The military first introduced bicycles in their infantry in the late 19th century. The expensive breeding of horses for the cavalry became burdensome. The bicycles offered an inexpensive, yet silent movement on the battlefield. The bicycle was used by many countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries for their silent and reliable transportation. The German army used them in WWI, the British army used them in the Boer Wars, the Buffalo Soldiers in America, and the Japanese in WWII all used the bicycle as a way to preserve fuel and steel. The most extensive experimentation on bicycle units was carried out by a 1st Lieutenant Moss of the 25th United States Infantry Colored (an African American infantry regiment with European American officers). Using a variety of cycle models, Lt. Moss and his troops carried out the bicycle's suitability for cross-country troop transport. Buffalo Soldiers stationed in Montana rode bicycles across landscapes without roads for hundreds of miles at high speed. Although the US Army had used bicycles for many years before WWII, none were standardized for procurement before 1942. The Army's official use for these bicycles was: "To provide Transportation for Personnel engaged in Dispatch or Messenger Service". Of course, they were used for many other purposes. The proved a fast and economical way to get around Deports, Camps, and Airfields. The 'Bicycle Military, Universal' was adopted in October 1942 by the Ordnance Department. It was a military version of the Westfield 'Columbia' and was equipped with heavy-duty rims and spokes. It came with a D-Cell powered headlight on the front fender and basic tools were carried in a tool bag attached to the persons' saddle. A tire pump was stamped to the frame.
