List of reconnaissance units

The following is a list of notable military reconnaissance units from around the world.

Australia

Australian Army

Royal Australian Air Force

Royal Australian Navy

Clearance Diving Branch

Brazil

Brazilian Army

Special Operations Platoons (Pelotão de operações especiais/Pelopes)
Paratroopers Brigade (Brigada de Infantaria Pára-quedista), Pathfinders company (companhia de precursores paraquedistas)
Special Operations Command (Comando de Operações Especiais), 1st BAC-DRC (Snipers and Reconnaissance Detachment), 1st B F ESP - 5th Dofesp (5° Operational Detachment)

Brazilian Navy

Brazilian Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)
- Marines Infantry Reconnaissace and Surveillance Platoons (Pelotões de Reconhecimento e Vigilância da Infantaria de fuzileiros navais).
- 1st Riverine Operations Battalion (1° Batalhão de Operações Ribeirinhas), Pelopesp (Special Operation Platoon)
Marine Special Operations Battalion (Batalhão de Operações Especiais de Fuzileiros Navais, Batalhão Tonelero), 1st Special Operations Company

Canada

Pathfinders
(1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment) Infantry Recce Platoon
(2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment) Infantry Recce Platoon
(3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment) Airborne Infantry Recce Platoon
(3rd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment) Pathfinder / Sniper Platoon
(Canadian Special Operations Regiment) CSOR
(Canadian Rangers) Long Range Arctic Patrol
The Royal Canadian Dragoons (Armoured Reconnaissance)
(12^e Régiment blindé du Canada) Recce Squadron
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Recce Squadron
(3rd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment) (Peloton Fantassin de Reconnaissance)
1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Recce Platoon
2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Infantry Recce Platoon
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Recce Platoon
Kings Own Calgary Regiment (RCAC) Armoured Recce - Primary reserve Unit
Queens York Rangers (1st American) (RCAC) Armoured Recce - Primary Reserve Unit
South Alberta Light Horse (SALH) Armoured Recce - Primary Reserve Unit

Denmark

Guard Hussar Regiment
- 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion
  - 1st Light Reconnaissance Squadron
  - 2nd Light Reconnaissance Squadron
  - 3rd Light Reconnaissance Squadron (inactive until 2023)
Danish Home Guard
- Home Guard Command
  - Special Support and Reconnaissance

France

13th Parachute Dragoon Regiment, a regiment of the French Army Special Forces Brigade; its primary mission is long range reconnaissance.
2nd Hussard Regiment, a regiment of the Brigade de Renseignement; it performs similar missions to the benefit of local units.
Commandos Marine "de Penfentenyo"; specialize in reconnaissance.
Commando Parachute Group 11th Parachute Brigade's reconnaissance and deep action section.

Georgia

Special operations forces
Infantry brigade reconnaissance companies.

Germany

EGB Forces
Kampfschwimmer
Kommando Spezialkräfte
Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 (Luftwaffe tactical reconnaissance wing, formerly designated as Aufklärungsgeschwader 51)
Fernspählehrkompanie 200
Heeresaufklärungstruppe

Greece

ETA and Z' MAK of the Hellenic Army's 1st Raider/Paratrooper Brigade (LRRP and amphibious reconnaissance, respectively)

Ireland

Irish Army Cavalry Corps Cavalry Corps

Italy

185th Paratroopers Reconnaissance Target Acquisition Regiment "Folgore"

India

Indian Army

Indian Air Force

Garud Commando Force

Indian Navy

MARCOS

Paramilitary forces

Indonesia

3rd Group Sandi Yudha, Army Special Forces Command (Kopassus)
2nd Special Operations Detachment, Navy Special Forces (Kopaska)
Amphibious Reconnassiance Battalion (Taifib), Indonesian Marine Corps
Cavalry Reconnaissance Company (Kikavtai), Cavalry Corps, Indonesian Army
Combat Reconnaissance Platoon, Kostrad, Indonesian Army
Pathfinder Platoon (Pleton Pandu Udara), Airborne Brigade, Indonesian Army
Paskhas, Indonesian Air Force

Israel

Ground Forces
- Infantry Corps (Battalions)
  - Brigade Reconnaissance Battalions & Companies
    - 93rd Reconnaissance Battalion – Kfir Brigade
    - 631st Reconnaissance Battalion – Golani Brigade
    - 846th Reconnaissance Battalion – Givati Brigade
    - 934th Reconnaissance Battalion – Nahal Brigade
    - 5135th Reconnaissance Battalion – Paratroopers Brigade
    - Reserve Brigades Reconnaissance Battalions
  - Oz Brigade (Commandos)
    - Unit Maglan
    - Unit Egoz
    - Unit Duvdevan
  - Multidimensional Unit
- Armoured Corps (Companies)
  - Palsar 7 – the 7th Armored Brigade reconnaissance unit.
  - Palsar 401 – the 401st Brigade reconnaissance unit.
  - Palsar 188 – the 188th Armored Brigade reconnaissance unit. (Reserve)
  - Reserve Brigades Reconnaissance Companies
- Combat Engineer Corps
  - Battalion Recon/Scout Platoons
  - Unit Yahalom (Generally referred to as a commando unit)
    - Sayeret Yael
- Combat Intelligence Collection Corps
  - Infantry Forces "YAHMAM"
- Artillery Corps
  - Unit Sky Rider
Sayeret Matkal
Air Force
- 7th Wing
  - Unit Shaldag
Navy
- Shayetet 13
Military Intelligence Directorate
- Special Operations Command
  - Sayeret Matkal
- Collective Units
  - Unit 8200
    - Field SIGINT Collection Unit

Netherlands

11 BVE, 42 BVE, 43 BVE (brigade reconnaissance squadrons)
104 JVE (Ground-Based Long-Range Recce Squadrons), Joint ISTAR Command (JISTARC)
Pathfinders (Airmobile)
Korps Commandotroepen
C-Squadron, Maritime Special Operations Forces, includes Mountain Leader Reconnaissance Platoon and Amphibious Reconnaissance Platoon
15 RSTA Squadron, 25 RSTA Squadron of the Marine Combat Groups, RNLMC.
Reconnaissance Platoons of RNLA Infantry Battalions.

New Zealand

Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
- Reconnaissance platoons
Special Operations Command
- New Zealand Special Air Service

Philippines

Portugal

Russia

Federal Security Service "FSB"
- Alpha Group Directorate "A" of the FSB Special Purpose Center (TsSN FSB), is an elite, stand-alone sub-unit of Russia's special forces.
- Vympel Group Directorate "B" Vympel Group is an elite Russian spetsnaz unit under the command of the FSB. (TsSN FSB)
Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
- Spetsnaz GRU: 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 14th, 16th, 24th, 25th Spetsnaz Brigade (obrSpN)
- 45th Detached Reconnaissance Regiment Specnaz VDV (orpSpN)
- Russian commando frogmen: 42nd, 420th, 431th, 561th Naval Reconnaissance Spetsnaz Point (omrpSpN)
- Voennaa Razvedka (Razvedchiki Scouts) "Military intelligence" personnel/units within larger formations in ground troops, airborne troops and marines. Intelligence battalion in the division, reconnaissance company in the brigade, a reconnaissance platoon in the regiment. The level of training is the same as Spetsnaz GRU but not controlled by the GRU. Mascot: bat.^[2]

Serbia

72nd Reconnaissance-Commando Battalion

South Africa

Sweden

Life Regiment Hussars, 32nd Intelligence Battalion (ISTAR)
Norrland Dragoon Regiment (I 19), Army Ranger Battalion
1st Marine Regiment (Amf 1), 202nd Coastal Ranger Company
Swedish Air Force, Swedish Air Force Rangers
Swedish Home Guard, Home Guard reconnaissance companies

United Kingdom

British Army

Light Cavalry & Armoured Cavalry Regiments
- Household Cavalry Regiment
- 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards & Royal Yeomanry
- Royal Scots Dragoon Guards & Scottish & North Irish Yeomanry
- Royal Dragoon Guards
- Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeth’s own)
- The Light Dragoons & Queen's Own Yeomanry
Infantry Battalion Reconnaissance Platoons
4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA
Honourable Artillery Company
Pathfinder Platoon, 16 Air Assault Brigade
Patrol Platoon, 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment^[3]^[4]
Patrol Platoon, 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment^[3]^[4]
Reconnaissance Corps
Special Air Service
Special Reconnaissance Regiment
Special Reconnaissance Unit

Royal Navy

Brigade Reconnaissance Force, Royal Marines
Reconnaissance Troop (40 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marine Corps, Her Majesty's Naval Service)
Reconnaissance Troop (42 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marine Corps, Her Majesty's Naval Service)
Reconnaissance Troop (45 Commando, 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marine Corps, Her Majesty's Naval Service)
Mountain Leader Training Cadre
Special Boat Service

Royal Air Force

United States

United States Navy

Vietnam

Vietnam People's Army

Each Corps and Military Region in VPA have 1 Recon Battalion. In each Battalion have 2 Land Recon Companies or 2 Mechanical Recon Companies and 1 Special Recon Company.

701st Special Recon Battalion^[6] of 1st Corps
1st Special Recon Battalion^[7] of 2nd Corps
28th Special Recon Battalion^[8] of 3rd Corps
46th Special Recon Battalion^[9] of 4th Corps
20th Recon Battalion^[10] of High Command of Capital Hanoi
31st Recon Battalion^[11] of 1st Military Region
20th Recon Battalion^[12] of 2nd Military Region
31st Recon Battalion^[13] of 3rd Military Region
12th Recon Battalion^[14] of 4th Military Region
32nd Recon Battalion^[15] of 5th Military Region
47th Recon Battalion^[16] of 7th Military Region
Recon Battalion under the staff HQ^[17] of 9th Military Region

Beside, each Army Division, independent Regiment, Commando Brigade and provincial military command also have 1 Recon Company.

References

^ "Special Action Force (SAF)". Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
^ Spetsnaz: Russia's Special Forces by Mark Galeotti
^ a b "PARA All you ever needed to know about joining the Paras - MilitaryForums.co.uk".
^ a b "Patrols Platoon | Parachute Regiment".
^ "FM 6-50 CHPTR 2 Reconnaissance, Selection, and Occuption of a Position".
^ "Lực lượng thiện chiến của Binh đoàn Quyết Thắng". www.qdnd.vn.
^ "Quân đoàn 2: Đồng lòng xung phong diệt "giặc Covid-19"". www.qdnd.vn.
^ "TIỀU ĐOÀN TRINH SÁT 28 - QUÂN ĐOÀN 3". masothue.com.
^ "Trinh sát đặc nhiệm 46 - cánh chim đầu đàn của Binh đoàn Cửu Long". www.vietnamplus.vn.
^ "Tuổi trẻ Tiểu đoàn Trinh sát 20". quocphongthudo.vn. 14 March 2020.
^ "Luyện ý chí, rèn kỹ năng ở Tiểu đoàn 31". baoquankhu1.vn.
^ "Ở đơn vị trinh sát đặc nhiệm". quankhu2.vn.
^ "Lính trinh sát "khổ luyện"". www.quankhu3.vn.
^ "Tiểu đoàn Trinh sát 12 QK4 kỷ niệm 40 năm thành lập". truyenhinhnghean.vn.
^ "Luyện quân trong nắng lửa miền Trung". www.qdnd.vn.
^ "Tiểu đoàn Trinh sát 47 - Bí mật bất ngờ, luồn sâu đánh giỏi". baoquankhu7.vn.
^ "Lính trinh sát khổ luyện". www.qdnd.vn.

[1] "Special Action Force (SAF)". Archived from the original on 2009-03-10. Retrieved 2021-02-27.

[2] Spetsnaz: Russia's Special Forces by Mark Galeotti

[:0-3] "PARA All you ever needed to know about joining the Paras - MilitaryForums.co.uk".

[:1-4] "Patrols Platoon | Parachute Regiment".

[5] "FM 6-50 CHPTR 2 Reconnaissance, Selection, and Occuption of a Position".

[6] "Lực lượng thiện chiến của Binh đoàn Quyết Thắng". www.qdnd.vn.

[7] "Quân đoàn 2: Đồng lòng xung phong diệt "giặc Covid-19"". www.qdnd.vn.

[8] "TIỀU ĐOÀN TRINH SÁT 28 - QUÂN ĐOÀN 3". masothue.com.

[9] "Trinh sát đặc nhiệm 46 - cánh chim đầu đàn của Binh đoàn Cửu Long". www.vietnamplus.vn.

[10] "Tuổi trẻ Tiểu đoàn Trinh sát 20". quocphongthudo.vn. 14 March 2020.

[11] "Luyện ý chí, rèn kỹ năng ở Tiểu đoàn 31". baoquankhu1.vn.

[12] "Ở đơn vị trinh sát đặc nhiệm". quankhu2.vn.

[13] "Lính trinh sát "khổ luyện"". www.quankhu3.vn.

[14] "Tiểu đoàn Trinh sát 12 QK4 kỷ niệm 40 năm thành lập". truyenhinhnghean.vn.

[15] "Luyện quân trong nắng lửa miền Trung". www.qdnd.vn.

[16] "Tiểu đoàn Trinh sát 47 - Bí mật bất ngờ, luồn sâu đánh giỏi". baoquankhu7.vn.

[17] "Lính trinh sát khổ luyện". www.qdnd.vn.