THE RUSSIAN WAY OF WAR: FORCE STRUCTURE, TACTICS, AND MODERNIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN GROUND FORCES Chapter 7 Specialty Branches 272 SPECIALTY BRANCHES Reconnaissance, Spetsnaz, and SOF Reconnaissance units are a branch of the Russian Ground Forces. These units are intended to perform a wide range of tasks in order to ensure commanders and their staffs receive accurate and timely information about the enemy, terrain and weather, to support decision making and prevent surprise enemy action. Reconnaissance units [разведывательные воинские части] and formations [разведывательные соединения] may consist of any of the following: combined arms, spetsnaz, signals intelligence, or dedicated TO&E reconnaissance subunits [подразделения] and units [воинские части]. Reconnaissance units fulfill the following objectives, in preparation for, and during, the conduct of combined arms operations: - determining the enemy’s order of battle, immediate preparations for battle, and warning signs of surprise attack - identifying the enemy’s composition, position, echelonment, status and capabilities of forces, system of command and control - determining which targets to engage and their locations - finding significant enemy theater-level weapons and equipment, detecting enemy engineer field fortifications and his integrated obstacle network - determining the difficulty of crossing terrain, the status of communications, the nature of water obstacles, the boundaries and size of areas of destruction, fires and floods, disease-contaminated areas, and the possible axes of overcoming or bypassing them - identifying new enemy weapons and methods of warfare, as well as the conduct and measures required for the 360° security of the operation or combat - determining the morale of enemy troops and the local population, and the economic status of the area of ​​operations. Intelligence units and formations collect intelligence by: - monitoring and eavesdropping - ground and air photography - signal intercept, to determine object coordinates - conducting search, raid, ambush, reconnaissance missions - questioning local residents, and interrogating prisoners and deserters - analysis of captured enemy documents, equipment and weapons. In terms of modernization and capability development, the reconnaissance units will increase their intelligence capabilities by developing new and/or improved: means of technical intelligence, including ones based on new physical principles; tactical reconnaissance complexes, that utilize unmanned aerial vehicles; and automated collection, processing and that will bring intelligence to the commander (commander) and headquarters in real-time.1 Relationship of Reconnaissance and Intelligence In the Soviet/Russian system, the term for intelligence [разведка] can mean “intelligence” or 1 Reconnaissance Formations and Units,” Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation Website, <http://structure. mil.ru/structure/forces/ground/structure/reconnaissance.htm> accessed 1 May 2016. 273 THE RUSSIAN WAY OF WAR: FORCE STRUCTURE, TACTICS, AND MODERNIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN GROUND FORCES “reconnaissance” or a combination of both these terms. In a military context, especially at the tactical levels, the term usually refers to reconnaissance activities. In the Russian system, the intelligence staff section directly commands dedicated reconnaissance units and other intelligence assets. At the battalion level (of maneuver units), the officer in charge of the intelligence staff section is also in charge of reconnaissance, but since at the battalion level most maneuver units do not have dedicated reconnaissance assets, regular units from the battalion are assigned for this purpose on an ad hoc basis. This officer is a career (branched) maneuver officer (as appropriate to the type of unit), whose primary responsibility is determining the position of the enemy through the personnel and assets under his direct control. In the US/NATO system, the officer in charge of the intelligence staff section (S-2) is usually a career (branched) intelligence officer, and is primarily responsible for analyzing and presenting information about the enemy and environment to the commander. A U.S./NATO S-2 typically does not command reconnaissance units (reconnaissance teams, Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols, etc.) as does his Russian counterpart. In the Western system these assets are typically directly controlled by the operations section. In short, at tactical levels, the Soviet officer in charge of the intelligence staff is a maneuver officer, a fellow “meat eater” that works closely with the commander, functioning as his eyes and ears by deploying his own subordinate assets on the battlefield. This is in stark contrast to most U.S./NATO battalion S-2s that are relegated to purely staff work, and having a much more distant relationship with their commanders. The implication of this systemic difference between the Russian and Western acquisition of intelligence is that Soviet/Russian reconnaissance units, such as spetsnaz, would be normally associated with the intelligence staffs, as opposed to the operations staff as in most Western Armies. Tactical Reconnaissance Russia broadly views military intelligence at the strategic, operational-tactical, and tactical levels. Operational-tactical and tactical military intelligence are divided into five function- based spheres: ground, air, sea, space, and “special.” Military intelligence conducted at the tactical level for ground forces focuses on determining the position of the enemy, finding strong and weak points in the defense, and uncovering obstacles to maneuver. The term “tactical reconnaissance” best describes the military intelligence activities occurring at the tactical level of ground operations. Tactical reconnaissance is doctrinally divided into several categories including: combat reconnaissance, signals intelligence, radar, electro-optical, artillery, engineer, medical, route, and nuclear, biological and chemical detection. Tactical reconnaissance is performed by intelligence, motorized rifle, tank, airborne, air assault, and spetsnaz units; and is conducted through observation, signal intercept, search, raid, ambush, and patrol. Task Organized Reconnaissance Elements by Echelon Since most Russian units do not have dedicated reconnaissance units below brigade/ division level, Russia has a well-defined system for task organizing units for this purpose. The following lists each maneuver echelon with its typically associated task organized reconnaissance elements. It is important to remember that these elements will not be found on standing TO&Es, but will be encountered in the field. 274 SPECIALTY BRANCHES Brigades/Divisions - reconnaissance detachments [разведывательные отряды], reconnaissance patrols [разведывательные дозоры], reconnaissance groups [разведывательные группы], leader’s reconnaissance [офицерские разведывательные дозоры], search units [подразделения для проведения поисков], ambush units [подразделения для устройства засад], reconnaissance in force [подразделения для проведения разведки боем], observation posts [наблюдательные посты]. Regiments (in a division) - reconnaissance detachments [разведывательные отряды], reconnaissance patrols [разведывательные дозоры], leader’s reconnaissance [офицерские разведывательные дозоры], search units [подразделения для проведения поисков], ambush units [подразделения для устройства засад], observation posts [наблюдательные посты] Battalions - combat reconnaissance patrols [боевые разведывательные дозоры], ambush units [подразделения для устройства засад], patrol squads [дозорные отделения], observation posts [наблюдательные посты] Companies - patrol squads [дозорные отделения], observation squads [наблюдателие отделения], combat reconnaissance patrols [боевые разведывательные дозоры], Platoons- patrol squads [дозорные отделения], observation squads [наблюдателие отделения] Task Organized Reconnaissance Elements Reconnaissance Detachment [разведывательный отряд] - Разведывательный отряд Reconnaissance detachments are typically mounted reinforced companies that are capable of conducting observation, searches, raids, ambushes, installing/removing observation equipment, and, if necessary, engaging the enemy. They move on primary axes in advance of a march, meeting battle or offensive and are normally proceeded by a Reconnaissance Patrol (platoon). The standard operating range of a Reconnaissance Detachment varies by mission, but an operational depth of 50 kilometers for company- Reconnaissance Detachment sized units and 80 kilometers for battalion-sized elements is 2 common. (Боевой) Разведывательный дозор Reconnaissance Group [разведывательная группа] - Reconnaissance groups are typically motorized rifle or spetsnaz squads dispatched to reconnoiter in the enemy rear area to locate nuclear delivery systems, enemy forces, headquarters, airfields, signal sites and other important targets. Reconnaissance groups are capable of conducting observation, raids, ambushes, and installing/removing observation and communication equipment. Reconnaissance Patrol or Group 2 Ministry of Defense, USSR, Military Encyclopedic Dictionary [Военный Энциклопедический Словарь], 2nd Edition, Moscow: Voyenizdat, 1986, 617. 275 THE RUSSIAN WAY OF WAR: FORCE STRUCTURE, TACTICS, AND MODERNIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN GROUND FORCES They may be inserted by helicopter, vehicle or on foot.3 Reconnaissance Patrol [разведывательный дозор] - Reconnaissance patrols are typically platoon-sized elements, reinforced