of 3 batteries with 4 (11 20mm) howitzers

22nd and 23rd (horse-drawn) Independent Artillery Regiments 1 battalion of 3 batteries with 4 (75mm) guns 1 battalion of 2 batteries with 4 (75mm) guns

24th (motorized) Divisional Artillery Regiment (with the "Light" Division) 2 battalions of 3 batteries with 4 (75mm) guns 2 battalions of 2 batteries with 4 (10mm) guns

More The Dutch Army 1940

Dutch Defense Plan
Infantry
Armor
Cavalry, AA, Artillery
Air Force
Order of Battle: May 10, 1940