Are Cavalry Worth it?

[Perc Baller]

New player here, I was wondering if Cavalry are worthwhile in HOI4 as I watched a video in which the creator stated that you should immediately delete all cavalry if you spawn with any.

[HappySack]

They can be good early on (especially with countries that can increase their effectiveness) and they have higher org than infantry (with increased supply costs) but the main problem with them is that they don't scale with technology or doctrine bonuses so they become weaker over time in comparison to infantry.

Otherwise the only thing they're good for is the legendary one cav garrison.

[CatLoverJerryGarcia]

The one use for them I've seen where they are effective are for garrisons.

[Aluvard]

Depends. For most majors, it is waste of equipment and manpower, so it's better to dissolve those and delete templates.
They've their uses, but it is mostly in specific scenario: polish conquest of europe in early game, conquest of usa in early game, usa civil war and conquest of china.
Also they're decent divisions for minor countries, which lacks industries to deploy armored/motorized divisions.
In normal game they're obsolete around 1939/40.

[jasiu zadymka <SLIWSON>]

I think that you only should use cavalary when u elected a secret polish kozak (i belive) king, which boost their soft attack to over 250 damage, especially when u need many divsions that can guarantee you some defence. Apart from that they are pretty much useless, maybe on early-game

[JDouglasBarson]

Useful for speed in bad terrain due to less supplies then other mobile divisions. I use them all the way to late game 1945 to capture rail line and supply depots far in the rear. Not front line material for most fronts.

[eethxnn]

Calvary is good early game especially for minor countries because they are highly manoeuvrable, they don't take up much supply, and they don't need oil. They are cheap to make too. However, it is important to ensure Calvary isn't the bulk of your army and to motorize/mechanize your military as you progress later in the game.

[Bored Peon]

If you know what you are doing Cavalry is overpowered.
- They are offensive, not defense and rely on their breakthrough to avoid damage.
- Find a general and field marshal with Aggressive Assault if possible (bonus breakthrough)
(if you lack a cavalry general make ones (use a bunch of 8width to speed up traits earned, because traits are earned faster with the more units in a combat.) Then last expand the cavalry to enough width to breakthrough (as the years progress you need wider units)
- Make sure to go for reinforce rate on the field marshal and the radio techs to stack coordination (they hit same target.)
Use the to punch a hole in a front line and just keep going dropping off 3-4 division per tile until you encircle the enemy and cut off their supplies.
- Superior firepower doctrine with Smoke and Fire (bonus breakthrough) and use Suppressive Barrage (SAF gives bonus for this tactic to be used)

Recon, Engineer, artillery, field hospital, and logistics supports.

Originally posted by PP4U:

...I watched a video in which the creator stated that you should immediately delete all cavalry if you spawn with any.

Honestly it depends upon the country (countries with low manpower should not use cavalry) and if you want to go for Combined Arms or not.
Cavalry is a quick and cheap way to get a fast Combined Arms skill without losing a crapload of tanks or trucks. If you do the low width trick I mentioned above it does not take long to earn the cavalry trait which then unlocks the Combined Arms.