Quote:
Originally Posted by kalos72
Would an LRSD Detachment still be part of the MI unit though or would it be back at the division/squadron level? This seems like one of the only type of unit that would be, for the most, left the same.
And would they be called a "LRSD" Platoon - Company - Squadron - Regiment?
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The D in LRSD is for Detachment, so it doesn't need another unit size. IMO, it needs to stay assigned to the MI battalion, they report directly to the division S-2, and I can't believe (s)he's going to give up the one non-electronic asset in the battalion!
Running this off the top of my head, and referring strictly to US Army:
- The LRSD belongs to the division's intel battalion, and its intelligence officer. They are supposed to operate deep, and have a high proportion of Ranger-qualified soldiers. I believe corps and army-level MI units would have more of the same.
- Since one of the armored cavalry regiment's key jobs is to scout for the corps commander, some of its platoons are labelled as scout units. They are essentially reduced mech-infantry platoons, using cavalry fighting vehicles, and the dismounts are rated as cavalry scouts. The scouts in a heavy division's armored cavalry squadron would be organized similarly, with the same job.
- FWIW, a line battalion would have its own recon platoon, usually vehicle mounted, to do the recon work for the battalion commander and S-2.
The real difference is in deployment. The LRSD guys would be dropped by chopper and sneak around the enemy's rear area for several nights, looking for things. They are the descendants of Vietnam's LRRPs, who would run week-long missions hunting for the enemy. In T2k, I'd suspect the LRSD is horse-mounted, and/or its scouts spend time in civilian clothes, trying to blend in with the locals. Pretty much what most PC bands do, really.