DEFENCE FORCES RECCE CONCENTRATION
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BY SGT WAYNE FITZGERALD PHOTOS BY ARMN NEVILLE COUGHLAN & JIM O'CONNOR
qualified personnel from all infantry and cavalry units in the PDF. In all, nine four-man teams, representing seven units from all three Bdes and the DFTC, participated. They were tested in a number of recce-specific skills, including tactical river crossing, stalking, observation, comms and target grid procedures with live mortars. All teams performed well throughout the con- centration but the eventual winners were 4 Cav Sqn under the command of Lt Niall Dolan. Reconnaissance, commonly known as recce, is undertaken to
T
he DF Recce Concentration 2012 was recently conducted by the Infantry Weapons Wing (IWW), Military College. The concentration was open to teams consisting of recce
obtain information, by visual observation or other detection methods, about the activities and resources of an enemy or po- tential enemy, or about the characteristics of a particular area. Historically, recce was conducted by cavalry. However, on the
modern battlefield information is everything and both infantry and cavalry units have evolved to deliver the close reconnais- sance capability at their respective levels. Reconnaissance patrols gain information by observation and
formation, such as tracks and the state of the ground; locating enemy positions; obtaining details of minefields, obstacles and enemy positions; observing enemy activity, habits and patrol routes; and conducting surveys of areas contaminated by fall- out or chemical attack.
operate by stealth, avoiding combat except for self protection or to take advantage of an unusual opportunity. Generally, therefore, recce patrols will be of the minimum strength need- ed to complete the task. eight-man patrols are most suitable for long distance patrols, while over short distances the patrol strength may be reduced. Recce patrol tasks can include: collecting topographical in-
An Cosantóir June 2012 www.dfmagazine.ie
2012
