Reconnaissance Battalion, Armored Division

necon naissa nce crarra I ion, Armored Division by Major 1. D. White, Cavalry Organization There are three agencies available in the Armored Division which are specifically organized to execute reconnaissance. They are: The attached air service.

The reconnaissance battalion.

Regimental reconnaissance companies of the armored regiments.

In addition to the above, the execution of reconnaissance is a continuing function of all combat units in the march and in combat.

The availability of specially organized reconnaissance agencies within the division permits the initiation of reconnaissance at the earliest practical moment. The organization and means of communication within these elements facilitate maintaining contact once the enemy has been located.

The Reconnaissance Battalion is organized with a Battalion Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment containing the elements essential to command, control and administration; two Reconnaissance Companies (Armored); one Armored Company (Light) and one Rifle Company (Armored). It also has an organic Medical Detachment equipped with cross country ambulances.

The Reconnaissance Companies each consist of four 4car reconnaissance platoons and a motorcycle platoon. The reconnaissance platoons are equipped with scout cars and have motorcycle scouts. The motorcycle platoon is equipped with solo motorcycles and tricycles or the %-ton 4x4 truck (Bantam). The motorcycle platoon dismounts 16 rifles and 15 sub-machine guns. The Armored Company (Light) comprises three 4-car light tank platoons and a company headquarters. The Rifle Company (Armored) is organized into three 34-man rifle platoons and a special weapons platoon consisting of one 60-mm mortar section (3 mortars) and a.30 caliber machine gun section of two light guns. The Rifle Company is transported in armored half-track personnel camers which mount.30 caliber light machine guns.

The Armored Company and the Rifle Company are included in the battalion organization to support and assist the Reconnaissance Companies by furnishing the combat strength necessary to reduce road blocks, penetrate hostile screens, and to seize and hold vital terrain features pending the arrival of advance elements of the division.

Moral attachments include Ordnance and Quartermaster maintenance elements and a specially organized Engineer platoon. The latter organization assists in terrain and route reconnaissance, in constructing or destroying road blocks and in effecting demolitions. It has also available a small number of assault boats to ferry personnel across unfordable streams and can construct, in a very short time, a raft to ferry scout cars and motorcycles.

The function of the Reconnaissance Battalion is to provide the Division Commander with an independent reconnaissance unit capable of performing distant, close and battle reconnaissance. Under average conditions of weather and visibility the attached air service may be expected to provide distant and preliminary route reconnaissance and by obtaining early information of hostile dispositions, permit the focusing of the ground reconnaissance agencies where more detailed information is necessary. However, when the air service for any reason, is prevented from securing information which is obtainable only through distant reconnaissance, the reconnaissance battalion must be prepared to execute such missions.

Distant Reconnaissance The distance to which ground reconnaissance elements are dispatched depends largely upon the efficacy of air observation. Conditions of weather, darkness or hostile air superiority may prevent or restrict air reconnaissance. Under such conditions the reconnaissance battalion will be required to extend its activities. At other times the battalion may be required to verify or confirm air service reports over extended distances. When performing distant reconnaissance, the battalion commander must be closely supported by the regimental reconnaissance companies.

Close Reconnaissance In performing close reconnaissance, the battalion seeks to obtain all possible information concerning terrain, routes and hostile dispositions within a specified area, necessary for the Division Commander to formulate a plan of action and issue necessary preliminary orders for its execution.

Battle Reconnaissance When the division is committed to combat, the reconnaissance battalion performs battle reconnaissance as follows: a. It seeks to locate the hostile flanks and rear.

b. It maintains observation at a considerable distance to the flanks in order to give timely information of the movement of hostile reserves and reinforcements and report areas contaminated with persistent gas.

c. It performs harassing operations against hostile command and supply installations and in furtherance of this may execute hasty demolitions.

d. It prepares plans to initiate pursuit, generally by encircling maneuver. Soviet T-37 Amphibious Tank, 1932 e. It continues more detailed reconnaissance of terrain and hostile dispositions -frequently dismounted.

f. It seeks gaps or soft spots in the hostile lines. Note: e and fare generally taken over by regimental reconnaissance companies as rapidly as possible. Missions and Reconnaissance Instructions The most important factor in successfully executing reconnaissance missions is a complete and thorough knowledge and understanding on the part of reconnaissance unit commanders of the mission of the division as a whole and the general plan of the Division Commander for its execution. This knowledge and understanding must be maintained throughout operations, especially as the situation and plans are developed or changed. Close liaison must be maintained with the Division Commander through the Intelligence and Operations Sections of the division staff. After contact has been gained and as the main body of the division closes on the battalion, the Reconnaissance Battalion Commander will find it desirable and often necessary to report in person to the Division Commander or his representative, both to give and receive information. Initial reconnaissance instructions issued to the battalion are generally simple and include the assignment of a zone or area to be reconnoitered and a brief statement of the information desired. Phase or control lines, the time the information is desired and other measures for control and coordination may be prescribed. The essential features of the reconnaissance instructions are: a. That the battalion commander understand what information is desired and the general area where it is to be obtained and: b. That he understand the mission of the division as a whole and the general plan of the commander for its execution.

Within the battalion, more elaborate and detailed instructions are necessary. Zones, routes or areas of responsibility must be clearly defined for each reconnaissance company. Measures for control and coordination must be clearly specified. Missions to subordinate reconnaissance elements generally take the form of specified questions.

After contact has been gained or as a result of information obtained from air reconnaissance additional and more detailed and specific missions may be assigned to both the Reconnaissance Battalion and then in turn to its subordinate units. It is extremely important that the battalion commander be kept informed of information and intelligence received by G-2 from other sources. One of the functions of the battalion liaison officer maintained at division headquarters is to facilitate and expedite transmission of such items to battalion headquarters. Standing Reconnaissance Missions The assignment of missions and the issuing of reconnaissance instructions is greatly simplified and facilitated by means of Standing Operating Procedure which prescribes standing reconnaissance functions for all reconnaissance agencies. These reconnaissance functions apply to all reconnaissance elements regardless of size; are carried on automatically without additional orders and in conjunction and coincident to the execution of specified missions.

These automatic functions require that information covering the following items be obtained: Item No. 1 - Contaminated Areas. Includes the location, size of area, and type of gas Item No. 2 - Hostile Forces Other Than Mechanized Includes strength, composition, movement, location, and disposition of hostile forces which are not mechanized or motorized. encountered. or Motorized.

Item No. 3 - Hostile Aircraft. hostile aircraft observed.

Includes type, altitude, and direction of flight of Item No. 4 - Hostile Mechanized and Motorized Includes strength, composition, movement, disposition, location and type of hostile mecz and mtz elements.

Forces.

Item No. 5 - Communication.

Includes water, light, power, railway facilities, telephone and telegraph stations, and radio stations.

Item No. 6 - Supplies.

Includes gasoline, oil, food, and other types of supplies suitable for the use of the division. Item No. 7 - Landing Fields.

Includes landing fields suitable for aviation attached to the division with special attention to landing fields for courier type planes. Item No. 8 - Routes and Bridges. Includes type, location, number of lanes, usable-ness in wet weather, and suitability for all vehicles of the division. Includes obstacles, road blocks and other defensive works. Item No. 9 - Estimate of Terrain. Includes the suitability of terrain for mechanized attack, assembly positions, cover, and concealment.

Item No. 10 - Friendly Troops and Miscellaneous. Includes friendly troops within the sphere of action of the reconnaissance battalion and other intelligence data not included in other items pertinent to the operation, such as weather, visibility, etc.

Reports on these items may be required to be rendered as soon as obtained; hourly; or at specified times or places.

An understanding by all concerned of these standing missions, gives the word “reconnoiter” definite substance and meaning. Vickers Amphibious %ton Tank. 1931 Cooperation With the Air Service Air service missions are closely linked to the successful operation of ground reconnaissance agencies. In addition to any planes for division missions, it will be frequently desirable to assign one plane for close and direct cooperation with the reconnaissance battalion. The function of the plane is to conduct route reconnaissance; to direct the attention of subordinate elements on suspected areas; and to assist in control coordination and communication within the battalion, especially during periods when radio communication is not possible or desirable.

When a plane cannot be made available for direct attachment to the battalion, any planes performing air reconnaissance missions cooperate to the fullest extent. Observers are kept informed of the zone of operations of the battalion, particularly of the axis of march of the battalion command group. The battalion and each reconnaissance company maintains a radio set in the division air ground net and all concerned take necessary action indicated as a result of intercepted messages. It will frequently be desirable under certain conditions, for planes executing division missions to insure that vital information is transmitted direct to the reconnaissance battalion, either by radio, or more frequently by dropped message.

Cooperation With Regimental Reconnaissance Units Regimental reconnaissance companies, functioning under regimental or column commanders, perform more detailed reconnaissance than that of the Reconnaissance Battalion. Based on information received from the division reconnaissance elements, both air and ground, the attention of regimental units is closely directed to specific routes or areas. When the elements of the reconnaissance battalion have gained contact and are held up, regimental units close and gain contact with divisional units within their respective zones. They assist and cooperate in every way to secure the continued advance of the division reconnaissance elements. Regimental units also relieve reconnaissance battalion elements which have been left to guard bridges or hold vital terrain. The latter units then either push on and rejoin, or become attached to the regimental units, depending on time and space factors and enemy activity. Regimental units must conduct the detailed reconnaissance necessary to Iocate small bodies of hostile troops and secure accurate information of routes and terrain features not covered by the Reconnaissance Battalion.

Security for the division other than that furnished by timely information of the enemy; is not a function of divisional or regimental reconnaissance agencies, except as follows: 26 ARMOR a. Vital stream crossings or other defiles must be guarded along the route of advance of division columns, pending the arrival of advance elements from the main body.

b. Hostile threats which may develop within or adjacent to the battalion zone and which may seriously interfere with the movement of the division, must be delayed, pending further instructions from the division commander. Column commanders cannot expect either division or regimental reconnaissance elements to perform the security functions expected and required of an advance guard.

I Other Missions Obviously, the Reconnaissance Battalion is organized and equipped to perform missions other than reconnaissance when necessary. Such missions will often include the following: Security.

Delaying and harassing action.

Seizing and holding key terrain. Participation in combat with the division. Pursuit.

As a division reserve.

It must be prepared at all times to execute any of the above missions upon completion of a principal reconnaissance mission.

While it would be exceptional to assign a dual mission to the battalion, the execution of one type of mission may require a temporary transition to another type. It may also be necessary under certain conditions for different elements within the battalion to be performing different types of missions. However, the collection and transmission of information always receives the utmost attention, regardless of the assigned mission.

Combat

Many reconnaissance elements have ruined their effectiveness through too great a willingness to engage in combat. Fleeting but minor targets often present a temptation almost too much to beresisted. The desire to engage in combat must be overcome and controlled by the leaders of small reconnaissance elements. Whenever possible, subordinate units should be advised as to the extent or the necessity for engaging in combat. However, the final decision rests with the leaders of the platoons, sections and individual vehicles. Leaders must be guided by the principle that the best reconnaissance is performed by stealth and that when the presence of their unit has been disclosed to the enemy by the noise incident to combat, the enemy will bend every effort toward their destruction and will institute a relentless search toward that end. A reconnaissance element whose presence has become disclosed to the enemy can expect to be hunted down as its continued existence is an ever-present menace to the enemy, not because of its combat power, but because of its ability to furnish information. Missions may be assigned which will require combat for their accomplishment. Certain missions may require a combination of reconnaissance and security. An example of such a mission would be - “reconnoiter Highway 77 to BLANKTOWN and hold the NORTH RIVER crossing at that point pending the amval of units from the main body.”

At times, units which find themselves cut off from their own forces will frequently find it necessary to fight their way out. On the other hand, if stealth is employed under such conditions there is a possibility that the advance of the main body will restore their own freedom of movement. It should be remembered that a reconnaissance unit which has penetrated the hostile forces to such an extent that it has become cut off has placed itself in the most desirable position to secure valuable information.

The whole question of combat can be summed up as follows: Reconnaissance elements engage in combat when necessary to accomplish their mission; when given a definite combat or security mission; or to provide for their own protection. Tactical Employment The method of employment of the reconnaissance battalion and the method of execution of a reconnaissance mission is generally based on the amount of time available for its execution. When sufficient time is available, the principle of stealth is employed to the maximum advantage and combat is avoided. Where time is pressing and division columns are closing on the reconnaissance elements, combat must be resorted to more frequently. In a moving situation, the battalion will operate from 25 to 150 miles in advance of the division. Frequently the battalion will move during the night to the area from which it will commence its operations. Sufficient time must be allowed to conduct reconnaissance before division columns close up. Satisfactory reconnaissance cannot be conducted at the rate of march of division columns.

A simple tactical situation, illustrated by a diagram (below) will serve to show the actual tactical functioning of the reconnaissance battalion. In this situation, the Reconnaissance Battalion has been assigned the mission of reconnoitering the zone between Routes 1 and 3, both inclusive, to report on a hostile force reported in the vicinity of M and to pay particular attention to the high ground in the vicinity of

K. Streams shown are unfordable. The division is to march in three columns via Routes 1,2, and 3. The zone was subdivided to the two Reconnaissance Companies and small elements from the rifle company were attached to each, to be left to guard the bridges at A, Band C.

Battalion Headquarters with the Rifle Company (less detachments) and the Armored Company, marched on Route 2, fifteen minutes in rear of the reconnaissance element on that route.

Pending information from the Reconnaissance Companies, the Battalion CP was established at CRH. Meantime, the rifle elements left to guard the bridges were relieved by advance elements from the division and rejoined the battalion at H. The reconnaissance unit on Route 1 reported that it was held up at the bridge at J and thus far had been unable to side slip because of the type of terrain. The reconnaissance unit on Route 2 reported strongly defended road blocks in the vicinity of K and attempts to reconnoiter the high ground in this vicinity by vehicular reconnaissance have been stopped by hostile fire. Dismounted patrols from the motorcycle platoon have been sent out.

I ItC 3 Route 2 Plate 1 The reconnaissance unit on Route 3 reported that it was initially held up by road blocks in the woods near L, but that part of this unit has been able to side slip to the west and is continuing reconnaissance to the north. The battalion (less detachments) moved forward initially on Route 2. Based on information received and as the result of personal reconnaissance, the battalion commander decided to attack in order to determine the strength of the hostile forces opposing his advance, and to seize the high ground in the vicinty of K.