Camel Corps: That Time the US Military Opted for Camels Over Horses

By Peter Suciu

This article is from the Summer 2020 issue of Guns of the Old West magazine. Grab your copy at OutdoorGroupStore.com. For digital editions, visit Amazon.

Called “the ship of the desert” for its ability to cross arid lands like no other animal, some also call the camel “a horse designed by committee,” highlighting its misshapen appearance. But camels actually prove highly efficient and well suited to their desert habitats.

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These animals can run as fast as 40 miles per hour in short bursts, or sustain an average speed of 25 mph over great distances. Their feet provide excellent traction on various types of soil. And as we all know, camels can withstand long periods of time without any external source of water. The dromedary camel, the most common of the three camel species today, can drink as seldom as once every 10 days even in extreme heat, and can safely lose up to 30 percent of its body mass from dehydration.

Desert Mobility

As the American frontier opened in the early 19th century, it remained a rugged and untamed land marked by …Read the Rest

Source:: Tactical Life