User:RekonDog/Marine Division Recon

The United States Marine Corps's Reconnaissance Battalions, or commonly called Division Reconnaissance, are the reconnaissance assets of Marine Air-Ground Task Force that provide division-level ground and amphibious reconnaissance to the Ground Combat Element. Division reconnaissance teams are employed to observe and report on enemy activity and other information of military significance in close operations. Their capabilities are similar to those of Force Recon, but do not normally insert by parachute.

The division also has other substantial organic reconnaissance assets. The Scout/Sniper platoons may be attached to regimental reconnaissance battalions to provide long-range precision fire superiority. These sniper Marines funtion as recon assets as well to provide surveillance and target acquisition to the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), known as STA snipers.

Deep Reconnaissance Platoon
The Deep Reconnaissance Platoons, or DRPs, (pronounced by some Marines within the recon community, "Drips") are the reminiscence of the Fleet Marine Force's deep recon companies that now are currently under the Marine Division's recon battalions. This was to provide the MSOB teams the same direct action services that the FMF Recon were providing the MAGTF commanders. Before the change, Force Recon was the only direct action and deep recon asset to the Marine Corps since 2006. Due to the new participation and committment to the USSOCOM, the DRPs were formed to maintain the deep recon assets within their respective Marine divisions in the Fleet Marine Force.

History
The Marine Corps's division-level reconnaissance was first conceived in 1941 by Lieutenant Colonel William Whaling. He needed a group of specialized scouts and skilled marksmen to form a "Scout and Sniper Company". Two of the newly established Marine divisions, 1st and 2nd Marine Division contained their own scouts company. While more Marines poured into enlisted and filled the ranks, larger infantry regiments called for more recon, scouts and sniper assets. By 1945, the division's had instituted the scout and sniper, light armored reconnaissance, and the Division Reconnaissance assets.

Saipan, June 1944
The recon companies from 2nd and 4th Marine Division performed a series of special missions that included a recon detachment with 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment seizing the summit of Mount Tapochau, later repulsing a Japanese counterattack on that highest point of Saipan.

In another instance, a recon detachment with 6th Marines was ordered to attack a ravine with Japanese defenders in the slopes of Mount Tapochau. Both Admiral Richmond K. Turner and General Holland M. Smith declared Saipan secured on July 9 1944.

Peleliu and the Palaus, September 1944
The III Amphibious Corps, led by Major General Geiger tasked MGen Rupertus's 1st Marine Division for the main assault landing on Peleliu. Originally, the 1st Marine Division Reconnaissance Company were part of the "floating reserve", but was ordered ashore on D-Day, September 15 1944. Early in the afternoon, the 1st Division Recon Company reinforced Colonel Herman Hanneken's 7th Marines to cover the 5th Marines. The island was declared secured on September 27.

Guam, August 1944
The last reconnaissance on Guam was conducted by the 3rd Marine Division's Reconnaissance Company with a mechanized reconnaissance-in-force. During the last major actions beginning August 3 1944, the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines had secured a series of roads that junctioned in Finegayan Village, in the northern section of the islands. A force consisted of division's Recon Company, including Headquarters and A Company of 3rd Tank Battalion and I Company of 21st Marines. Lieutenant Colonel Hartnoll J. Withers led the group, moving north-west. Two M3 Half-track, two jeeps for communications purposes and one platoon of tanks supported by an infantry platoon were manuevering toward Road Junction 177.

Their column was immediately hit by heavy concentrated fire from 75-mm and 105-m artillery, tanks, mortars and heavy small-arms and machine guns. The Marines returned fire and after two hours, the Marines managed to destroy two of the 75-mm guns, one japanese tank, and several machine-gun nests. Recognizing the Japanese held the advangtage in terrain and cover, the Marines withdrew their forces back. Later it was determined that the attack was against a full japanese battalion of Rikusentai, the elite Special Naval Landing Force. Guam was finally declared secured on August 10 1944 after an intense three-week battle.

Iwo Jima, February 1945
Before the operations of Iwo Jima, two officers and twenty enlisted scout-recon Marines from the recon platoons of 4th and 5th Marine Division and three amphib recon Marines from Company B of VAC Amphib Recon Battalion, FMFPAC were detached to composite together a 'provisional amphibious reconnaissance group' made up of recon Marines and four Underwater Demolition Teams (#12, #13, #14 and #15). The reason was to expedite the passage and briefing of raw beach and enemy information to their own respective parent operations (S-3) and intelligence (S-2) staffs. Embarking on USS Blessman (APD-18) the augmented recon and UDT team, along with the four UDT embarked on high-speed transport ships USS Bull (APD-78), USS Bates (APD-47), and USS Barr (APD-39), and headed to the Iwo Jima, Arriving just off the eastern beaches of Iwo Jima on the morning of February 17 1945, 2-days prior to D-Day (D-2).

Naval gunfire support commenced from battleships USS Idaho, USS Nevada and USS Tennessee and by 1025, Admiral William Blandy ordered the fire-support battleships to retire and clear the approach lanes for the UDT and recon Marines. The UDT and Marines were tasked in taking photographs of the beaches and enemy defenses if possible. At 1100, the four APDs slowed and dropped the Higgins boats, launching their rubber boats. While they made their preliminary landing toward shore, they immediately encountered enemy fire. Evading fire, they made their way to the beachhead, every twelve of the landing personnel carrier were either hit or sinking. After completing their photo reconnaissance, they made their way on the remaining landing crafts still floatable returned to the APDs.

Northern Okinawa
On April 1 1945, the 6th Marine Division, commanded by Major General Lemuel Shepherd, landed on Okinawa —codenamed ICEBERG. Landing north over Hagushi RED and GREEN beaches, 22nd and 29th Marines moved inland and seized Yontan airfield. MGen. Lem Shepherd sent orders to former Raider company commander (then) Major. Anthony "Cold Steel" Walker to take command of 140 Marines to form the 6th Marine Division's recon company.

MGen Shepherd gave the lighly weaponed recon Marines transportation by tanks, it gave the company firepower plus the ability to swiftly send the recon Marines ahead of the forward line of their own troops (FLOT) uncovering any major Japanese defensive positions. Occassionally, they had encountered superior Japanese forces and would pull back and report their findings to MGen Shepherd. The expedient reconnaissance-in-force allowed MGen Shepherd to coordinate accordingly and send in his infantry regiments, supported by artillery, air and naval gunfire support to overwhelm the Japanese defenders.

The 6th Recon Company objectives were to reconnoiter up the western coastal road of the Zampa Misaki Cape while being mounted on tanks. They moved out one thousand yards up the cape by end of the day. The next morning on L+1, they informed the 22nd Marines and the regiment moved north and seized the remainder of the cape. During that same day, Walker's recon company, again mounted on tanks, pushed north from Kurawa across the cape and seized the small town of Nahahama. This effectively cut off the base of the Zampa Misaki Peninsula. By April 3, L+2, the 6th Marine Division cross the isthmus along the Nagahama-Ishikawa lines, sealing off all Japanese north of the FLOT.

Meanwhile, on the same day of April 3 1945, 1st Marine Division sent their recon company front of their zone of action along the boundary of the 6th Marine Division to their north. 1st Recon Company, commanded by 1st Lieutenant Robert J. Powell, Jr., traversed by motorized patrols to the eastern shore of Okinawa, reaching the base of Katchin Peninsula by 1300. They received further orders to advance north up the east coast toward Hiazaonna. Along the way they encountered a lightly-held tank trap, then returned to 1st Marine Division before dark. Colonel Edward Snedeker 7th Marine Regiment followed the recon action report of 1st Recon Company and pushed across the island to the town of Hiazaonna, reaching it at 1830 on April 3 1945. In the next few days, 6th Marine Division continued north, reaching the port town of Nago on the west coast. Underwater Demolition Teams and minesweepers were tasked to clear the port of mines and underwater obstacles to allow seaborne delivery of logistic support. On April 6, 6th Recon Company was assigned to mop-up bypassed Japanese troops in the area between the Ishikawa Isthmus line and the Yakada-Yaka line.

The III Amphibious Corps next objective were to advance north up Okinawa, and the majority of the Japanese 44th Independent Mixed Brigade had withdrawn to the mountains on the peninsula at center of the island, mostly to the formidable twelve-hundred-foot hill called Yae-Take. The japanese brigade elements included two battalions, an anti-tank and a regimental gun company totaling over 2,000 of japanese troops defending the Motobu, fortifying their defenses along Yae-Take with salvaged 75-mm artillery and 150-mm guns and 6.1-inch naval guns from sunken or air-damaged Japanese ships.

Major Walker's tank-mounted 6th Recon Company scouted ahead of the 29th Marine Regiment, patrolling up the west coast road out of Nago and reached the coastal town of Awa. After finding only little resistance, they returned to Nago. Advanced along the northeast side of Motobu, across the base of peninsula, the recon company encountered heavier Japanese resistance at the town of Nakasona. On April 9 1945, 2nd Battalion of 29th Marines used the 6th Recon Company's route along to set up Nakasoni and Unten by the following day on April 10.

Walker's 6th Recon Company returned to the west coast of the Motobu Peninsula and continued their recon patrol ahead of 29th Marines. They came across bridges blown by fleeing Japanese forces slowing down their patrol until division combat engineers came and either rebuilt the bridges or made alternative bypasses. On April 11, as they were in the town of Toguchi, they received further orders to push all the way to the tip of Motobu along the coastal road and secure the town of Bise and as contingently guard against any Japanese forces concluding to counter-attack from seaward. The capture of Bise on April 12 proved the possible emplacement of radar-warning stations for any eventual incoming kamikazes attacks. Major General Shepherd then tasked 6th Recon Company to reinforce Company F, 2nd Battalion of 29th Marines with Major Walker assuming command, and the responsibility of Bise.

The FMFPAC attached the Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, led by Major James Jones, to the III Amphibious Corps to assist the 6th Marine Division in reconnoitering and seizing three small islands lying off the Motobu coast that was reported to be defended by the Japanese or Okiwanan Boeitai (similiar to the organization of the United States National Guard). On the nights of 19-April 20, the Amphib Recon Battalion secured Sesoko Shima and Yagachi Shima while the remainder of the 6th Marine Division wrapped up its reduction of Yae-Take and 29th Marines were moving north, declaring Motobu Peninsula secured on the same day of April 20. The next following day on April 21 Major Walker and his 6th Recon Company landed on Kouri Shima using LVTs and using LVT(A)s to provide his recon Marines fire support. The northern portion of Okinawa was declared secured on April 21 1945. The III AC's 1st and 6th Marine Divisions moved south to join the Army's XXIV Corps's attack on the southern portion of main island of Okinawa.

Southern Okinawa
The Marine leaders, foreseeing an avoidable high casualty rate, strongly recommended to continue the usage of the III AC's amphibious landing asset for the assault on the southern end of the islands of Okinawa in the ICEBERG Operation. However, Army General Simon Buckner declined the recommendation and elected instead to put both of the III AC's divisions into the army infantry lines. The result led to the Japanese counterlandings off the west coast on the nights of 14-May 15 when the 22nd Marines were tasked to seize the heights about the northern edge of the city of Naha. Navy patrol crafts and other vessels in the area managed to break of the attack. The coast received no further threats when General Shepherd reinforced the 22nd Marine Regiment with Major Walker's 6th Recon Company along the coast.

By May 25 1945, the 6th Marine Division were within the Naha city limts at a 20-yard wide canal that connected Kokuba Estuary and the Asato River to the west, bisecting the city. Major Walker's 6th Recon Company crossed the Asato River through thick mud and three- to five-feet stone banks and penetrated deep into the western portion of Naha City. Marine combat engineers were opposed by enemy snipers and the recon company dug-in without packs and their gear to advance their position, quickly subduing the snipers. It allowed the Marine engineers, the next following morning to complete a bridge across the mouth of the Asato River.

On May 27, one company of 2nd Battalion from 22nd Marines crossed the Asato and pressed deeper into the western part of Naha, passing through the lines of the 6th Recon Company. Most of the Japanese counterattacks throughout the night were broken up by artillery and the Marines in the line, while the Marines and the Army pushed south. Meanwhile, the 22nd Marines moved into western Naha. In order to relieve the 22nd Marines for further use on the battlefield, General Shepherd tasked Major Walker and his recon Marines to take over the western portions of Naha. The 6th Marine Division's recon company relieved the 22nd Marines, anadvanced toward the Kokuba estuary, reaching it at 0900. The 29th Marines came to the line to relieve the 4th Marine Regiment.

General Lemuel Shepherd estimated that the best way to capture all of Naha City and its airfield was by seizing Oruku Peninsula, by a shore to shore amphibious assault. After Shepherd gained recommendations from both the III Marines Amphibious Corps and the Tenth Army, he ordered Major Anthony Walker and his 6th Recon Company to scout any enemy presense in the dictated area and report back any findings.

Under the cover of darkness Walker and his recon Marines landed onto the shores of Oruku on the night of 1-June 2, infiltrating through the northern portion of the peninsula. They instantly became under hostile enemy fire. Despite their situation, they managed to uncover hasty intelligence from the enemy by listening and observing their activity in the area. Reporting their return, they found that the beaches were defended but not in great strength; making it usable for LVTs to land.

On June 3 1945, east of the Naha City and Oruku Peninsula operations, Major General Pedro del Valle, commanding general of 1st Marine Division, sent 1st Lieutenant Powell and the division's 1st Recon Company to spearhead the attacks of Colonel Edward Snedeker's 7th Marine Regiment. The recon Marines uncovered the enemy defenses while approaching Kokuba Estuary, and 7th Marines swiftly seized the area.

By June 5, the 4th Marines boarded their LVTs near Machinato airfield and landed by amphibious assault on the northern flank of the Japanese defenses and establishd a beachhead. Meanwhile, Walker's 6th Recon Company simultaneously seized Ona Yama Island in the middle of Naha Harbor. Ten days later, the 1st Marine Division seized the Oruku Peninsula, eliminating the Japanese Special Naval Landing Force commanded by Rear Admiral Minoru Ota.

The Offshore Islands
After four days of intensive bombardment from pre-landing preparatory fire, Major Walker's 6th Recon Company were tasked in assessing the bombardment damage. On 13—June 14, Walker's Company, reinforced with a rifle company from 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, landed on the small and rocky island of Senaga Shima, one of the islets off the coast of Oruku Peninsula, using LVTs. They reported nothing but dead Japanese and destroyed facilities from the naval gunfire. This became the last recon activity for 6th Recon Company during the war. Meanwhile, Jones's FMFPAC Amphib Recon Battalion were reconnoitering and securing the western islands offshore from the main island of Okinawa.

The landing force commander Brig. General Leroy Hunt, the 2nd Marine Division's assistant division commander landed his 8th Marines ashore Iheya Shima on June 3 after pre-bombardment and air strikes and declared it secured. Although no presense of Japanese, they sustained minor casualties from ill-guided rockets and shells falling short during the friendly-fire preparatory naval gunfire bombardments.

The 2nd Recon Company scouted Izena Jima during the night of 23—June 24 1945, only locating some 3,000 to 4,000 Okinawa citizens; but no enemy defenses or japanese defenders. The citizens were quickly processed by military government civil affairs teams.

Korean War
A selected platoon of Kenny Houghton's 1st Marine Division Reconnaissance Company was dispatched to Korea as part of 1st Marine Brigade (5th and 11th Marines) landing at Pusan. The remainder of the Company arrived with the remainder of the Division, and all landed at Inchon. Recon Marines from the 2nd Marine Division Recon later arrived to augment the reconnaissance unit including Lieutenant "Bull" Francis Kraince. Barry Crossman was the Executive Officer.

The organization was quickly altered from an amphibious unit of nine-man boat teams to a motorized unit of four-man jeep teams utilizing jeeps loaned by the United States Army. Using these vehicles the Company dispatched motorized patrols on a deep reconnaissance to scout from Wonsan and Hungnam to Huksori, an enemy supply depot some forty miles distant. An element of the Company acted as a point for Tobin's B/1/5 push on August 13, 1950, travelling by jeep about a mile forward of the infantry force.

In January 1951, the unit dispatched patrols to search out guerrillas in the Andong area and later, on one occasion, stayed concealed in a town for two nights tracing enemy cavalry and infantry patrols, and ended up by directing air strikes on them.

Marines from the 1st Marine Division Recon Company made seven raids into North Korea from the USS Horace A. Bass, one of which was conducted 12—16 August 1950, in which a combined force of sixteen Marines and twenty-five Navy Underwater Demolition Teams raided the Posung-Myon area destroying three tunnels and two railway bridges without losing one man.