DESIGN OF INTELLIGENCE AND RECONNAISSANCE CAPABILITY FOR BIHAR REGT 12 BATALLION IN EVENT OF DEPLOYMENT IN DOKLAM
Content:                                                                       UNIT PAGE
Keshav Mazumdar ATO

BATALLION INT SECTION(organic int unit) TOE
Will consist of the Batallion Staff Cell ,the technical quality control cell,and the Tactical Operations Center Warrior Terminal NCO.
Laterally there will be the Tactical Operations Center.
The Tactical operations center will consist of:
  1. Battle Captain
  2. Int Officer
  3. Int JCO
  4. Ops Officer
  5. Ops JCO
  6. Asst Ops JCO(To liaise between the Int and Ops JCO)
  7. Liaison NCO.
 “The principle mission of the regimental intelligence platoon is to serve as the special intelligence agency of the regimental commander, for the collection, recording, evaluation and dissemination of information, under the supervision of the regimental intelligence officer (S-2). The platoon is also charged with counterintelligence measures and surveillance. Actual operations of this platoon are conducted under the immediate control of the platoon leader. He may receive his orders directly from the regimental commander, int staff officer, or ops officer. During training periods it may be required to assist the ISO in conducting intelligence and counterintelligence instruction within the regiment.”

Mission , Command and Control structure , Comm , Taskings of Long Range Surveillance and Reconnaissance Units ( Det/Coy).

Operations Base:
  1. Tactical operations center TOC
  2. Coy / Det HQ
  3. Comm Platoon or Base Radio Station
  4. Motor Park
  5. Isolation Area
  6. Platoon/Team defensive Area

Long range Surveillance Coy/Long range surveillance Detachment: TOCs
Setup in Ops BaseOB--> Gives Long range surveillance unit a command and control capability and communication (immediate other than fully depending on Base HQ).All surveillance units will have embedded int capability with one or two int personnel augmenting the platoons.
Forward Base: Will consist of Interim rest Area , launch pad , communication station.
Rear HQ Base:
Just behind Forward line of own troops , will linkup with Bn Int Section and Bn HQ..


Mission Types:

Long Range Surveillance Detachment will be organic to MI Bn of Div.
Long Range Surveillance Coy will be organic to Tactical Exploitation Batallion (MI Bde)

After ascertaining int gaps taskings of LRSU will be based on properly and accurately stated Prioritized int requirements and the specific int requirements derived from the former.These will be stated by the Commanders Bn Int Staff after discussionwith the Commander.
Prioritized int requirements and Int requirements will be determined by All source Section which looks for all possible indicators.
Indicators ----> Questions/statements derived to satisfy specific int requirements.Indicators must be derived by Higher HQ Int assets and some of these tasked to LRS Units.

Possible targets:
At the Coy level such as Bihar Regiment 12 Batallion we can have the basic IR Platoon:

INTELLIGENCE & RECONNAISSANCE PLATOON
      
The I&R platoon consists of a platoon headquarters and two reconnaissance squads. Platoon headquarters consists of the platoon leader, platoon sergeant, driver, topographic draftsman, radio operator, and scouts and observers. Each squad consists of a squad leader, assistant squad leader, radio operator, drivers, scouts and observers. The platoon headquarters has one jeep while each squad had three jeeps, some of which carried radios.
      
     The soldiers that make up the platoon are all infantrymen, given additional training by the regimental Int staff officer. Training of the platoon members focus on operating as scouts along with map and aerial photograph reading, conventional signs, military symbols and abbreviations, sketching, oral and written reporting, scouting and patrolling, theory and practice of observation, camouflage and the art of concealment, and the collection of information. 

       Individual equipment for members of the I&R platoon include standard infantry small arms and equipment, though individuals in the field often can supplement the standard issue as they saw fit.. Each squad also has a prismatic compass, a 20 power monocular telescope and/or a pair of field glasses, and a watch. The platoon members carry notebooks and writing materials and colored pencils to pass along information and mark maps.

        
       The main function of the I&R platoon is to be the ears and eyes of the regimental commander. The principle functions of the platoon are:
  • Gathering detailed information about the enemy and terrain in locations that are not readily accessible to the rifle companies of the battalions or regiment.
  • Assemble, evaluate and distribute information and intelligence gathered by the platoon and by subordinate, higher, or adjascent friendly units.
  • Provide early warning to the regiment on the presence, disposition, composition and approach of enemy forces of all types. Operate well in advance of the regiment in order to gain and maintain contact with the enemy.
  • Maintain contact with reconnaissance and security formations of other, larger formations that are operating forward or to the flanks of the regiment.
  • Regain lost contact with adjascent, attached and assigned friendly units. Locate and maintain contact with the flanks of an enemy force when contact is gained by dismounted combat elements of the regiment.
  • Reconnoiter avenues of approach, routes, river crossings and complex enemy obstacles. Search suspicious, dominating and criticle areas along the route of march to identify possible ambush sites, defended road blocks, route classification and contaminated areas.
  • Establish and operate 24 hour observation and listening posts.
  • Conduct dismounted patrolling to the front, flanks and rear of the regiment when terrain or enemy stuation precludes the use of mounted patrolling.
  • Assist the regimental int officer at the command post or at a tactical observation/tactical command post by maintaining the intelligence situation map, and/or keeping an intelligence log, taking and preparing reports, messages and sketches.
  • Carry out such counter-intelligence measures as directed by the regimental commander or Int officer. Provide instruction on the subject to other units of the regiment. Search undefended or captured towns and villages and captured enemy equipment and positions.
       Some other missions performed by the platoon that are not specifically included in standard doctrine are;
  • Liaison between regiments of the division.
  • Messenger duties between battalions of the regiment.
  • Escort and security for the regimental commander as he moved forward of the main command post.
  • Serving as radio-telephone operators for regimental command in dismounted offensive operations.
  • Marking of route of march for the regiment and providing guides at traffic control points.
  • Accompanying a combat or reconnaissance patrol conducted by rifle platoons or companies from subordinate infantry battalions of the regiment in order to report on tactical progress of intelligence acquired directly to the regimental commander.
  • Conduct ecenomy of force operations on a flank of the regiment in order to provide early warning and prevent the regiment from being surprised.
       While being trained infantrymen, thus capable of getting involved in direct fighting against enemy forces, the primary duty of the I&R platoon is to support the front line infantry and regimental commander by carrying out the above type of missions and not get directly into a firefight.