3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) is a regular force light infantry battalion of the Canadian Army, assigned to 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group within 4th Canadian Division and headquartered at CFB Petawawa, Ontario.[1] It perpetuates the lineage of The London and Oxford Fusiliers, originating as militia rifle units in Ontario on 14 August 1863, and was authorized as a distinct active battalion on 9 December 1950 within the Special Force for service in the Korean War.[2] Amalgamated with its militia predecessor on 25 April 1958 as the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers), the unit was reduced to nil strength in 1954 before reactivation as a permanent regular force element on 6 July 1970.[2] Throughout its history, 3 RCR has contributed to Canadian operations in major conflicts and stability missions, including combat deployments during the Korean War from March 1953 until the armistice, where elements fought alongside 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade against Chinese and North Korean forces.[2] In the post-Cold War era, the battalion participated in United Nations peacekeeping in Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of stabilization efforts, including Operation Essential Harvest, providing battle group contributions for weapons collection and area security. Its most extensive recent combat experience occurred in Afghanistan, with rotations under Operation Athena beginning in July 2003 in Kabul—forming the initial Roto 0 battle group—and subsequent task forces in Kandahar Province through 2014, involving direct action against Taliban insurgents and reconstruction support within NATO's International Security Assistance Force.[3][2] More recently, elements have supported NATO enhanced Forward Presence in Europe under Operation Reassurance and training missions like Operation Unifier in Ukraine.[4][5] The battalion emphasizes rapid deployment and tactical lethality, employing light tactical vehicles, direct fire support platoons, and integrated weapons systems to enhance brigade-level maneuver in contemporary battlefields.[6] Its regimental colours, presented in 2013 by the Duke of Edinburgh, symbolize a heritage of resilience forged in over a century of service across domestic defence, international coalitions, and high-intensity warfare.[7]Formation and Lineage
Origins and Initial Establishment
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment perpetuates the lineage of the London and Oxford Fusiliers, a militia unit originating on 27 April 1866 in London, Ontario, as the 7th Battalion Infantry, "Prince of Wales' Regiment," later redesignated the 7th Battalion "Oxford Rifles" in 1867 and amalgamated with other local militia elements to form the Fusiliers in 1936.[8] This militia heritage provided the territorial affiliation and traditional foundations for the battalion's regular force iterations, drawing recruits primarily from southwestern Ontario.[9] The initial regular force establishment of the 3rd Battalion occurred on 25 March 1900, when it was raised as a temporary unit to relieve the British Army's Prince of Wales's Own Leinster Regiment from garrison duties at Citadel Hill, Halifax, Nova Scotia.[9] Composed of personnel from The Royal Canadian Regiment's existing companies and supplemented by militia volunteers, the battalion maintained a full establishment of approximately 500 officers and men, focusing on coastal defense, training, and ceremonial roles amid growing imperial tensions leading to the Second Boer War.[10] It performed these duties until disbandment on 1 October 1902, following the return to peacetime garrisons and the broader reduction of Canada's nascent permanent force infantry.[9] Subsequent mobilizations during the First World War saw affiliated militia elements contribute personnel to Canadian Expeditionary Force battalions perpetuated by The Royal Canadian Regiment, such as the 1st, 33rd, 71st, 142nd, and 168th Infantry Battalions, as well as the 2nd Battalion, Canadian Machine Gun Corps, though no distinct 3rd Battalion regular formation emerged at that time.[8] The battalion's reserve status and periodic reactivations reflected the Canadian Army's pre-Second World War emphasis on militia augmentation over sustained regular force expansion, with formal redesignation as the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers) occurring only in 1958 following post-Korean War reorganizations.[8]Post-War Reformations and Reserve Periods
Following the conclusion of World War II, the Canadian Army demobilized many wartime units, and the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment was not perpetuated as a regular force entity in the immediate postwar period.[2] A new 3rd Battalion was authorized on 9 December 1950 as an Active Force unit within the Special Force mobilized for the Korean War, comprising personnel drawn from regular and reserve sources to bolster Canada's commitment to United Nations operations.[2] This battalion ceased its Special Force embodiment on 1 November 1953 and was reduced to nil strength on 15 April 1954 before formal disbandment on 21 July 1954, reflecting the postwar reduction in active infantry battalions to align with peacetime requirements and fiscal constraints.[2] To sustain regimental reserve capacity, elements of The Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) and The Oxford Rifles—both non-permanent active militia units—were amalgamated in 1954 and redesignated The London and Oxford Fusiliers (3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment), establishing a reserve component affiliated with the regiment.[8] On 1 January 1958, this reserve unit was redesignated 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (London and Oxford Fusiliers), formalizing its integration into the regiment's structure while maintaining militia roles in training, recruitment, and domestic readiness.[8] The battalion operated in this reserve capacity through the late 1950s and 1960s, participating in annual collective training and supporting the regiment's broader force generation amid Cold War-era expansions of Canada's NATO commitments.[8] In 1970, the reactivation of a regular force 3rd Battalion prompted the reserve unit's renumbering to 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, thereby concluding its tenure as the designated 3rd Battalion reserve formation and shifting its role within the regiment's auxiliary elements.[8] This reformation underscored the Canadian Army's practice of alternating active and reserve designations to balance operational demands with reserve force development.[2]Korean War Operations
Deployment and Major Engagements
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) was authorized for active service on 9 December 1950 as part of Canada's contribution to United Nations forces in Korea.[2] Following training in Canada at locations including Camp Borden and Ipperwash, the battalion embarked for Korea, arriving in March 1953 amid ongoing static warfare along the 38th parallel.[11] It relieved preceding units on the Jamestown Line, a fortified sector of the Commonwealth Division's front, assuming responsibility for defensive positions including Hill 187 (also known as 1414) in late April 1953.[12] The battalion's primary major engagement occurred during the Battle of Hill 187 on 2–3 May 1953, one of the final significant actions before the armistice. Chinese People's Volunteer Army forces launched a coordinated assault involving artillery barrages and infantry waves targeting 3 RCR's Charlie Company positions on the hill's forward slopes, aiming to seize the feature and disrupt UN lines.[12] Despite being overrun in parts, the company, supported by mortar fire and counterattacks from reserve platoons, repelled the attack after intense close-quarters fighting that included extensive grenade use and hand-to-hand combat.[11] The Chinese withdrew by dawn on 3 May, suffering heavy losses estimated in the hundreds, though exact figures remain unverified from UN sources.[12] Casualties for 3 RCR in the battle totaled 26 killed, 27 wounded, and 7 captured, representing a significant toll for the unit's brief frontline tenure.[11] Following the engagement, the battalion conducted routine patrols and defensive duties along the line until the armistice on 27 July 1953, after which elements remained for occupation duties into 1954.[13] No further major offensive actions involved 3 RCR, as the war had shifted to armistice negotiations by mid-1953.[12]Casualties and Effectiveness
The 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) incurred its heaviest casualties during the Battle of Hill 187 on 2–3 May 1953, with 26 killed, 27 wounded, and 7 captured, primarily from Charlie Company after it was temporarily overrun by Chinese forces following an artillery and mortar barrage.[11] These losses represented a significant toll for the battalion, which had arrived in Korea in March 1953 and assumed positions on the Jamestown Line, including Hill 187, by late April.[11] Overall Canadian ground forces in Korea suffered 516 fatalities across the conflict, though specific figures for 3 RCR beyond Hill 187 remain limited in records, as the unit's service concluded shortly before the armistice on 27 July 1953.[14] Despite limited prior combat experience among its ranks, 3 RCR demonstrated resilience in defensive operations, particularly at Hill 187, where counter-battery fire and rapid reorganization enabled the reoccupation of overrun positions after Chinese attackers withdrew under heavy fire.[11] The battalion's performance earned commendations, including three Military Medals and two Military Crosses awarded for acts of leadership and bravery amid intense assaults involving human-wave tactics and close-quarters fighting.[11] This effectiveness in holding key terrain contributed to the stabilization of the front lines in the war's final phase, aligning with broader Canadian infantry roles in the 25th Canadian Infantry Brigade's static defense strategy against probing Chinese offensives.[11]Cold War Deployments
European Stationing and NATO Roles
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) was forward-deployed to Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Baden-Soellingen in West Germany from 1977 to 1984 as a mechanized infantry battalion within the 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (4 CMBG).[15] This posting formed part of Canada's longstanding NATO commitment to station combat-ready forces in Central Europe for collective defense against Soviet-led Warsaw Pact forces.[16] Equipped with armored personnel carriers such as the M113 and supported by Leopard tanks from affiliated units, 3 RCR enhanced 4 CMBG's mobility and firepower, enabling rapid response to potential armored breakthroughs along the Inner German Border.[17] In its NATO role, the battalion focused on deterrence through high-readiness training and integration with Allied forces under the 1st Canadian Division (Forward), aligned with VII U.S. Corps.[18] Personnel conducted live-fire maneuvers, urban combat simulations, and cross-border exercises to maintain operational tempo amid escalating East-West tensions in the late 1970s and early 1980s. A notable example was participation in Exercise FALLEX 82 in September 1982, where companies executed defensive operations and advances in the Gerolzhofen training area, simulating repulsion of motorized rifle divisions.[19] These activities underscored 3 RCR's contribution to NATO's forward defense doctrine, emphasizing layered anti-armor capabilities and alliance interoperability without direct combat engagements during the period.[16] The battalion's tenure ended in 1984 with rotation back to Canada, though 4 CMBG's NATO presence persisted until 1993 amid post-Cold War drawdowns.[15] Throughout, 3 RCR exemplified Canada's brigade-level reinforcement strategy, with approximately 800-1,000 personnel sustaining base security, community relations in Baden-Württemberg, and contingency planning for nuclear or conventional escalation scenarios.[20] No major incidents or casualties were recorded from hostile action, reflecting the era's emphasis on peacetime vigilance over active operations.[16]Domestic Training and Readiness
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR), was re-authorized as a Regular Force infantry unit on 6 July 1970 and established its headquarters at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Petawawa, Ontario, the primary garrison for light infantry training in Canada during the latter Cold War period.[2] This reformation positioned the battalion within Mobile Command, emphasizing domestic exercises to build tactical proficiency in preparation for NATO reinforcements and other operational contingencies. Training at Petawawa leveraged the base's expansive 88,000-hectare training area, which supported year-round activities including individual weapon qualification, section and platoon patrols, and company-level assaults under varied terrain and weather conditions.[2] From 1970 to 1977, prior to its initial deployment to West Germany as part of 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, 3 RCR prioritized readiness through intensive field training, focusing on mechanized infantry tactics, anti-armor drills, and collective maneuvers to simulate European theater operations.[21] These domestic efforts included integration with supporting arms such as artillery and engineers, ensuring battalion-level cohesion for rapid reinforcement roles under NATO's forward defense strategy. Between overseas rotations—such as after returning from Germany in 1984 and before redeploying in 1988—similar domestic cycles at Petawawa maintained combat skills, with emphasis on live-fire iterations and cold-weather proficiency to counter potential Warsaw Pact threats.[22][17] Such training underscored Canada's commitment to alliance interoperability, with 3 RCR participating in national-level exercises that tested rapid deployment and sustainment, though specifics were often classified to preserve operational security. Bernd Horn's regimental history details how these periods honed the battalion's adaptability, transitioning from post-unification Army reforms to a high-readiness posture amid escalating East-West tensions in the 1970s and 1980s. Overall, domestic readiness at Petawawa enabled 3 RCR to alternate between Canadian-based buildup and forward-stationed deterrence, contributing to the regiment's evolution into a versatile mechanized force by the Cold War's end.Post-Cold War Engagements
Balkans Missions
The 3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) participated in United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) operations in the former Yugoslavia starting in early 1992, deploying elements including November Company and the reconnaissance platoon under Operation Harmony. Approximately 280 personnel from bases in Lahr and Baden-Soellingen, Germany, began deployment on 24 March 1992, with the main body arriving in Daruvar, Croatia, by 11 April to conduct peacekeeping duties such as manning checkpoints, patrols, and weapons confiscation in the Krajina region amid ethnic tensions between Croatian and Serb forces.[23][24] In summer 1992, 3 RCR elements reinforced Sarajevo operations from 30 June to 3 August, securing the airport for humanitarian relief flights while facing sniper fire, mortar barrages, and mines; notable incidents included a 19 June mortar wounding Major Peter Devlin, Lieutenant Dray, and Corporal Gordon, a 9 July mine detonation severing Corporal Dennis Reid's foot, and reconnaissance efforts to neutralize enemy mortars.[23] The unit returned to Croatia by early August and completed its six-month tour by 7 October 1992, contributing to cease-fire monitoring without major combat losses but under persistent small-arms and indirect fire threats.[23][24] Later elements of 3 RCR supported UNPROFOR extensions through spring 1994 to late 1995 under Operation Cavalier, focusing on convoy escorts and patrols in eastern Bosnia and Sarajevo.[24] The battalion's most extensive post-war Balkans commitment came during NATO's Stabilization Force (SFOR) in Bosnia-Herzegovina via Operation Palladium Rotation 3, deploying the full battle group from July 1998 to January 1999 to enforce the Dayton Accords, conduct mine observation, and deter renewed hostilities.[25][26] Under Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Jorgensen, the group supervised de-mining by former combatants and maintained sector security in Multi-National Division North, contributing to stabilized conditions without significant engagements.[25]Afghanistan Campaigns
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) Battalion Group deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, on 19 July 2003 as Rotation 0 (Roto 0) of Task Force Kabul under Operation Athena, marking Canada's initial commitment to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).[3] The unit, comprising infantry companies supported by engineers, artillery, and logistics elements, assumed responsibility for security operations in Kabul West, conducting patrols, cordon-and-search missions, and stability activities amid sporadic insurgent attacks and urban threats.[27] The battle group was declared fully operational on 4 September 2003, focusing on disrupting Taliban remnants and al-Qaeda networks while supporting Afghan National Army training and reconstruction efforts in the capital.[27] During the Kabul deployment, 3 RCR personnel faced improvised explosive devices (IEDs), small-arms fire, and indirect attacks, with notable incidents including the 21 January 2004 IED strike that killed Corporal Robbie Christopher Beerenfenger while on convoy escort duty near the city.[28] Another fatality occurred on 27 January 2004 when a soldier from the battle group was killed in a similar attack, underscoring the persistent risks in urban counter-insurgency.[29] The rotation concluded around mid-2004, with command of Kabul West transferred to allied forces, after which Camp Julien—the unit's primary base—was handed over to Afghan control in subsequent years.[27] Following the full battalion group rotation, companies and platoons from 3 RCR, as a Primary Reserve unit, augmented regular force battle groups in Kandahar Province during the more intense combat phase of Canada's mission from 2006 onward.[2] November Company, for instance, operated in high-threat areas like Zhari District, where Private Tyler Crooks was killed by an IED on foot patrol in western Zhari as part of counter-insurgent sweeps against Taliban strongholds.[30] Additional losses included Trooper Karl Curtis Diab, serving with 3 RCR elements in Task Force Kandahar, killed on 7 March 2009 during operations that involved direct engagements and route clearance.[31] Private Michael Freeman of 3 RCR died on 15 December 2008 from wounds sustained in combat, reflecting the battalion's ongoing contributions to Joint Task Force Afghanistan amid rising Taliban offensives.[32] These detachments participated in over 75 skirmishes in some rotations, emphasizing mechanized infantry tactics with light armoured vehicles against entrenched insurgents.[33] The regiment's overall Afghanistan service, including 3 RCR's inputs, earned the battle honour "Afghanistan," recognizing sustained combat effectiveness despite asymmetric threats.[33]Modern Operations and Current Role
NATO Commitments and Operation Reassurance
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR), based in Petawawa, Ontario, has contributed personnel to Operation Reassurance since its inception in 2014 as Canada's response to NATO's assurance measures following Russia's annexation of Crimea. This operation supports NATO's deterrence and defence posture in Central and Eastern Europe through training, exercises, and multinational deployments, with 3 RCR elements focusing on light infantry capabilities such as rapid response, reconnaissance, and integrated fires.[34] [35] In March 2015, approximately 125 soldiers from 3 RCR, as part of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, deployed from CFB Trenton to Poland for NATO reassurance activities, including participation in exercises at the Drawsko Pomorski training area to enhance interoperability with allies. These early commitments involved joint manoeuvres with Polish and other NATO forces, emphasizing 3 RCR's role in high-mobility operations and collective defence readiness amid heightened regional tensions.[35] [36] Subsequent rotations integrated 3 RCR into NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battle Group in Latvia, where the battalion provided reconnaissance platoons, company elements (including designations like Mike Company), and specialized training support. For instance, in 2023, 3 RCR personnel tested vehicle-mounted weapons systems, including .50 calibre machine guns and 40 mm grenade launchers, to validate light battalion lethality in Baltic environments. Exercises such as Namejs and Oak Resolve have featured 3 RCR fast-roping from Latvian helicopters, anti-tank guided missile deployments like the SPIKE Long Range 2, and air-land integration drills to bolster multinational brigade coherence.[37] [38] [39] As Canada scales its Latvia commitment from battle group to brigade strength—reaching approximately 2,000 personnel by 2025, with extension to 2029—3 RCR continues to supply high-readiness forces for deterrence against potential aggression, including contributions to the Global Response Task Force framework for rapid NATO reinforcement. These efforts underscore the battalion's adaptability as a light infantry unit in hybrid threat scenarios, prioritizing empirical validation of tactics through live-fire and joint operations.[40] [41]Specialized Capabilities and Recent Enhancements
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) maintains specialized capabilities as a light infantry unit within 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, emphasizing rapid deployment and enhanced firepower through its Direct Fire Support (DFS) platoon. This platoon, consisting of 12 soldiers operating four MRZR-D4 light tactical vehicles, integrates anti-armour systems such as the TOW missile launcher, alongside M2 Browning heavy machine guns and C16 automatic grenade launchers, enabling engagement of high-value targets like main battle tanks from extended ranges.[6] The MRZRs are air-transportable via CC-130J Hercules for insertion and CH-147 Chinook for extraction, supporting self-sustaining operations for 48 to 96 hours without resupply and facilitating vertical envelopment tactics in collaboration with Royal Canadian Air Force squadrons.[6] These capabilities extend to close-quarter combat proficiency and mobile communications, with signal operators employing rolatube masts for elevated antenna deployment to improve battlefield connectivity.[42] The DFS platoon's design addresses limitations of traditional light infantry by providing organic direct fire support, as demonstrated in exercises like Arctic Anvil 2019, where it delivered covering fire during live assaults.[43] Recent enhancements focus on integrating advanced soldier systems and light vehicle weaponization to boost lethality and situational awareness. In July 2018, 3 RCR received initial deliveries of the Argus digital dismounted soldier system from Rheinmetall Canada, the first phase of the Integrated Soldier System, equipping platoons with tactical computers and radios for real-time data sharing and improved command-and-control at the section and platoon levels.[44] This modernization trial, including assessments of load-bearing gear and movement under encumbrance, aimed to transform infantry tactics by enabling networked operations.[45] Further advancements include the 2023 proof-of-concept integration of anti-armour weapons onto MRZRs, tested during Exercise LETHAL WEAPON on May 31, 2023, at CFB Petawawa, which validated rapid insertion of DFS elements to strike armored threats and extend brigade reach.[6] These developments align with broader Canadian Army efforts to equip light forces for peer-adversary scenarios, emphasizing mobility, precision fires, and reduced logistical footprints without relying on heavier mechanized assets.[6]Insignia, Traditions, and Symbols
Cap Badge and Uniform Distinctions
The cap badge of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment is the same as that worn by the regiment as a whole, blazoned as an eight-pointed diamond-cut star argent bearing a bezant inscribed with the cypher VRI—for Victoria Regina Imperatrix—in letters argent, surmounted by a maple leaf proper and beneath a royal crown proper.[2] This design incorporates the imperial cypher granted to the regiment by Queen Victoria on 21 November 1893, affirming its royal designation and distinguishing it from other Canadian infantry units.[46] The badge symbolizes continuity with the regiment's Victorian-era origins and has been worn in various metallic and anodized forms, with over 40 distinct variations documented in regimental collections.[47] Uniform distinctions for the 3rd Battalion include standard regimental shoulder titles inscribed "RCR," worn on dress uniforms to denote affiliation with The Royal Canadian Regiment.[48] Battalion-specific identification is conveyed through operational context or numerical designations on certain accoutrements, such as collar badges or flashes in historical contexts.[48] A notable distinction is the maroon beret awarded to paratrooper-qualified members of the battalion's Parachute Company Group, earned upon completion of Canadian Forces parachute training and signifying specialized airborne capabilities maintained by 3 RCR since the 1995 disbandment of the Canadian Airborne Regiment.[49] This beret replaces the standard rifle green beret worn by non-qualified infantry personnel and underscores the battalion's role in rapid deployment operations.[48]
Regimental Colours and Battle Honours
The 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, like other battalions of the regiment, carries a stand of colours comprising the Sovereign's Colour (formerly Queen's Colour) and the Regimental Colour. The Regimental Colour is a royal blue silk flag featuring the regimental badge—a crowned maple leaf superimposed on a cross of Saint George—at its center, with selected battle honours emblazoned on laurel branches around the central device, signifying victories in major campaigns.[50] [51] These colours serve as ceremonial standards, rallying points in battle historically, and symbols of the unit's heritage and allegiance to the Crown.[7] The 3rd Battalion received its current Regimental Colour on 27 April 2013, presented by His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the regiment's Colonel-in-Chief, during a ceremony at Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario.[7] This replaced the previous Regimental Colour, which had been presented in 1973 and bore 25 of the regiment's battle honours at that time.[52] The colours are trooped on regimental anniversaries and significant parades, with the Regimental Colour specifically listing key honours earned by the regiment across its history. The Royal Canadian Regiment, including its 3rd Battalion, holds battle honours awarded for distinguished service in various conflicts, with selected honours emblazoned on the Regimental Colour per Canadian Army tradition.[2] These honours are:- War of 1812: Defence of Canada – 1812-1815 – Défense du Canada; Detroit; Niagara.
- North-West Rebellion: Saskatchewan; North-West Canada, 1885.
- South African War: Paardeberg; South Africa, 1899-1900.
- First World War: Ypres, 1915, '17; Gravenstafel; St. Julien; Festubert, 1915; Mount Sorrel; Somme, 1916; Pozières; Flers-Courcelette; Ancre Heights; Arras, 1917, '18; Vimy, 1917; Arleux; Scarpe, 1917, '18; Hill 70; Passchendaele; Amiens; Drocourt-Quéant; Hindenburg Line; Canal du Nord; Cambrai, 1918; Pursuit to Mons; France and Flanders, 1915-18.
- Second World War: Landing in Sicily; Valguarnera; Agira; Adrano; Regalbuto; Sicily, 1943; Landing at Reggio; Motta Montecorvino; Campobasso; Torella; San Leonardo; The Gully; Ortona; Cassino II; Gustav Line; Liri Valley; Hitler Line; Gothic Line; Lamone Crossing; Misano Ridge; Rimini Line; San Martino-San Lorenzo; Pisciatello; Fosso Vecchio; Italy, 1943-1945; Apeldoorn; North-West Europe, 1945.
- Korean War: Korea, 1951-1953.
- Afghanistan: Afghanistan.[2]