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Report About the Reconnaissance Plan for the Offensive
Battle
In accordance with your instructions and the chief of staff's instructions the
reconnaissance section has prepared the reconnaissance plan for the division
offensive. The reconnaissance during the division battle has been planned in
the following manner:
During the preparation period for the operation the main reconnaissance forces
will be concentrated on discovering the time and possibilities for 3rd U.S.
Armored Division initiating an attack against our forward forces and FUP areas,
determining the composition, grouping of their forces, especially those in the
covering area; the parameters of their possible initial blow, concept of their
operations, system of command and control of forces, and weapons systems. With
aim of fulfilling this mission the following forces and means have been
designated:
----- a. reconnaissance patrols will be sent from the division reconnaissance
battalion and long range reconnaissance company in the first night of the
battle to the depth of 30-40 km from the state border.
----- b. during preparation for the offensive, aerial reconnaissance will be
conducted along the state border with the forces of the division helicopter
squadron;
----- c. now the radio and radio technical posts of the reconnaissance
battalion are fully deployed in their positions; five radio direction finding
posts of the radio platoon are conducting reconnaissance in the area ___, ___,
___. The command post of the radio and radio intercept company is deployed in
regions ___. The total composition of the radio technical and radio company in
the division area is 11 posts.
----- d. since this morning, we have organized the observation system along the
state border with the forces of the ___ Motor Rifle Regiment.
----- e. The exchange of information with neighboring divisions.
With the start of combat operations the main forces of reconnaissance will be
concentrated on the determing the exact nature of enemy defenses in the zone of
attack. Troop control of reconnaissance has been prepared with the
participation of the staff of the control organs of division rocket and
artillery forces and PVO.
In order to conduct final reconnaissance we select 10 reconnaissance patrols,
about 10 radio and radio technical posts, up to 7 ground observation posts, and
9 reconnaissance groups SPETZNAZ. The services of all these previously
specified reconnaissance forces and means have been enlisted to obtain the
required designation of the locations of enemy main defense line, platoon
strong points, and weapons positions.
The following reconnaissance missions have been planned ahead in the interest
of the division forces' movement across the enemy covering force area and
through his first line of defense from the march:
----- specifying the composition, and grouping of the covering forces, engineer
fortifications, and obstacles,
----- determiniuung the layout of the defense, level of engineer
fortifications, system of fire, system of obstacles, and unoccupied sectors or
weakly held areas in defenses;
----- observing and discovering enemy tactical reserves, their composition,
their situation, and where and how they will be employed in the enemy concept
for their use;
----- clarifying the radioactive situation in the covering force area and
forward defense line;
The main forces of reconnaissance are concentrated for the employment in the
sector ____, ___, (on the axis of main attack);
For this mission we use troop reconnaissance from the two first-echelon motor
rifle regiments, patrols from the division reconnaissance battalion and forces
and means of the radio and radio technical reconnaissance company of the
division;
In the interests of inserting tactical air assault sub-unit we plan to fulfill
the following reconnaissance tasks:
----- clarify the enemy character of actions, defense system, PVO system, and
engineer obstacles in the area __, ___;
----- clarify the grouping of enemy reserves in this region;
----- determine the possible reinforcements of ground forces and combat
helicopters in this area.
----- fulfilling these tasks will be accomplished by forces and means of troop
reconnaissance, special purpose reconnaissance, and radio and radio technical
reconnaissance.
With the aim of supporting the commitment into engagement of the division
second-echelon (___ Tank Regiment) and destruction of enemy tactical reserves
we plan reconnaissance operations to accomplish the following:
----- designation of enemy grouping of forces and means, their composition and
combat capability, and also character of actions in the area of the commitment
into engagement of the ____ Tank Regiment.
----- determine character of engineer obstacles along intermediate defense
lines in the area ___, ___, ___;
----- determine quantity and level of radiation in the terrain in the area of
the movement of the Tank Regiment and its commitment line ;
----- observe and follow enemy tactical reserves and the mobilization of enemy
forces in the area ___, ___.
----- determine the composition, grouping, and location of enemy artillery
units and command posts;
For fulfilling the above designated missions we plan:
----- 5 separate reconnaissance patrols, 4 long-range reconnaissance groups,
4-5 radio and radio-technical posts. Aerial photography is requested along the
following lines:
---------- Forward defense line in the sector of the main attack of regiments,
in the area of the commitment of the second-echelon, on command posts, and on
rear service targets.
For fulfillment of the long-range mission the main forces of reconnaissance
will be concentrated on support of the destruction of tactical reserves.
With the aim of fulfilling reconnaissance missions in the interest of
completion of the division long-range mission, the division reconnaissance plan
forecasts the following:
----- during the course of the afternoon insert in enemy rear areas 4
reconnaissance groups SPETZNAZ and 2 reconnaissance detachements;
----- radio and radio technical reconnaissance with the forces and means of the
radio and radio technical company of the division.
----- exchange of reconnaissance information with staffs of neighboring
divisions and the staff of the army;
In reserve we plan to maintain the following quantity of reconnaissance forces
and means:
----- during the period of preparing for the operation: 9 SPETZNAZ
reconnaissance groups;
----- at the end of the day: 5 reconnaissance patrols, 4 SPETZNAZ long-range
reconnaissance groups;
Troop control of reconnaissance forces and means is planned in the following
manner:
----- division reconnaissance units by means of the radio center of division
staff and mobile command post of the chief of reconnaissance of division;
----- special radio stations supported by the means of the division signal
center will be established with the aim of obtaining reconnaissance data from
reconnaissance aviation at all command posts and reconnaissance directorate of
division. To support this mission we have the working frequencies for
communication between aircraft and ground stations.
Results of assessment of reconnaissance requirements:
The planning measures for the combat employment of reconnaissance forces and
means require that the reconnaissance missions will be fulfilled in the main
during the period of preparation of the operation and during the operation. The
most difficult and complex mission is the supply of data on the exact location
of firing positions in the enemy main line of defense.
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