Military

FM 71-123, Tactics and Techniques for Combined Arms Heavy Forces: Armored Brigade, Battalion Task Force, and Company Team

An aspect of security that seeks to deny intelligence information to the enemy:

• Involves active and passive measures.

• Must address the entire area of operation.

• Brigade counter-reconnaissance (recon):
  • Identify, locate, and defeat enemy recon through electronic warfare (EW), fire support, and actions of assigned units.
  • Brigade does not plan and execute counter-recon as a unit.
  • Brigade resources its battalion TFs.
  • Brigade's first task is to identify recon threat and predict its employment.
  • Brigade's second task is to identify assets to conduct/support counter-recon (without significant acquisition means, maneuver battalions become the counter-recon effort).

• Battalion counter-recon:
  • Usually scouts with ground surveillance radar (GSR) plus maneuver units.
  • Battalion TF's first task is identify the recon threat.
  • Battalion TF's second task is to identify assets.
  • Battalion TF's last task is to identify, locate, and destroy enemy ground recon.
  • Approach with:
    • Two elements under one commander.
    • Screen element (usually scout platoon -- 2 layer screen with first layer to detect recon and second layer to shadow recon).
    • Guard element (usually platoon or company -- guard mission to destroy enemy recon through hasty attack and ambush).
    • Both screen and guard should employ:
      • Obstacles
      • Fire support
      • Point minefields
      • Dummy minefields
      • GSR
      • Company counter-recon

FM 7-20, The Infantry Battalion Counter-reconnaissance is a specified task to destroy or deny enemy reconnaissance:

• All units must perform local security:
  • Observation posts (OPs)
  • Ambushes

• Battalion counter-recon is part of battalion reconnaissance and surveillance.
  • Resources:
    • Finders: Scouts, Aviation, MI, FA
    • Fighters: Co/TM or AD HOC lead by HHC commander or AS3
  • Security Area:
    • IPB identifies enemy recon actions
    • Requires a detailed order
      • Scouts as finders only
      • Maneuver units as killers
      • TOW, MK19, GSR, Sensors, Aviation
      • Deception
  • Execution:
    • Place killing team across most likely avenues of approach (AA)
    • Use no movement times
    • Use OPs in depth
    • Employ detailed fire support
    • Require routine reports
    • Plan resupply (discreet)
    • Plan CASEVAC
    • Plan withdrawal