Bear Cavalry

**Key Features** | »MG-60 machinegun»Satchel charges»Bulletproof armor (bear-fitted)»Polish honey (for feeding time)»Ceremonial bear mask

## Tactical Analysis

* **Ursine rampage:** The Bear Cavalry exists of elite cavalrymen riding atop actual bears, and this is not meant metaphorically, or rhetorically, or poetically, or theoretically. The Wojtek Division's best of the best, they leap into the fray with MG-60 machineguns firing at both enemy infantry and aircraft.

* **Explosive presents:** Against heavier armor such as tanks and buildings, they can toss powerful satchel charges donated by Continental sympathizers at them, blowing them up.

* **Be beary careful:** A dead Bear Cavalrymen is a sorely wasted asset, and as such they should be handled carefully as they are not war-winners on their own.

* **Be beary afraid:** For enemies, the prospect of fighting an enraged bear is enough for them to soil themselves, causing them to prefer to run away rather than face the Bear Cavalry in combat.

## Background

**NKGB Dossier: The Bear Cavalry**

**Status:** Hostile, Medium-High Priority, A. Vassilakis, K. Yamamoto and R. Lohefalter involved with this operation

**Description:** Elite cavalry unit inside the reactionary terrorist organization Home Army Faction with cells scattered across Warsaw Pact nations such as Poland, Hungary, Romania and Czechoslovakia

**Background:** The Bear Cavalry started out as rumors of a resistance cell utilizing bears as mounts spreading around the Polish and Czechoslovak People's Armies. Initially dismissed as a rebel propaganda operation to demoralize the Warsaw Pact armies (soldiers responsible for spreading rumors have been re-educated), the significant loss the PPA and the Comintern Volunteers took in Częstochowa confirmed the sightings of the Cavalry in question. NKGB investigation revealed that the "Wojtek" Division was responsible for the skirmish, having planned weeks in advance to capture the city to serve as a nucleus for the Polish rebels. Further investigation revealed that PPA and Red Army defectors joined the Wojtek Division and today serve as its high-ranked officials (see profiles on Col. Marszałek, Col. Adamowicz, and Brigadier Gen. Horváth). It is likely they took a pack of bears with them, along with state-secret bear-taming techniques, and passed them to the Home Army terrorists.

**Operational Notes:** Though appearing rarely, based on confirmed clashes such as the Battle of Częstochowa, the average Bear Cavalryman is armed with an MG-60 machine gun and satchel charges. Their armored bear mounts attempt to charge at commissars, often tearing them apart while their riders fire upon conscript divisions. While it is common knowledge to deploy walkers and Hectic gunships against enemy cavalry, they show considerable dexterity in throwing satchel charges at these units, neutralizing them. This is anecdotal for now, but the arrival of the Bear Cavalry emboldens the Home Army terrorists to charge at Red Army units, leaving massive casualties in their wake even when they take equal losses. On another note, this has inspired anti-Soviet protesters in Warsaw Pact nations to wear bear masks and hold up signs with Wojtek the Soldier Bear in them in their riots.

**Recommended Course of Action:** Tighten security around bear zoos and holding pens, and investigate any and all incidents of raids with a significant loss in number. Upon seeing a contingent of Bear Cavalrymen at the field, *request for immediate backup*, preferably Wheatcutter tanks and Hectic gunships specializing in suppressing enemy infantry. Use of Desolator Defoilant to deny ground for enemy cavalry units and melt organics is also highly recommended.

*In all seriousness, how did they learn to ride bears? I would love for them to teach me how. - A*

*And I'd love to see a bear tear you and R's heads off. - K*