"Counter-Reconnaissance"

[a_majoor]

One point brought up in the "Trading Sabre for Stealth" thread is the idea of Counter Reconnaissance. Should this be part of the role of the Recce organization? What level of counter reconnaissance should be expected? How do we do counter recce in a Full Spectrum Ops environment, where enemy recce could range from some sort of professional military/paramilitary force to kids with cell phones?

There are no easy answers, even in a "heavy metal" environment, so dealing with enemy recce in the lower end of the Full Spectrum should be very challenging indeed.

 

[George Wallace]

Well, if we want to change the role of Reconnaissance from Reconnaissance to Fighting, then we have Infantry.  Recce should be doing Recce and remaining under cover and directing more heavily equipped forces in to deal with Enemy Mechanized Recce or Lone Gunmen.  If they expose themselves to take on any Enemy Forces, they will give away their positions and not be able to effectively detect any follow on Enemy Forces, which may be an even greater 'Priority Target'. 

It doesn't matter if we are fighting Mechanized Forces or your "paramilitary force to kids with cell phones", if our Recce give away their positions they will have lost any future opportunities of detecting the enemy, that may prove to have drastic consequences.  Would that kid with a Cell Phone be more important than the two War Lords travelling into town to 'visit' his father? 

What is your game plan?  Are you doing a Fighting 'Recce' (Actually Infantry) Patrol or a smaller Recce Patrol?  Are you setting up an OP for a few minutes or several days?  What or who is your actual 'target'?

 

[TangoTwoBravo]

If an organization conducts counter-reconnassaissance it does not, in my opinion, suddenly become Infantry.  If it starts clearing trenches and buildings and digging-in it might be entering the realm of Infantry, but the destruction/neutralization of enemy recce to me is a Cavalry task.

In the heavy metal setting, I agree that if an OP engages enemy recce its ability to detect further forces is compromised.  If the unit or sub-unit screening a higher level unit has some combat power beyond the vehicles in the OPs, however, then it can destroy recce without necessarily compromising the OPs.  That combat power does not have to be tanks or mech infantry.  It could simply be other recce vehs with firepower that are not in OPs themselves.

In Canada we tend to assume this whole piece away.  I have been in JCATS and FTXs where there are zero plans to deal with enemy recon assets.  The screen lets them through and they reach the main body.  In offensive operations, our advancing main body is left to deal with enemy OPs.  Down south we were taught (based on NTC) that he who wins the reconnaissance fight wins the whole fight.  We can ad-hoc it, or we can build it by design.

Turning to the contemporary operating environment, I admit that the counter-recce piece becomes more fuzzy (along with everything else).  Counter-recce, however, can involve more than just "kinetic" options (EW/CI etc etc).  Looking at the kid with a cellphone scenario, I venture that one organization could handle both the surveillance of the target and the protection of the "Act" forces from early detection.

Without changing our terms (recce, cavalry etc) we can examine ways to builld new capabilities into our organizations.  A Recce Sqn can be given assets (permanently or otherwise) to achieve counter-reconnaissance roles.

 

[plattypuss]

2B, I agree with your thoughts on this one. 

I would also say that "counter-reconnaissance" was the role of the Assault troop back in the day.  I think that the current planned ORBAT for the Recce Sqn has integral Reserve Recce elements mounted in LUVW for the "close" recce role.  If they are armed with the appropriate crew weaponry ie CASW and ALAWs, I think their role could be expanded to included counter-recce. So I think counter-recce forces can/should be an integral part of a recce sqn.

In today's world with precision guided artillery rounds, I think recce assets, even in an OP, can destroy other recce assets without compromising their own position.  In terms of the kid with the cell phone, we cannot discount his importance because if we can track who he is calling,  then perhaps we are identifying a coordination cell/HQ which might be of strategic importance.

As George also correctly points out, the situation will dictate the mission and rules of engagement for the Recce - whether they be Infantry or Armour soldiers.