List of reconnaissance units
Encyclopedia
The following is a list, albeit incomplete, of reconnaissance
units from around the world. This list concentrates on ground units, but includes a few air force units.
Indian Air Force
Indian Navy
Paramilitary Forces
Royal Navy
Royal Air Force
United States Marine Corps
(MOS 0321 Reconnaissance Man
)
United States Air Force
United States Navy
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
units from around the world. This list concentrates on ground units, but includes a few air force units.
Canada
- The Royal Canadian Dragoons (Armoured Reconnaissance)
- Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)Lord Strathcona's Horse is a regular armoured regiment of the Canadian Forces. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of Land Force Western Area's 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group...
Recce Squadron
France
- 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment13th Parachute Dragoon RegimentThe 13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment is an airborne special forces regiment of the French Army. It is one of two regiments in the French Army Special Forces Brigade, which is under the control of the COS...
, a regiment of the French Army Special Forces BrigadeFrench Army Special Forces BrigadeThe Army Special Forces Brigade is the French Army's special forces unit. It is based in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques.- History :The BFST is the heir of the Groupement Spécial Autonome created in 1997 and then commanded the 1er RPIMa and a special operations flight belonging to the 4e Régiment...
its primary mission is long range reconnaissance.
Germany
- Fernspählehrkompanie 200
- Kommando SpezialkräfteKommando SpezialkräfteThe KSK Kommando Spezialkräfte is an elite military unit composed of Special Operations soldiers from the ranks of Germany’s Bundeswehr and organized as such under the Division Spezielle Operationen . The unit has received many decorations and awards from both NATO and its affiliates...
Greece
- ETA and Z' MAK of the Hellenic Army's 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade (LRRPLong Range Reconnaissance PatrolLong Range Reconnaissance Patrols, or LRRPs , were special small four to six-man teams in the Vietnam War on highly dangerous special reconnaissance missions deep into enemy territory....
and amphibious reconnaissanceAmphibious reconnaissanceThe concept of amphibious reconnaissance, or commonly amphib recon, are used primarily in conjunction with ground and naval reconnaissance concerning the littoral area bordering coastal or maritime areas of interests...
, respectively)
India
Indian Army- Para Commandos (India)
- Ghatak ForceGhatak ForceGhatak Units, or Ghatak Commandos, are elite infantry platoons attached to each infantry battalion of the Indian Army. There is one platoon of these soldiers in every battalion. Ghatak literally means "Killer" or "Lethal" in Hindi.-Role:...
- Parachute RegimentParachute RegimentParachute Regiment may refer to:*Parachute Regiment *Parachute Regiment *Paratroopers Brigade , Israel*44 Parachute Regiment *1st Airborne Brigade...
Indian Air Force
- Garud Commando ForceGarud Commando ForceThe Garud Commando Force is the Special Forces unit of the Indian Air Force. It was formed in September 2004 and has a strength of approximately 2000 personnel...
Indian Navy
- MARCOSMarcos-Sports:* Dayton Marcos, Negro League baseball team from Dayton, Ohio * Nélson Marcos, Portuguese footballer* Marcos Ambrose, Australian racing driver currently competing in NASCAR* Marcos Baghdatis, Cypriot tennis player...
Paramilitary Forces
- Special Frontier ForceSpecial Frontier ForceThe Special Frontier Force is a paramilitary unit of India. It was conceived in the post Sino-Indian war period as a guerrilla force composed mainly of Tibetan refugees whose main goal was to conduct covert operations behind Chinese lines in case of another war between the People's Republic of...
- Commando Battalion for Resolute ActionCommando Battalion for Resolute ActionCOBRA is a specialized unit of the CRPF created to counter the Naxalite problem in India. This specialized CRPF unit is one of the only units of the Central Armed Police Forces in the country who are specifically trained in guerilla warfare...
Netherlands
- 103 GGVE, 104 GGVE (Ground Based Recce Squadrons), 103 ISTAR Battalion103 ISTAR battalion103 ISTAR-battalion is a cavalry reconnaissance regiment in the Royal Netherlands Army. The battalion is the main part of the "Regiment Huzaren van Boreel", or "Boreel's Own Hussars"...
- Pathfinders (Airmobile)11 Luchtmobiele BrigadeThe 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade '7 December is the elite rapid-reaction air assault unit of the Royal Netherlands Army. Its operators are trained to be deployed via helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft , and can be deployed anywhere in the world within 7 to maximally 20 days...
- Korps Commando TroepenKorps CommandotroepenThe Korps Commandotroepen are the elite special forces of the Royal Netherlands Army. It is one of the two principal units tasked with special operations in the Netherlands , and it is deployable anywhere in the world under any circumstance, conducting all conceivable missions from...
- Mountain Leader Reconnaissance Platoon, Koninklijke Korps MarinierNetherlands Marine CorpsThe Korps Mariniers is the marine corps and amphibious infantry component of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The marines are trained to operate anywhere in the world in all environments, under any condition and circumstance, as a rapid reaction force. The Korps Mariniers can be deployed to a given...
("Dutch Marines")
Philippines
- Philippine Marine Corps Force Recon Battalion
- Philippine Army 1st Scout Ranger Regiment1st Scout Ranger RegimentThe Scout Rangers, known officially as the First Scout Ranger Regiment, is a Philippine Army Special Operations Command unit, and specializes in anti-guerrilla warfare...
Portugal
- Companhia de Precursores AeroterrestresPathfinders Company (Portugal)The Companhia de Precursores Aeroterrestres is a special operations unit of the Portuguese paratroopers. This unit is part of the Airborne Support Battalion which is based in Tancos...
- Destacamento de Acções Especiais
- Grupo de Operações EspeciaisGrupo de Operações Especiais (Portugal)Grupo de Operações Especiais - GOE is the Portuguese PSP special operations unit, manned slightly over 200 elements....
- Operações Especiais aka Rangers
United Kingdom
British Army- Formation reconnaissance regimentFormation reconnaissance regimentThe Formation Reconnaissance Regiment is one of two organisations currently provided by cavalry regiments of the British Army. Until recently, it was known as the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment....
s- Household Cavalry RegimentHousehold Cavalry RegimentThe Household Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and is one of two regiments that are formed from the Household Cavalry. It was formed in 1992, under the Options for Change reforms, by the amalgamation of The Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. Both regiments were...
- 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
- 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)9th/12th Royal LancersThe 9th/12th Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1960 by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers. It is currently a formation reconnaissance regiment, equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family of vehicles and...
- The Light Dragoons
- The Queen's Royal Lancers
- Queen's Own YeomanryQueen's Own YeomanryThe Queen's Own Yeomanry is an armoured regiment of the British Territorial Army. The Queen's Own Yeomanry is the only Yeomanry regiment that serves in the formation reconnaissance role, equipped with the CVR family of armoured reconnaissance vehicles, including Scimitar and Spartan.On...
- Territorial Army unit
- Household Cavalry Regiment
- Royal YeomanryRoyal YeomanryThe Royal Yeomanry is an armoured regiment of the Territorial Army consisting of five squadrons and a military band:*A Squadron *B Squadron...
- 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA4/73 Battery is a battery of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery in the Royal Artillery. It currently serves in the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Patrols role.-Origins of 4/73 Bty RA:...
- Honourable Artillery CompanyHonourable Artillery CompanyThe Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
- Pathfinder Platoon, 16 Air Assault Brigade
- Special Air ServiceSpecial Air ServiceSpecial Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
- Special Reconnaissance RegimentSpecial Reconnaissance RegimentThe Special Reconnaissance Regiment or SRR is a Special Forces regiment of the British Armed Forces. It was established on 6 April 2005 and is part of the United Kingdom Special Forces under command Director Special Forces, alongside the Special Air Service , Special Boat Service and the Special...
Royal Navy
- Brigade Reconnaissance ForceBrigade Patrol TroopThe Brigade Patrol Troop is a troop of Royal Marines, United Kingdom, under command of the Support Squadron 3 Commando Brigade. The Troop consists of six teams of four men each. They are employed in a reconnaissance role, ahead of the main force collecting information on the enemy and reporting...
, Royal MarinesRoyal MarinesThe Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service... - Special Boat ServiceSpecial Boat ServiceThe Special Boat Service is the special forces unit of the British Royal Navy. Together with the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment and the Special Forces Support Group they form the United Kingdom Special Forces and come under joint control of the same Director Special...
Royal Air Force
- No. 5 Squadron RAFNo. 5 Squadron RAFNo. 5 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is the operator of the new Sentinel R1 Airborne STand-Off Radar aircraft and is based at RAF Waddington.-History:As No...
- No. 51 Squadron RAFNo. 51 Squadron RAFNo. 51 Squadron of the Royal Air Force most recently operated the Nimrod R1 from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire until June 2011. Crews from No. 51 Squadron are currently training alongside the US Air Force on the Boeing RC-135, which is planned to enter service with the RAF over the next seven years...
United States
United States Army- Army Cavalry ScoutsCavalry ScoutThe Cavalry Scout is a job title and a reconnaissance specialist in the United States Army. Cavalry Scouts work to obtain, distribute and share vital combat and battlefield information on the enemy and on combat circumstances and environmental conditions. The role originated with the United States...
- United States Army Special Operations CommandUnited States Army Special Operations CommandThe United States Army Special Operations Command is the command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Forces...
- United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets)
- 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-DeltaDelta Force1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
(Delta Force) - United States Army RangersUnited States Army RangersUnited States Army Rangers are elite members of the United States Army. Rangers have served in recognized U.S. Army Ranger units or have graduated from the U.S. Army's Ranger School...
- 75th Ranger Regiment75th Ranger Regiment (United States)The 75th Ranger Regiment , also known as Rangers, is a Special Operations light infantry unit of the United States Army. The Regiment is headquartered in Fort Benning, Georgia with battalions in Fort Benning, Hunter Army Airfield and Joint Base Lewis-McChord...
- 75th Ranger Regiment
- U.S. Army Long Range SurveillanceLong Range SurveillanceLong Range Surveillance units are specially trained elite Surveillance units of the United States Army that are employed by Military Intelligence Units for gathering information from deep within hostile territories....
United States Marine Corps
(MOS 0321 Reconnaissance Man
United States Marine Air-Ground Task Force Reconnaissance
The United States Marine Corps have many reconnaissance elements that are valuable to a Marine Air-Ground Task Force by providing the force and component commanders [i.e. Marine Expeditionary Force or Landing Force commanders] with maneuver space and reaction time, and prevent enemy forces and...
)
- United States Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC)
- United States Marine Air-Ground Task Force ReconnaissanceUnited States Marine Air-Ground Task Force ReconnaissanceThe United States Marine Corps have many reconnaissance elements that are valuable to a Marine Air-Ground Task Force by providing the force and component commanders [i.e. Marine Expeditionary Force or Landing Force commanders] with maneuver space and reaction time, and prevent enemy forces and...
- Marine Force ReconnaissanceUnited States Marine Corps Force ReconnaissanceThe Force Reconnaissance Companies , are one of the United States Marine Corps's special operations "capable" forces that provide essential elements of military intelligence to the command element of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force ; supporting the landing or joint task force commanders, and...
- Marine Division ReconnaissanceUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
- Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) PlatoonSTA platoonSTA platoon were the "Surveillance and Target Acquisition" platoons of the United States Marine Corps. They were within the Headquarters and Service Company of U.S...
- Scout-Sniper PlatoonScout SniperScout Sniper is a secondary MOS designator of U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen and reconnaissance Marines that have successfully graduated from a USMC Scout Sniper School. Scout Snipers provide close reconnaissance and surveillance to the infantry battalion...
- Light Armored ReconnaissanceUnited States Marine Corps Light Armored ReconnaissanceThe United States Marine Corps Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions, or LAR Battalions, are fast and mobilized armored terrestrial reconnaissance units that conduct reconnaissance-in-force ahead of the battalion landing teams or division infantry forces...
- Marine Force Reconnaissance
United States Air Force
- United States Air Force Special TacticsAir Force Special Operations CommandAir Force Special Operations Command is the Special Operations component of the United States Air Force and the US Air Force component command to the United States Special Operations Command , a unified command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida...
United States Navy
- United States Navy SEALsUnited States Navy SEALsThe United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
- Seabee Engineer Reconnaissance TeamSeabee Engineer Reconnaissance TeamSeabee Engineer Reconnaissance Teams are a new organizational concept developed by the First Naval Construction Division during Operation Iraqi Freedom intended to provide more engineering capability on the battlefield in support of the United States Marine Corps...
Sweden
- Livregementets husarer (Life hussars regiment), 32.Underrättelsebataljonen (32. intelligence battalion ISTAR)
- Norrlands dragonregementeNorrlands dragonregementeNorrlands dragonregemente , also K 4 or K 8, was a Swedish Army cavalry regiment located in the province of Lappland that traces its origins back to the 17th century. It is still in active service.- History :...
(Norrland dragoons), Arctic rangers - Swedish Amphibious CorpsSwedish Amphibious CorpsAmfibiekåren is the coastal defence arm of the Swedish Navy. Until 2000 it was known as Kustartilleriet , but the name was changed to reflect its different role in a post-Cold War world, where its amphibious special operations arm, "Kustjägarna", has grown in significance while its coastal...
(Amf1),Swedish coastal rangers