Air cavalry are infantry units that use air units like the helicopter for mobility and firepower.

History

Air mobility has been a key major concept since World War II. Paratroopers were dropped from the skies at Sicily, Normandy, Holland and Crete. Meanwhile, the Germans were using the autogyro to airlift downed Luftwaffe pilots back to friendly lines. As the war ended, the Allies, the Americans in particular, saw that having a vertical take off and landing craft may be useful. During the Korean War, the U.S. had their first combat test of the helicopter. It was unofficially called the "Flying Banana" because of its banana-like appearance. But, with the limited action it saw, Air mobile was born.

Vietnam War

The need for a new type of unit became apparent to the US Army in 1964 when they saw a new kind of war heading their way. The Army saw that Vietnam is varied in terrain, having jungles, mountains, and rivers, making maneuvering very difficult. To circumvent this problem, they developed the idea to use helicopters to leap in and out of battles, carry out the wounded, and drop off supplies.

However, the Army realized that it would take a new revolutionary combat leader to command this new outfit. They called on Colonel Harold G. Moore, an old army paratrooper, to be its commander. The unit was designated the Seventh Cavalry, the same regiment that Custer had commanded at the Battle of the Little Bighorn. On November 14, 1965, he led his troops in the first major engagement of the Vietnam War, which took place near the Chu Pong massif near the Vietnam-Cambodia border. It is known today as the Battle of the Ia Drang Valley. For three grueling days, 400 Americans and 2000 NVA fought it out on a ground no bigger than a football field. The Seventh Cavalry were victorious. Thus started the long and proud history of the Air Cavalry, which has continued with the formation of new Air Cavalry units and is developing the idea of having an attached Medi-Vac group, as well as a small battery of artillery (105mm howitzers) that would be used as support. Like Infantry units, the Air Cavalry also has a platoon or two of mortars for close support.