A company is a military unit , typically consisting of 100–250 soldiers and usually commanded by a major or a captain . Most companies are made up of three to seven platoons , although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure.
158-629: The Experimental Military Unit ( EMU ) was a joint Australian-American company -sized helicopter assault force which operated during the Vietnam War . The unit was created in 1967 following a request from the United States military for Australia to send more helicopter pilots to the conflict. As the only available personnel were from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Fleet Air Arm (with Australian Army and RAAF pilots already heavily committed),
316-547: A corps -level command). The modern military company became popularized during the reorganization of the Swedish Army in 1631 under King Gustav II Adolph . For administrative purposes, the infantry was divided into companies consisting of 150 men, grouped into regiments of eight companies. Tactically, the infantry companies were organized into battalions and grouped with cavalry troops and artillery batteries to form brigades . From ancient times, some armies have commonly used
474-410: A first sergeant . Any sergeant holding this position is referred to as "first sergeant" regardless of actual rank, though the non-commissioned officer assigned ordinarily has the rank of first sergeant. A master sergeant assigned to this position will be "laterally promoted" to the rank of first sergeant, unless the appointment is temporary. In some instances, a sergeant first class will be appointed to
632-447: A U.S. Army, Korean War-era infantry division and the divisional aviation company of a U.S. Army "Pentomic" infantry division . These companies were not organic to any intermediate headquarters (viz., battalion/group/regiment/brigade), but rather reported directly to the division headquarters. NATO defines a company as "larger than a platoon, but smaller than a battalion" while being a "unit consisting of two or more platoons, usually of
790-546: A VC ambush in Bình Đại which killed half of an ARVN unit, the EMU successfully deployed a blocking force in the path of the PAVN withdrawal, which inflicted heavy casualties. Several helicopters were shot down and crew chiefs killed or wounded during operations in the first months of 1970. Around the same time, the replacement of South Vietnamese commanders with more aggressive officers in the units
948-513: A ball of feathers and rags dangled from a tree. The pitchuri thornapple ( Duboisia hopwoodii ), or some similar poisonous plant, could be used to contaminate a waterhole, after which the disoriented emus were easy to catch. Another stratagem was for the hunter to use a skin as a disguise, and the birds could be lured into a camouflaged pit trap using rags or imitation calls. Aboriginal Australians only killed emus out of necessity, and frowned on anyone who hunted them for any other reason. Every part of
1106-554: A base administrative and tactical unit of around 100 men. (Perhaps the best known is the Roman century , originally intended as a 100-man unit, but later ranging from about 60 to 80 men, depending on the time period.) An organization based on the decimal number system (i.e., by tens, hundreds, thousands, and ten-thousands) might seem intuitive. To the Romans, for example, a unit of 100 men seemed sufficiently large to efficiently facilitate organizing
1264-493: A booby trap, seriously wounding the Australian pilot and killing two South Vietnamese passengers. Later that month, an American gunship crewman died from wounds received from enemy fire, while in a separate incident, five Slicks were damaged by gunfire. At the start of May 1970, the EMU was marked to lead operations into Cambodia . However, as Australian personnel were forbidden by their rules of engagement from entering Cambodia,
1422-431: A cohesive group numbering between 100 and 250 members, with 150 members being the common number (see Dunbar's number ). Again, a military unit on the order of no more than 100 members, and perhaps ideally fewer, would perhaps present the greatest efficiency as well as effectiveness of control, on a battlefield where the stress, danger, fear, noise, confusion, and the general condition known as the " fog of war " would present
1580-421: A command element containing two tanks; support companies are typically divided into platoons of specialization that may contain additional special sections. A company is usually commanded by a captain , although in some cases they may be commanded by a first lieutenant or a major . Unlike its component platoons, a company typically has additional positions of supporting staff, such as an executive officer (XO),
1738-404: A drowsy state during which they are alert enough to react to stimuli and quickly return to a fully awakened state if disturbed. As they fall into deeper sleep, their neck droops closer to the body and the eyelids begin to close. If there are no disturbances, they fall into a deeper sleep after about twenty minutes. During this phase, the body is gradually lowered until it is touching the ground with
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#17328517591571896-523: A family unit until the next breeding season. The bird is sufficiently common for it to be rated as a least-concern species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . Despite this, some local populations are listed as endangered , with all the insular subspecies going extinct by the 1800s. Threats to their survival include egg predation by other animals (especially invasive species ), roadkills and habitat fragmentation . The emu
2054-414: A few kilometres in diameter and it is believed they find and defend territory within this area. Both males and females put on weight during the breeding season, with the female becoming slightly heavier at between 45 and 58 kg (99 and 128 lb). Mating usually takes place between April and June; the exact timing is determined by the climate as the birds nest during the coolest part of the year. During
2212-603: A first sergeant, a readiness/training NCO, and other positions (e.g., supply sergeant, armorer). The corresponding unit of artillery is always called a battery . Similarly, the term troop is used for cavalry units, including both the horse-mounted units of history as well as modern armored cavalry and air cavalry units. Companies that are not separate from their parent battalion are identified by letter—for example, "Company A, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment". This would commonly be abbreviated as "A/1-15 INF" in writing, but not in speaking. The dash in "1–15" indicates that
2370-562: A fourth platoon was added to the company, increasing its size to 256 officers and men, including six officers (a captain as commanding officer, a first lieutenant as executive officer, and two first lieutenants and two second lieutenants as platoon commanders). Enlisted strength became: three senior NCOs (first sergeant, supply sergeant, and mess sergeant), 12 sergeants, 33 corporals (one company clerk and 32 squad leaders with eight per platoon), eight specialists (four cooks and four mechanics), two buglers, 64 privates first class, and 128 privates. Of
2528-689: A horse-mounted heritage, such as the Household Cavalry , Royal Armoured Corps , Royal Engineers , Royal Corps of Signals , Army Air Corps , Special Air Service , Honourable Artillery Company and Royal Logistic Corps , use the term squadron instead of company, and in the Royal Artillery they are called batteries . Until after the Second World War , the Royal Engineers and Royal Signals had both squadrons and companies depending on whether
2686-474: A landing zone near Mỹ Tho , the EMU encountered multiple companies of heavily armed North Vietnamese People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) soldiers. One helicopter was shot down by a rocket, killing the American aircrew, and eight other aircraft were damaged. On 22 February 1968, a RAN EMU pilot was killed while leading a mission to extract ARVN soldiers from a VC assault. He was the first Australian pilot to be killed in
2844-433: A large body of men numbering into the several thousands, yet small enough that one man could reasonably expect to command it as a cohesive unit by using his voice and physical presence, supplemented by musical notes (e.g., drum beats, bugle or trumpet blasts, etc.) and visual cues (e.g., colors, standards, guidons , etc.). Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that humans are best able to maintain stable relationships in
3002-588: A large part of their protein requirements. In Western Australia, food preferences have been observed in travelling emus; they eat seeds from Acacia aneura until the rains arrive, after which they move on to fresh grass shoots and caterpillars; in winter they feed on the leaves and pods of Cassia and in spring, they consume grasshoppers and the fruit of Santalum acuminatum , a sort of quandong. They are also known to feed on wheat, and any fruit or other crops that they can access, easily climbing over high fences if necessary. Emus serve as an important agent for
3160-444: A male is interested, he will stretch his neck and erect his feathers, then bend over and peck at the ground. He will circle around and sidle up to the female, swaying his body and neck from side to side, and rubbing his breast against his partner's rump. Often the female will reject his advances with aggression, but if amenable, she signals acceptance by squatting down and raising her rump. Females are more aggressive than males during
3318-604: A point reinforced by the Australian Embassy the night before the first operation, the EMU was forced to operate without Australian personnel for several days, until they were reassigned to duties in Vietnam. The commitment of other helicopter units to the Cambodian campaign further increased the EMU workload. On 18 May, a South Vietnamese outpost was overrun by a VC battalion. The EMU was called in to drop counterattacking troops into
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#17328517591573476-475: A rufous tint while birds residing in damp conditions are generally darker in hue. The juvenile plumage develops at about three months and is blackish finely barred with brown, with the head and neck being especially dark. The facial feathers gradually thin to expose the bluish skin. The adult plumage has developed by about fifteen months. The eyes of an emu are protected by nictitating membranes . These are translucent, secondary eyelids that move horizontally from
3634-514: A separate table of organization and equipment (TO&E) are identified by a number, and are able to operate completely independently from any other unit's support. Company-sized units that are organized under a table of distribution and allowance (TDA) are identified with a name or number. Company-sized units usually consist of four to six platoons each led by a lieutenant , although there are examples of combat service and combat service support companies that have seven or more platoons. For example,
3792-439: A single shaft. Both of the rachis have the same length, and the texture is variable; the area near the skin is rather furry, but the more distant ends resemble grass. The sexes are similar in appearance, although the male's penis can become visible when he urinates and defecates. The plumage varies in colour due to environmental factors, giving the bird a natural camouflage . Feathers of emus in more arid areas with red soils have
3950-638: A situation that remained unaddressed as the UH-1C gunship was no longer in production, and the replacement, the AH-1 Cobra , had not been deployed to frontline units. In August, the EMU was relocated to Đồng Tâm Base Camp, which also housed elements of the United States Navy SEALs and the Mobile Riverine Force . Although closer to the unit's normal operating areas (an advantage which was negated when
4108-611: A slightly smaller establishment, having 10 tanks and 30 personnel (40 with older tanks). Research companies (single. nauchnaya rota, научная рота) were established in 2013 to allow conscripts with higher education to serve doing scientific and research tasks. There are seven research companies: In the 1700s, British Army, American Colonial Militia , and Provincial Regulars (e.g., the Virginia Regiment ), and later American Army infantry, regiments were organized into companies of somewhat less than 100 officers and enlisted men, although
4266-483: A source of food by indigenous Australians and early European settlers. Emus are inquisitive birds and have been known to approach humans if they see unexpected movement of a limb or piece of clothing. In the wild, they may follow and observe people. Aboriginal Australians used a variety of techniques to catch the birds, including spearing them while they drank at waterholes, catching them in nets, and attracting them by imitating their calls or by arousing their curiosity with
4424-565: A spare), two teams of two gunships, and a Command and Control helicopter (designated 'Charley Charley'). The helicopters would depart base at dawn, collect a unit (typically from the United States 9th Infantry Division , the United States 199th Infantry Brigade , the South Vietnamese III and IV Corps , or the 1st Australian Task Force ), perform a combat assault , then return the unit to their base before dark. Other duties performed by
4582-642: A transportation terminal service company normally has two ship platoons, two shore platoons, one documentation platoon, one maintenance platoon, and the headquarters platoon. While companies are typically commanded by captains, some have a special operational capacity that requires them to be commanded by an officer with greater command authority and experience; such companies are commanded by majors, and have platoons commanded by captains. Examples of this arrangement include aviation platoons , military intelligence companies, military police companies, and special forces companies. A captain reports to his commander, usually
4740-556: A typical battery of six gun sections would consist of approximately 100 officers and enlisted men. In the United States Army , infantry companies are usually made up of three rifle platoons and a heavy weapons platoon ; mechanized infantry companies are usually made up of three rifle platoons consisting of four infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) each and a command element containing two IFVs; tank companies are usually made up of three tank platoons consisting of four tanks each and
4898-591: Is The Royal Canadian Regiment , which names its companies sequentially throughout the regiment from the Duke of Edinburgh's Company (instead of A Company) in the 1st Battalion to T Company in the 4th Battalion. Many regiments name their companies after battle honours or former units that make up the current regiment, for example: The combat support company administratively contains the specialized platoons, such as reconnaissance, pioneer, headquarters and signals, anti-armour, and mortar. The administration support company contains
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5056-482: Is a species of flightless bird endemic to Australia , where it is the tallest native bird. It is the only extant member of the genus Dromaius and the third-tallest living bird after its African ratite relatives, the common ostrich and Somali ostrich . The emu's native ranges cover most of the Australian mainland . The Tasmanian , Kangaroo Island and King Island subspecies became extinct after
5214-561: Is an atypical social behaviour that arises from the common need to move towards a new food source. Emus have been shown to travel long distances to reach abundant feeding areas. In Western Australia, emu movements follow a distinct seasonal pattern – north in summer and south in winter. On the east coast their wanderings seem to be more random and do not appear to follow a set pattern. Emus are diurnal birds and spend their day foraging, preening their plumage with their beak, dust bathing and resting. They are generally gregarious birds apart from
5372-533: Is an important cultural icon of Australia , appearing on the coat of arms and various coinages . The bird features prominently in Indigenous Australian mythologies . The etymology of the common name "emu" is uncertain, but is thought to have come from an Arabic word for large bird that was later used by Portuguese explorers to describe the related cassowary in Australia and New Guinea . Another theory
5530-617: Is audible 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away, while a low, more resonant call, produced during the breeding season, may at first attract mates and peaks while the male is incubating the eggs. Most of the grunting is done by males. It is used principally during the breeding season in territorial defence, as a threat to other males, during courtship and while the female is laying. Both sexes sometimes boom or grunt during threat displays or on encountering strange objects. On very hot days, emus pant to maintain their body temperature . Their lungs work as evaporative coolers and, unlike some other species,
5688-524: Is single and neither female has the advantage of incumbency. In these cases, the females typically intensify their calls and displays. The sperm from a mating is stored by the female and can suffice to fertilise about six eggs. The pair mate every day or two, and every second or third day the female lays one of a clutch of five to fifteen very large, thick-shelled, green eggs. The shell is around 1 mm (0.04 in) thick, but rather thinner in northern regions according to indigenous Australians. The shell
5846-402: Is sometimes formed by several battalions. Occasionally, independent or separate companies are organized for special purposes, such as the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company or the 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company . These companies are not organic to a battalion or regiment, but rather report directly to a higher level organization such as a Marine Expeditionary Force headquarters (i.e.,
6004-434: Is substantially composed of calcite , and its δ C is a function of the emu's diet. The eggs are on average 13 cm × 9 cm (5.1 in × 3.5 in) and weigh between 450 and 650 g (1.0 and 1.4 lb). The maternal investment in the egg is considerable, and the proportion of yolk to albumen , at about 50%, is greater than would be predicted for a precocial egg of this size. This probably relates to
6162-482: Is taller, up to 7 cm (2.8 in) tall, and more spherical to provide some extra heat retention. When other material is lacking, the bird sometimes uses a spinifex tussock a metre or so across, despite the prickly nature of the foliage. The nest can be placed on open ground or near a shrub or rock. The nest is usually placed in an area where the emu has a clear view of its surroundings and can detect approaching predators. The nest can contain eggs from multiple emus
6320-716: Is that it comes from the word "ema", which is used in Portuguese to denote a large bird akin to an ostrich or crane. In Victoria, some terms for the emu were Barrimal in the Dja Dja Wurrung language , myoure in Gunai , and courn in Jardwadjali . The birds were known as murawung or birabayin to the local Eora and Darug inhabitants of the Sydney basin. Emus were first reported as having been seen by Europeans when explorers visited
6478-422: Is that the first name given to an organism stands, unless it is clearly a typographical error . Most modern publications, including those of the Australian government, use Dromaius , with Dromiceius mentioned as an alternative spelling. The emu was long classified, with its closest relatives the cassowaries, in the family Casuariidae , part of the ratite order Struthioniformes. An alternate classification
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6636-501: Is the Latin term for New Holland, so the name can be rendered as "fast-footed New Hollander". In his original 1816 description of the emu, the French ornithologist Louis Pierre Vieillot used two generic names, first Dromiceius and later Dromaius . It has been a point of contention ever since as to which name should be used; the latter is more correctly formed, but the convention in taxonomy
6794-529: The European settlement of Australia in 1788. Emus have soft, brown feathers with long necks and legs, and can reach up to 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) in height. They are robust bipedal runners that can travel great distances, and when necessary can sprint at 48 km/h (30 mph). They are omnivorous and forage on a variety of plants and insects, and can go for weeks without eating. They drink infrequently, but take in copious amounts of fresh water when
6952-668: The London Regiment with its Somme , Messines and Cambrai companies. The foot guards regiments use traditional names for some of their companies, for example Queen's Company, Left Flank, Prince of Wales's Company etc. Royal Marines companies are designated by a letter that is unique across the corps, not just within their command . The Intelligence Corps , Royal Military Police and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers all have companies uniquely numbered across their corps. The defunct Royal Army Service Corps , Royal Pioneer Corps and Royal Army Ordnance Corps had companies;
7110-644: The RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) was formed and integrated into the 135th Assault Helicopter Company of the United States Army . The EMU unit name was selected by the Americans as a backronym for the Australian bird, a choice which amused the Australians: despite being large, fast, and highly mobile, the emu cannot fly. The EMU flew multiple variants of the UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, and
7268-468: The Royal Corps of Transport had squadrons. British companies are usually commanded by a major , the officer commanding (OC), with a captain or senior lieutenant as second-in-command (2i/c). The company headquarters also includes a company sergeant major (CSM) normally holding the rank of WO2 and a company quartermaster sergeant (CQMS) of colour sergeant rank, the two most senior soldiers in
7426-583: The United States Air Force and all rotary-wing aircraft to the United States Army . The 135th was integrated with the Royal Australian Navy Helicopter Flight Vietnam, an Australian contingent of eight pilots, four observers, four aircrew, 24 technical sailors and mechanics, and six administrative personnel, all drawn from 723 Squadron RAN . Four of these contingents were deployed during the Australian participation in
7584-520: The wing chord measuring around 20 cm (8 in), and each wing having a small claw at the tip. Emus flap their wings when running, perhaps as a means of stabilising themselves when moving fast. They have long necks and legs, and can run at speeds of 48 km/h (30 mph) due to their highly specialised pelvic limb musculature. Their feet have only three toes and a similarly reduced number of bones and associated foot muscles; emus are unique among birds in that their gastrocnemius muscles in
7742-427: The "Triangular Division" reorganization begun in 1939), an ensign (an obsolete subaltern officer rank charged with carrying the regimental colors in rotation with the other ensigns of the battalion/regiment), four sergeants (section leaders/squad leaders with two to a platoon), four corporals (assistant section leaders/squad leaders with two to a platoon), two musicians (a drummer and a fifer), and 76 privates. The company
7900-503: The 12 sergeants, while eight of them continued to serve as section leaders (with two in each platoon), the four senior ranking sergeants were assigned to a new position in each platoon headquarters as "assistant to platoon commander". This was the forerunner of the modern platoon sergeant slot created in 1943 (originally known in 1940 as the "platoon leader", as the officer was styled as the "platoon commander" until 1943) to provide an experienced senior NCO as an advisor and second-in-command to
8058-566: The 135th during the first week, and the RANHFV contingent during 16–18 October. The company was declared operational on 3 November 1967. The company operated from Vung Tau Air Base during November and December, then was relocated to Blackhorse Base Camp (operating base of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment ) in the Xuân Lộc district on 31 December. In mid-February, while delivering the ARVN 9th Division to
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#17328517591578216-457: The ARVN 21st Division , operating in the Mekong Delta began to require EMU support), the base was regularly subjected to mortar and rocket attacks (in the first month, the base was mortared on average once a week). The EMU was required to relocate completely within four days while continuing operations. The Royal Australian Navy rotation from RANHFV 3 to RANHFV 4 occurred during September, with
8374-401: The Australian contingent, the EMU did not participate in this operation, but found that American pilots and aircrew intended for the unit to replace draft completers were instead being diverted to helicopter companies supporting the operation. Early in 1971, it was announced that the RANHFV would be one of several Australian units to withdraw from Vietnam by mid-1971. The Australian personnel of
8532-541: The BMP's heavier weaponry in their calculations. Prior to the late 1980s, a Soviet tank company within a Motorised Rifle Regiment consisted of a company headquarters and three tank platoons with T-64 , T-72 or T-80 tanks for a total of 39 personnel and 13 tanks; companies using the older T-54 , T-55 or T-62s tanks had 13 additional enlisted personnel. Companies within Tank Regiments or independent Tank Battalions had
8690-615: The Birds of the World , however, argues that the last two of these subspecies are invalid; natural variations in plumage colour and the nomadic nature of the species make it likely that there is a single race in mainland Australia. Examination of the DNA of the King Island emu shows this bird to be closely related to the mainland emu and hence best treated as a subspecies. The emu is the second tallest bird in
8848-867: The EMU ceased flying operations on 8 June, and departed on 16 June, marking the end of the joint-force Experimental Military Unit. The Australian personnel received a number of honours and decorations: three were appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), eight received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), five the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), and one received the British Empire Medal (BEM). 24 were Mentioned in Despatches , and 34 received Naval Board Commendations. This
9006-407: The EMU executive officer position formally handed over on 17 September. Attacks on the base continued throughout October and November; five EMU personnel were wounded by mortar shrapnel on 3 November. On 11 November, the EMU was required to drop four waves of South Vietnamese soldiers into an engagement with a VC battalion near the U Minh Forest . During this, five aircraft were damaged, one of which
9164-402: The EMU had flown 30,670 hours, with seven American and three Australian aircrew killed, plus eleven Americans and four Australians seriously injured. On 23 October, the EMU met heavy resistance near Bến Tre while performing insertions and extractions of the 9th Division. Two helicopters crashed and were destroyed, and another seven damaged, but there were no aircrew casualties. From November,
9322-456: The EMU operated with, a desire to prevent North Vietnam from launching another Tet Offensive -like attack, and the commencement of night-time hunter-killer patrols dramatically increased the EMU's workload. This was compounded by shortages in new American personnel to replace those who had completed their draft, spare parts, and aircraft, forcing the EMU to borrow helicopters and aircrew from other units. In early March, an EMU helicopter landed on
9480-476: The EMU was assigned to operate from Bearcat Base (operating base of the 222nd Aviation Battalion ) near Biên Hòa , at the same time as their duties expanded to include supporting Royal Thai Army forces. In January 1969, a RAN pilot was killed when his helicopter made contact with power lines during bad weather. In mid-February, a gunship was shot down in Vĩnh Long by a VC force. The aircrew survived, and used
9638-412: The EMU was assigned to transport the ARVN 25th Division . During the landing, the force was ambushed by VC: ten aircraft were hit and several ARVN were killed or wounded, although the only injury suffered by EMU aircrew was a bullet through the earlobe of an American pilot. It was later found that the attack resulted from an intelligence leak within the ARVN unit, resulting in a tightening of procedures and
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#17328517591579796-476: The EMU, particularly from 1970 onwards, included dawn and dusk assaults; night hunter-killer patrols, which consisted of one Slick armed with flares, two gunships, and a Charley Charley armed with a high-power searchlight and a twin 0.50 calibre machinegun; and joint operations with the United States Navy SEALs , which typically involved locating and capturing senior Viet Cong (VC) personnel. In 1966,
9954-581: The Franco-Prussian model (with much influence beginning in 1777 from Continental European expatriates and future American generals the Marquis de Lafayette of France, Count Casimir Pulaski of Poland, and Baron von Steuben of Prussia). As a result, in 1776, a Continental Army Infantry company was authorized one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant (both lieutenants serving as platoon commanders – not designated as platoon leaders until 1943 under
10112-626: The Korean War, a slash separates the battalion/squadron number from the regimental number (i.e., B/2/75 Ranger, C/3/11 ACR, E/2/1 Marines). Although not official designations, the letters are often pronounced in "GI slang" using the NATO phonetic alphabet or, before that, the Joint Army/Navy Phonetic Alphabet , resulting in names such as "Bravo Company" and "Echo Company" (formerly "Baker" and " Easy " companies, respectively). Companies with
10270-826: The RAAF's No. 9 Squadron , although the United States Army requested that the RAN pilots be integrated with one of their helicopter companies. On 14 July 1967, it was announced that the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam (RANHFV) would be created and combined with the US Army's 135th Assault Helicopter Company to form the Experimental Military Unit (EMU). The components of the EMU arrived in Vung Tau during early October 1967:
10428-493: The South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry , and was mentioned in despatches . Two days later, an EMU gunship crashed after being fired on by a .50 caliber machine gun , killing the American aircrew, while its companion was heavily damaged. By the end of May, the shortage of United States personnel had been addressed, with the company brought back to full strength. However, the gunship platoon was down several helicopters,
10586-493: The United States requested that Australia send more helicopter pilots to Vietnam, as the increase in the number of US and allied soldiers had increased beyond the capability of helicopter transport and support units. Because of Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) commitments in Vietnam and elsewhere, the only available pilots were from the RAN Fleet Air Arm. It was originally intended to integrate them with
10744-605: The Vietnam War. A program started in late February, where pilots from No. 9 Squadron RAAF were invited to fly with the EMU for two-week stints: although officially conceived to promote knowledge-sharing between the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and the United States Army aviation branch, the plan also helped counteract pilot shortages in the EMU as United States personnel completed their twelve-month draft period and were not immediately replaced. On 18 May,
10902-469: The actual totals widely varied. For example, in 1775, a typical British Army infantry company contained only 47 personnel (comprising 3 officers, 5 noncommissioned officers, a drummer, and 38 privates). However, by 1792, an American infantry company contained 98 personnel (comprising 3 officers, 9 noncommissioned officers, a drummer, a fifer, and 84 privates). Beginning in 1775, American forces began to develop their own organizational doctrine somewhat based on
11060-535: The area; during this the Australian-manned lead helicopter was damaged and had to withdraw. Another EMU helicopter was diverted from other operations to lead the insertions. The second leader received cockpit instrument damage from enemy fire, although the Australian pilot remained on station for several more waves. The pilot, Sub-Lieutenant Andy Perry, was later awarded the United States Silver Star ,
11218-429: The areas in which it was endemic , the emu was an important source of meat to Aboriginal Australians . They used the fat as bush medicine and rubbed it into their skin. It served as a valuable lubricant , was used to oil wooden tools and utensils such as the coolamon , and was mixed with ochre to make the traditional paint for ceremonial body adornment . Their eggs were also foraged for food. An example of how
11376-461: The army, several of these independent companies would be grouped together to form either a battalion or a regiment, depending upon the number of companies involved. (Usually two to five would form a battalion, while six to twelve would form a regiment.) More recent examples of separate companies would be the divisional support companies (i.e., signal, military police, ordinance maintenance, quartermaster, reconnaissance, and replacement companies) of
11534-436: The back of the lower legs have four bellies instead of the usual three. The pelvic limb muscles of emus contribute a similar proportion of the total body mass as do the flight muscles of flying birds. When walking, the emu takes strides of about 100 cm (3.3 ft), but at full gallop, a stride can be as long as 275 cm (9 ft). Its legs are devoid of feathers and underneath its feet are thick, cushioned pads. Like
11692-444: The battalion commander (a lieutenant colonel ). However, there are some administrative and other duties at battalion level and larger ( brigade or division ) that are also handled by captains, for example the S-1, S-2, & S-4 officers of a battalion (S-3 is a major), or some assistant staff positions in the G shops at division. The senior non-commissioned officer of a company is called
11850-431: The breeding season, and while some forage, others remain vigilant to their mutual benefit. They are able to swim when necessary, although they rarely do so unless the area is flooded or they need to cross a river. Emus begin to settle down at sunset and sleep during the night. They do not sleep continuously but rouse themselves several times during the night. When falling asleep, emus first squat on their tarsi and enter
12008-404: The breeding season, males experience hormonal changes, including an increase in luteinising hormone and testosterone levels, and their testicles double in size. Males construct a rough nest in a semi-sheltered hollow on the ground, using bark, grass, sticks and leaves to line it. The nest is almost always a flat surface rather than a segment of a sphere, although in cold conditions the nest
12166-418: The capture of senior Viet Cong personnel. Although the RAN contingent was significantly smaller than the rest of the unit, the Australian personnel frequently found themselves in senior positions, due to having more extensive training and experience than their American counterparts. Initially operating out of Vung Tau Air Base , the EMU was relocated to Blackhorse Base Camp at the end of 1967. In late 1968,
12324-457: The carcass had some use; the fat was harvested for its valuable, multiple-use oil, the bones were shaped into knives and tools, the feathers were used for body adornment and the tendons substituted for string. The early European settlers killed emus to provide food and used their fat for fuelling lamps. They also tried to prevent them from interfering with farming or invading settlements in search of water during drought. An extreme example of this
12482-439: The cassowary, the emu has sharp claws on its toes which are its major defensive attribute, and are used in combat to inflict wounds on opponents by kicking. The toe and claw total 15 cm (6 in) in length. The bill is quite small, measuring 5.6 to 6.7 cm (2.2 to 2.6 in), and is soft, being adapted for grazing. Emus have good eyesight and hearing, which allows them to detect threats at some distance. The neck of
12640-444: The commanding officer to relay orders by sound (i.e., musical notes and drumbeats). Sometimes, the regimental commander would group the musicians as a regimental band positioned behind the left center company in the line of battle, with the drummers forming a regimental drum-line for use by the regimental commander in giving orders to the several companies by drumbeats. As needed, the musicians also served as orderlies and guards at either
12798-546: The company or battalion/regimental headquarters and in combat served as messengers, water carriers, stretcher bearers, and temporarily guarded enemy prisoners of war until they were passed to the rear for processing and internment. In 1898, with the expansion of the rifle company to three platoons under mobilization for the Spanish–American War , the company gained two officers (an additional first lieutenant as executive officer and an additional second lieutenant to command
12956-470: The company was an administrative and tactical unit seldom employed in other than as a massed formation. The standard procedure, once the company had marched into its position in the line of battle, was for the company to form facing the enemy as two ranks, by platoon, one behind the other. The commanding officer (a captain), and the one to four lieutenants (depending upon the time period) serving as platoon commanders/assistant platoon commanders (1808 to 1821) and
13114-472: The company was equipped with UH-1 Iroquois helicopters: 30 UH-1D or UH-1H 'Slick' troop-carrying helicopters (the EMU was the first Assault Helicopter Company to be equipped with the 'H' model), and eight UH-1C gunship helicopters (nicknamed Taipans, after the venomous Australian snake ). The company was divided up into five platoons: two troop transport, one gunship, one maintenance, and one headquarters. A typical daily deployment consisted of ten Slicks (plus
13272-587: The company. The Honourable Artillery Company is in fact a regiment , not a company, in terms of organisation and size. In the Canadian Army , the company is the standard sub-unit organization for infantry and combat service support , as modelled after the British. A Canadian infantry battalion consists of three or four rifle companies identified by letter (A Company, B Company, etc.), a Combat Support Company, and an Administration Support Company. A notable exception
13430-419: The company. The collective name for the combined unit was the Experimental Military Unit, or EMU. The name was a backronym for emu , and was selected by the 135th before their deployment for being a large, fast, and highly mobile Australian bird. The designation amused Australian members of the company, because emus cannot fly. The EMU was officially part of 12th Aviation Group , 1st Aviation Brigade , and
13588-408: The courtship period, often fighting for access to mates, with fights among females accounting for more than half the aggressive interactions during this period. If females court a male that already has a partner, the incumbent female will try to repel the competitor, usually by chasing and kicking. These interactions can be prolonged, lasting up to five hours, especially when the male being fought over
13746-422: The creation of 'Smoky'; an Iroquois modified to generate a smoke screen during landings. On 21 August, a gunship was struck by a rocket and crashed, killing the three aircrew. Starting from 9 September, the second RANHFV contingent was rotated in, with the EMU's Australian Executive Officer relieved on 30 September, and the last members of the first contingent departing on 15 October. During RANHFV 1's deployment,
13904-568: The custom to assign a veteran sergeant to carry the national colors as only regiments and separate battalions were authorized to carry a "battle flag". A special group of NCOs, led by the "color sergeant", chosen for their experience and fighting skills, were detailed from the companies to the regimental headquarters to carry and defend the national colors (the United States flag) and the regimental colors (the regiment's unique standard bearing its branch and regiment designation as well as its battle honors and unit decorations). The musicians remained with
14062-524: The development of agriculture and the provision of water for stock in the interior of the continent have increased the range of the emu in arid regions. Emus live in various habitats across Australia both inland and near the coast. They are most common in areas of savannah woodland and sclerophyll forest, and least common in heavily populated districts and arid areas with annual precipitation of less than 600 millimetres (24 in). Emus predominantly travel in pairs, and while they can form large flocks, this
14220-563: The dispersal of large viable seeds, which contributes to floral biodiversity. One undesirable effect of this occurred in Queensland in the early twentieth century when emus fed on the fruit of prickly pears in the outback. They defecated the seeds in various places as they moved around, and this led to a series of campaigns to hunt emus and prevent the seeds of the invasive cactus being spread. The cacti were eventually controlled by an introduced moth ( Cactoblastis cactorum ) whose larvae fed on
14378-440: The eggs before the clutch is complete. From this time on, he does not eat, drink, or defecate, and stands only to turn the eggs, which he does about ten times a day. He develops a brood patch , a bare area of wrinkled skin which is in intimate contact with the eggs. Over the course of the eight-week incubation period, he will lose a third of his weight and will survive on stored body fat and on any morning dew that he can reach from
14536-430: The emu has great homeothermic ability, and can maintain this status from −5 to 45 °C (23 to 113 °F). The thermoneutral zone of emus lies between 10 and 30 °C (50 and 86 °F). As with other ratites, emus have a relatively low basal metabolic rate compared to other types of birds. At −5 °C (23 °F), the metabolic rate of an emu sitting down is about 60% of that when standing, partly because
14694-422: The emu is pale blue and shows through its sparse feathers. They have grey-brown plumage of shaggy appearance; the shafts and the tips of the feathers are black. Solar radiation is absorbed by the tips, and the inner plumage insulates the skin. This prevents the birds from overheating, allowing them to be active during the heat of the day. A unique feature of the emu feather is the double rachis emerging from
14852-560: The emu runs in a chaotic manner and changes directions frequently to try to evade its attacker. While full-grown adults are rarely preyed upon, dingos , raptors , monitor lizards , introduced red foxes , feral and domestic dogs, and feral pigs occasionally feed on emu eggs or kill small chicks. Adult males fiercely defend their chicks from predators, especially dingos and foxes. Emus can suffer from both external and internal parasites , but under farmed conditions are more parasite-free than ostriches or rheas . External parasites include
15010-510: The executive officer would direct the fighting, leading from the front in the attack and on the flanks in the defense. The executive officer, or more usually the junior lieutenant, and the first sergeant were normally positioned behind the battle line so as to assist the company commander in overseeing the company and managing the rear (company trains with the quartermaster sergeant and wagoner, casualties, enemy prisoners, non-combatants, deserters, etc.). The sergeants, acted as "file closers", working
15168-407: The following description: This is a species differing in many particulars from that generally known, and is a much larger bird, standing higher on its legs and having the neck longer than in the common one. Total length seven feet two inches. The bill is not greatly different from that of the common Cassowary; but the horny appendage, or helmet on top of the head, in this species is totally wanting:
15326-514: The general range of 100–250 members, perhaps validating the premise that humans fight best (as well as live, work, socialize, play, etc.) in organizations of around 150 members, more or less. While historically companies were usually grouped into battalions or regiments, there were certain sub-units raised as independent companies that did not belong to a specific battalion or regiment, such as Confederate States of America state local militia companies. However, upon activation and assimilation into
15484-402: The giant lizard Megalania , the thylacine , and possibly other carnivorous marsupials , which may explain their seemingly well-developed ability to defend themselves from terrestrial predators. The main predator of emus today is the dingo , which was originally introduced by Aboriginals thousands of years ago from a stock of semi-domesticated wolves. Dingoes try to kill the emu by attacking
15642-658: The greatest challenge to an officer to command a group of men engaged in mortal combat. Until the latter half of the 19th century, when infantry troops still routinely fought in close order, marching and firing shoulder-to-shoulder in lines facing the enemy, the company remained at around 100, or fewer, men. The advent of accurate, long-range rifle fire, repeating rifles , and machine guns necessitated highly dispersed combat formations. This, coupled with radio communication, permitted relatively small numbers of men to have much greater firepower and combat effectiveness than previously possible. Companies, however, continue to remain within
15800-421: The ground surface. The vocalisations of emus mostly consist of various booming and grunting sounds. The booming is created by the inflatable throat pouch; the pitch can be regulated by the bird and depends on the size of the aperture. Most of the booming is done by females; it is part of the courtship ritual, is used to announce the holding of territory and is issued as a threat to rivals. A high-intensity boom
15958-400: The growing chicks for up to seven months, teaching them how to find food. Chicks grow very quickly and are fully grown in five to six months; they may remain with their family group for another six months or so before they split up to breed in their second season. During their early life, the young emus are defended by their father, who adopts a belligerent stance towards other emus, including
16116-521: The gunship's door-mounted M60 machine guns to keep the VC at bay until another EMU helicopter could rescue them. The VC commenced sporadic mortar attacks on Bearcat on 22 February, forcing the EMU to evacuate their helicopters and support personnel to Blackhorse six times over the next seven days. On 31 May, an EMU gunship escorting a formation near Đồng Tâm Base Camp came under heavy fire and crashed, killing all aboard. Door Gunner, Leading Aircrewman Noel Shipp,
16274-551: The head. The emu typically tries to repel the dingo by jumping into the air and kicking or stamping the dingo on its way down. The emu jumps as the dingo barely has the capacity to jump high enough to threaten its neck, so a correctly timed leap to coincide with the dingo's lunge can keep its head and neck out of danger. Despite the potential prey-predator relationship, the presence of predaceous dingoes does not appear to heavily influence emu numbers, with other natural conditions just as likely to cause mortality. Wedge-tailed eagles are
16432-601: The highest casualty rate of any RAN unit in Vietnam. In 2018, the Australian government awarded the Helicopter Flight Vietnam a Unit Citation for Gallantry , which was presented at a ceremony held at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Books Websites Newspaper articles Company (military unit) Usually several companies are grouped as a battalion or regiment , the latter of which
16590-458: The inside edge of the eye to the outside edge. They function as visors to protect the eyes from the dust that is prevalent in windy arid regions. Emus have a tracheal pouch, which becomes more prominent during the mating season. At more than 30 cm (12 in) in length, it is quite spacious; it has a thin wall, and an opening 8 centimetres (3 in) long. Once common on the east coast of Australia, emus are now uncommon there; by contrast,
16748-514: The job in lieu of a rank-qualified first sergeant or master sergeant. Again, in such situations, the NCO holds the duty position and title of "First Sergeant", while retaining the rank of sergeant first class. A weapons company has in place of the three rifle platoons, an 81 mm mortar platoon, an anti-armor platoon, and a heavy machine gun platoon. USMC tank and LAR companies are organized similarly to US Army tank and mechanized infantry companies, with
16906-465: The joint unit (RANHFV 1 through 4). The Australian officer in charge of the RAN contingent became the executive officer of the 135th Company, and because of their more extensive training and experience when compared to the American personnel (for example, one US Army flying instructor assigned to the company had only 125 hours flying experience, while each RAN pilot had over 1,000 hours), Australian personnel commonly filled out leadership positions throughout
17064-516: The joint unit. The Australian contingent was the most highly decorated RAN unit to serve in the Vietnam War, and the one with the highest casualty rate. The EMU was formed around the US Army's 135th Assault Helicopter Company . The 135th had previously flown Caribou transports as a tactical air transport company, but was reoriented for helicopters following the Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966 , when all fixed-wing aircraft were transferred to
17222-452: The junior officer in the company from 1775 until 1808 and nominally the "color bearer", usually either personally carried the regimental battle flag or supervised the detailed party of NCOs and privates drawn from the companies tasked with bearing and protecting the flag. The rank and position of ensign (as well as cornet in mounted units) was eliminated in the early 1800s when incumbents were converted to second lieutenants. It had already become
17380-544: The lack of feathers under the stomach leads to a higher rate of heat loss when standing from the exposed underbelly. Emus forage in a diurnal pattern and eat a variety of native and introduced plant species. The diet depends on seasonal availability with such plants as Acacia , Casuarina and grasses being favoured. They also eat insects and other arthropods, including grasshoppers and crickets , beetles , cockroaches , ladybirds , bogong and cotton-boll moth larvae, ants, spiders and millipedes . This provides
17538-529: The late 1980s. A BTR rifle company consisted of a company headquarters, three motorised rifle platoons and a machine gun/antitank platoon equipped with three PK machine guns and three AT-7 Saxhorn launchers for a total of 110 personnel and 12 BTRs. A BMP rifle company had the same number of personnel and carriers and consisted of a company headquarters, three motorised rifle platoons and a machine gun platoon equipped with six RPK-74s . While seemingly containing less firepower, US commanders were advised to include
17696-637: The legs folded underneath. The beak is turned down so that the whole neck becomes S-shaped and folded onto itself. The feathers direct any rain downwards onto the ground. It has been suggested that the sleeping position is a type of camouflage, mimicking a small mound. Emus typically awake from deep sleep once every ninety minutes or so and stand upright to feed briefly or defecate. This period of wakefulness lasts for ten to twenty minutes, after which they return to slumber. Overall, an emu sleeps for around seven hours in each twenty-four-hour period. Young emus usually sleep with their neck flat and stretched forward along
17854-404: The line by putting men forward to replace casualties in the front rank, encouraging men to fire, reload, move forward, etc. and if need be, physically assisting or restraining men who refused to move forward or attempted to flee. The corporals physically led by example (much like modern fire team leaders) by taking their place in the line with their privates and fighting alongside them. The ensign,
18012-486: The long incubation period which means the developing chick must consume greater resources before hatching. The first verified occurrence of genetically identical avian twins was demonstrated in the emu. The egg surface is granulated and pale green. During the incubation period, the egg turns dark green, although if the egg never hatches, it will turn white from the bleaching effect of the sun. The male becomes broody after his mate starts laying, and may begin to incubate
18170-540: The louse Dahlemhornia asymmetrica and various other lice, ticks , mites and flies . Chicks sometimes suffer from intestinal tract infections caused by coccidian protozoa , and the nematode Trichostrongylus tenuis infects the emu as well as a wide range of other birds, causing haemorrhagic diarrhoea . Other nematodes are found in the trachea and bronchi ; Syngamus trachea causing haemorrhagic tracheitis and Cyathostoma variegatum causing serious respiratory problems in juveniles. Emus were used as
18328-417: The male's attention has been gained, the female circles her prospective mate at a distance of 10 to 40 metres (30 to 130 ft). As she does this, she looks at him by turning her neck, while at the same time keeping her rump facing towards him. If the male shows interest in the parading female, he will move closer; the female continues the courtship by shuffling further away but continuing to circle him. If
18486-628: The mother. He does this by ruffling his feathers, emitting sharp grunts, and kicking his legs to drive off other animals. He can also bend his knees to crouch over smaller chicks to protect them. At night, he envelops his young with his feathers. As the young emus cannot travel far, the parents must choose an area with plentiful food in which to breed. In the wild, emus can live for upwards of 10 years but in captivity, they can live up to 20 years. There are few native natural predators of adult emus still extant. Early in its species history it may have faced numerous terrestrial predators now extinct, including
18644-418: The nest until the chicks start hatching, but most leave the nesting area completely to nest again; in a good season, a female emu may nest three times. If the parents stay together during the incubation period, they will take turns standing guard over the eggs while the other drinks and feeds within earshot. If it perceives a threat during this period, it will lie down on top of the nest and try to blend in with
18802-449: The nest. As with many other Australian birds, such as the superb fairywren , infidelity is the norm for emus, despite the initial pair bond: once the male starts brooding, the female usually wanders off, and may mate with other males and lay in multiple nests; thus, as many as half the chicks in a brood may not be fathered by the incubating male, or even by either parent, as emus also exhibit brood parasitism . Some females stay and defend
18960-602: The number is usually between 15 and 25 eggs. Female emus court the males; the female's plumage darkens slightly and the small patches of bare, featherless skin just below the eyes and near the beak turn turquoise-blue. The colour of the male's plumage remains unchanged, although the bare patches of skin also turn light blue. When courting, females stride around, pulling their neck back while puffing out their feathers and emitting low, monosyllabic calls that have been compared to drum beats. This calling can occur when males are out of sight or more than 50 metres (160 ft) away. Once
19118-495: The officer commanding the platoon. Cavalry companies (not officially re-designated as "troops" until 1883) had a similar organization to the infantry, but with fewer men, companies rarely exceeding around 70 men. In the Field Artillery, the company-equivalent unit is designated as a "battery" and historically consisted of a battery headquarters and two or three gun platoons, each with two gun sections. At full authorized strength,
19276-509: The only Australian in the crew, continued to fire as the helicopter hit the ground, a campaign to bestow Shipp with the Victoria Cross failed and he was instead honored with a Recruit Division in his name at the RAN , Recruit School. On 16 June, an Australian gunner aboard a Slick was wounded while providing covering fire for a medical evacuation of South Vietnamese soldiers near Cái Bè . Despite
19434-437: The only avian predator capable of attacking fully-grown emus, though are perhaps most likely to take small or young specimens. The eagles attack emus by swooping downwards rapidly and at high speed and aiming for the head and neck. In this case, the emu's jumping technique as employed against the dingo is not useful. The birds try to target the emu in the open ground so that it cannot hide behind obstacles. Under such circumstances,
19592-508: The opportunity arises. Breeding takes place in May and June, and fighting among females for a mate is common. Females can mate several times and lay several clutches of eggs in one season. The male does the incubation ; during this process he hardly eats or drinks and loses a significant amount of weight. The eggs hatch after around eight weeks, and the young are nurtured by their fathers. They reach full size after around six months, but can remain as
19750-400: The plains Indians), and 1898–1899 (war with Spain) authorized company strength ranged from over 100 officers and men up to a high of 119. Also, in 1861 a company quartermaster sergeant was added to the authorized manning of an infantry company and a wagoner was reinstituted (previously authorized from 1796 to 1808) to drive the company supply wagon. During the 1700s and up until the late 1800s,
19908-429: The plant, one of the earliest examples of biological control . The δ C of the emu's diet is reflected in the δ C of the calcite of its egg shell. Small stones are swallowed to assist in the grinding up and digestion of the plant material. Individual stones may weigh 45 g (1.6 oz) and the birds may have as much as 745 g (1.642 lb) in their gizzards at one time. They also eat charcoal, although
20066-512: The positions of company executive officer (second-in-command) and a third platoon commander were not authorized until 1898 when the army expanded under mobilization for the war with Spain. During the 1800s the authorized strength of infantry companies fell to a low of 54 officers and men during periods of relative peace from 1821 to 1838 and again from 1842 to 1846. In contrast, from 1812 to 1815 (second war with Great Britain), 1846 to 1848 (war with Mexico), 1861 to 1890 (American civil war and wars with
20224-550: The process, the precocial emu chicks need to develop a capacity for thermoregulation. During incubation, the embryos are kept at a constant temperature but the chicks will need to be able to cope with varying external temperatures by the time they hatch. Newly hatched chicks are active and can leave the nest within a few days of hatching. They stand about 12 cm (5 in) tall at first, weigh 0.5 kg (17.6 oz), and have distinctive brown and cream stripes for camouflage, which fade after three months or so. The male guards
20382-564: The reason for this is unclear. Captive emus have been known to eat shards of glass, marbles, car keys, jewellery and nuts and bolts. Emus drink infrequently but ingest large amounts when the opportunity arises. They typically drink once a day, first inspecting the water body and surrounding area in groups before kneeling down at the edge to drink. They prefer being on firm ground while drinking, rather than on rocks or mud, but if they sense danger, they often stand rather than kneel. If not disturbed, they may drink continuously for ten minutes. Due to
20540-406: The resulting low levels of carbon dioxide in the blood do not appear to cause alkalosis . For normal breathing in cooler weather, they have large, multifolded nasal passages. Cool air warms as it passes through into the lungs, extracting heat from the nasal region. On exhalation, the emu's cold nasal turbinates condense moisture back out of the air and absorb it for reuse. As with other ratites,
20698-400: The same type, with a headquarters and a limited capacity for self-support." The standard NATO symbol for a company consists of a single vertical line placed above a framed unit icon. Member nations have stipulated the different names they will use for organizations of this size. Rifle companies consist of three platoons and a company headquarters. Company-sized organisations in units with
20856-416: The scarcity of water sources, emus are sometimes forced to go without water for several days. In the wild, they often share water holes with other animals such as kangaroos; they are wary and tend to wait for the other animals to leave before drinking. Emus form breeding pairs during the summer months of December and January and may remain together for about five months. During this time, they stay in an area
21014-476: The similar-looking surrounds, and suddenly stand up to confront and scare the other party if it comes close. Incubation takes 56 days, and the male stops incubating the eggs shortly before they hatch. The temperature of the nest rises slightly during the eight-week period. Although the eggs are laid sequentially, they tend to hatch within two days of one another, as the eggs that were laid later experienced higher temperatures and developed more rapidly. During
21172-500: The start of the wet season in June, PAVN activity increased. This, combined with the loss of several helicopters and the replacement of the US 9th Infantry Division with the less professional ARVN 7th and 9th Divisions as part of the ' Vietnamization ' process, increased the EMU's workload. RANHFV 3 began to rotate in from 10 September, and was completed by late September. On 19 December, following
21330-481: The support tradesmen that a battalion requires, such as cooks, vehicle technicians, supply, medics, etc. As in the British Army, company sized units with a mounted heritage use the term squadron, and in the artillery they are called batteries. A Soviet motorised rifle company could be mounted in either BTR armoured personnel carriers or BMP infantry fighting vehicles , with the former being more numerous into
21488-420: The third platoon). Additionally, there was an increase in the number of noncommissioned officers (NCOs) to serve as section leaders (sergeants) and squad leaders (corporals) to the point that in 1901 with the increase in privates to 127 (from 84 in 1898) that there were then authorized 18 corporals and six sergeants, along with two buglers (the bugle having replaced both the drum and the fife in infantry companies),
21646-664: The three line platoons consisting of four tanks or LAVs each, and the company command element containing two tanks or LAVs. AAV companies have three platoons containing four sections of three AAVs each, for a total of 12 AAVs per platoon, and a headquarters section of three AAVs. The company also includes both command and recovery variants of the AAV, giving the company a grand total of approximately 42–45 AAVs. Some companies were well enough known that they have been identified with their company letter. Examples include: Emu The emu ( / ˈ iː m juː / ; Dromaius novaehollandiae )
21804-563: The time of European settlement, and one additional species is known from fossil remains. The insular dwarf emus, D. n. baudinianus and D. n. minor , originally present on Kangaroo Island and King Island respectively, both became extinct shortly after the arrival of Europeans. D. n. diemenensis , another insular dwarf emu from Tasmania , became extinct around 1865. The mainland subspecies, D. n. novaehollandiae , remains common. The population of these birds varies from decade to decade, largely being dependent on rainfall; in 2009, it
21962-432: The two species of ostrich and two larger species of cassowary , weighing slightly more on average than an emperor penguin . Adult emus weigh between 18 and 60 kg (40 and 132 lb), with an average of 31.5 and 37 kg (69 and 82 lb) in males and females, respectively. Females are usually slightly larger than males and are substantially wider across the rump. Although flightless, emus have vestigial wings,
22120-461: The unit was moved to near Biên Hòa . In mid-1970, the EMU was tasked to operations into Cambodia , but as the rules of engagement for the Australians forbade them from operating outside Vietnam, the unit operated under-strength for several days until being retasked back to Vietnam operations. Later that year, the unit was relocated to Đồng Tâm . The RANHFV was withdrawn from Vietnam in 1971, ending
22278-458: The unit's history stems from the 15th Infantry Regiment of the Army, in its lineage. Companies normally do not have their own overhead, but share the overhead of the parent organization. When the regimental headquarters exists as a separate echelon of command (e.g., the 75th Ranger Regiment, the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and the 1st Marine Regiment), as virtually all U.S. Army regiments did until after
22436-406: The units were supporting mounted or foot formations. The British Army infantry normally identifies its rifle companies by letter (usually, but not always, A, B and C) within a battalion , usually with the addition of a headquarters company and a support/heavy weapons company. Some units name their companies after regimental battle honours; this is commonly the case for composite units, for example
22594-429: The wagoner, two senior NCOs (first sergeant and quartermaster sergeant), and five officers for a total of 161 officers and men. In 1905, a mess sergeant was added to the company's senior NCO staff and the company quartermaster sergeant was renamed supply sergeant. Due to mobilization for World War I, the army adopted its "square division" organization structure, significantly increasing unit sizes from platoon up. In 1917,
22752-543: The western coast of Australia in 1696. This was during an expedition led by Dutch captain Willem de Vlamingh who was searching for survivors of a ship that had gone missing two years earlier. The birds were known on the eastern coast before 1788, when the first Europeans settled there. The birds were first mentioned under the name of the "New Holland cassowary " in Arthur Phillip 's Voyage to Botany Bay , published in 1789 with
22910-403: The whole of the head and neck is also covered with feathers, except the throat and fore part of the neck about half way, which are not so well feathered as the rest; whereas in the common Cassowary the head and neck are bare and carunculated as in the turkey. The plumage in general consists of a mixture of brown and grey, and the feathers are somewhat curled or bent at the ends in the natural state:
23068-461: The whole of their length at the back part. The species was named by ornithologist John Latham in 1790 based on a specimen from the Sydney area of Australia, a country which was known as New Holland at the time. He collaborated on Phillip's book and provided the first descriptions of, and names for, many Australian bird species; Dromaius comes from a Greek word meaning "racer" and novaehollandiae
23226-487: The wings are so very short as to be totally useless for flight, and indeed, are scarcely to be distinguished from the rest of the plumage, were it not for their standing out a little. The long spines which are seen in the wings of the common sort, are in this not observable,—nor is there any appearance of a tail. The legs are stout, formed much as in the Galeated Cassowary, with the addition of their being jagged or sawed
23384-408: The world, only being exceeded in height by the ostrich ; the largest individuals can reach up to 150 to 190 cm (59 to 75 in) in height. Measured from the bill to the tail, emus range in length from 139 to 164 cm (55 to 65 in), with males averaging 148.5 cm (58.5 in) and females averaging 156.8 cm (61.7 in). Emus are the fourth or fifth heaviest living bird after
23542-502: Was drifting towards the VC force that had attacked it and sunk a companion craft. Despite coming under fire, the pilot achieved this by entangling his Iroquois' landing skids in the boat's superstructure and towing it away. He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. Operations continued into the new year, and on 16 January 1971 an EMU helicopter was shot down, crashing upside-down. The American pilot
23700-571: Was estimated that there were between 630,000 and 725,000 birds. Emus were introduced to Maria Island off Tasmania, and Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia, during the 20th century. The Maria Island population died out in the mid-1990s. The Kangaroo Island birds have successfully established a breeding population. In 1912, the Australian ornithologist Gregory M. Mathews recognised three living subspecies of emu, D. n. novaehollandiae (Latham, 1790), D. n. woodwardi Mathews, 1912 and D. n. rothschildi Mathews, 1912. The Handbook of
23858-543: Was forced to land, but later recovered. The vulnerability of the UH-1 was demonstrated in late 1970, when five EMU helicopters were shot down in the Kien Hoa province by a single VC soldier armed with an AK-47 rifle. Nobody was killed in the resulting crashes, but all five helicopters had to be airlifted out by CH-47 Chinooks . On 4 December, an Australian EMU pilot rescued a South Vietnamese patrol boat, which had been disabled and
24016-587: Was killed, but the other personnel survived the crash, linked up with South Vietnamese troops fighting in the area, and remained with them until helicopters of the 1st Cavalry Regiment drove the PAVN off. During late February and early March, South Vietnamese and American forces were involved in Operation Lam Son 719 , an attempt to cut North Vietnamese supply lines (known as the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos. Because of
24174-618: Was organized into two platoons, each consisting of two sections/squads (the terms were sometimes used interchangeably) consisting of one sergeant, one corporal, and 19 privates. (Wright, 1983) From the late 1700s up until the late 1800s, a US infantry company was commanded by a captain and assisted by a first sergeant (first authorized in 1781), and consisted of a small company headquarters and two identical platoons commanded by lieutenants. Even though from 1808 until 1821 companies were authorized two first lieutenants and two second lieutenants (and again from 1861 to 1866 for two second lieutenants),
24332-418: Was over half of the honours and awards presented to RAN personnel serving in the Vietnam War. Australian personnel were also awarded several Vietnamese and United States decorations. 723 Squadron RAN, the parent unit of the RAN Helicopter Flight Vietnam, was awarded the battle honour "Vietnam 1967–71". Five RAN personnel assigned to the EMU were killed during the conflict, with another ten seriously injured:
24490-672: Was part of the US Army chain of command . A separate chain of command for RAN personnel was maintained to the Commander Australian Forces Vietnam. The Australian command chain was rarely used: David Farthing, who led RANHFV 3, claims he only had to use it once during his twelve-month deployment. The main role of the EMU was to provide transport and support for units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), United States Army and Marine Corps, and Australian Army. For this purpose,
24648-507: Was primarily tasked with providing transport and support for units of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), United States Army and Marine Corps , and Australian Army. A typical day's operations consisted of ten transports (supported by four gunships and a command unit) collecting a unit of soldiers, performing a combat assault , then returning the unit to base. Other operations included dawn and dusk assaults, night hunter-killer patrols, and supporting United States Navy SEAL units in
24806-711: Was proposed in 2014 by Mitchell et al., based on analysis of mitochondrial DNA . This splits off the Casuariidae into their own order, the Casuariformes , and includes only the cassowaries in the family Casuariidae, placing the emus in their own family, Dromaiidae . The cladogram shown below is from their study. † Aepyornithidae (elephant birds) Apterygidae (kiwi) Dromaiidae ( emus ) Casuariidae (cassowaries) † Dinornithiformes (moa) Tinamidae (tinamous) Rheidae (rheas) Struthionidae (ostriches) Two different Dromaius species were present in Australia at
24964-728: Was the Emu War in Western Australia in 1932. Emus flocked to the Chandler and Walgoolan area during a dry spell, damaging rabbit fencing and devastating crops. An attempt to drive them off was mounted, with the army called in to dispatch them with machine guns; the emus largely avoided the hunters. Emus are large, powerful birds, and their legs are among the strongest of any animal and powerful enough to tear down metal fencing. The birds are very defensive of their young, and there have been two documented cases of humans being attacked by emus. In
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