Reconnaissance Corps
Encyclopedia
The Reconnaissance Corps or simply Recce Corps was a short-lived elite corps
of the British Army
whose units provided the mobile spearhead of infantry divisions from the Far East to Europe during the Second World War. It was formed from Infantry
Brigade
Reconnaissance
Groups on 14 January 1941. All the Brigade reconnaissance groups of each infantry Corps were formed into reconnaissance battalions, each usually bearing the number of its relevant Division. For example, the 43rd Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps (based on the 5th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment) was the divisional reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. Initially, coming from infantry units, reconnaissance units used the infantry designations of battalions, companies and platoons. However from June 1942 the Corps changed to the cavalry descriptions of regiments, squadrons and troops.
It became part of the Royal Armoured Corps
in 1944, still maintaining its own cap badge with two lightning strikes supporting an upright spear. With the end of the war, this number of reconnaissance units was not needed and the Corps was disbanded in August 1946. Reconnaissance duties reverted to Regular armoured units of the Royal Armoured Corps.
in February 1941, until the home of the Corps moved to Catterick
in Yorkshire
. Although the Corps was raised from various regular army units, it did not follow that all men would be retained, as potential reconnoiterers were required to take an IQ test and other various tests before being accepted. Many failed and were sent to normal infantry battalions, but those who succeeded enjoyed the kudos of belonging to an elite unit and were determined to prove their own worth. Before beginning training with his unit, each man undertook a five week course with technical units which determined his role as a driver, wireless operator or machanic. Most recce men become efficient in two of these roles e.g. Driver/Operator. During training with a reconnaissance unit emphasis was placed on both aggressiveness and initiative, as these were the characteristics expected of the men selected for such units, and as a result a proud offensive spirit was created, similar to other newly founded units such as The Parachute Regiment. Reconnaissance Regiments were organised into a headquarters squadron (including anti-tank, signals and mortar troops) and three reconnaissance (or "recce") squadrons. Each recce squadron comprised three scout troops and an assault troop. Scout troops were equipped with Light Reconnaissance Cars (LRCs) such as the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car
and with Bren Gun Carriers
The assault troop comprised lorried infantry and were called up when enemy resistance needed to be overcome. Later in the war more efficient and well armed armoured cars such as the Humber Armoured Car
, Daimler Armoured Car
, Staghound
and Greyhound
augmented the LRCs in scout troops.
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
whose units provided the mobile spearhead of infantry divisions from the Far East to Europe during the Second World War. It was formed from Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
Groups on 14 January 1941. All the Brigade reconnaissance groups of each infantry Corps were formed into reconnaissance battalions, each usually bearing the number of its relevant Division. For example, the 43rd Battalion, Reconnaissance Corps (based on the 5th Battalion, the Gloucestershire Regiment) was the divisional reconnaissance battalion of the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division. Initially, coming from infantry units, reconnaissance units used the infantry designations of battalions, companies and platoons. However from June 1942 the Corps changed to the cavalry descriptions of regiments, squadrons and troops.
It became part of the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
in 1944, still maintaining its own cap badge with two lightning strikes supporting an upright spear. With the end of the war, this number of reconnaissance units was not needed and the Corps was disbanded in August 1946. Reconnaissance duties reverted to Regular armoured units of the Royal Armoured Corps.
Organisation and equipment
The Reconnaissance Corps was charged with gathering vital tactical information in battle for infantry divisions, probing ahead and screening the flanks of main advances. The Training Centre was established at WinchesterWinchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
in February 1941, until the home of the Corps moved to Catterick
Catterick, North Yorkshire
Catterick , sometimes Catterick Village, to distinguish it from the nearby Catterick Garrison, is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England...
in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. Although the Corps was raised from various regular army units, it did not follow that all men would be retained, as potential reconnoiterers were required to take an IQ test and other various tests before being accepted. Many failed and were sent to normal infantry battalions, but those who succeeded enjoyed the kudos of belonging to an elite unit and were determined to prove their own worth. Before beginning training with his unit, each man undertook a five week course with technical units which determined his role as a driver, wireless operator or machanic. Most recce men become efficient in two of these roles e.g. Driver/Operator. During training with a reconnaissance unit emphasis was placed on both aggressiveness and initiative, as these were the characteristics expected of the men selected for such units, and as a result a proud offensive spirit was created, similar to other newly founded units such as The Parachute Regiment. Reconnaissance Regiments were organised into a headquarters squadron (including anti-tank, signals and mortar troops) and three reconnaissance (or "recce") squadrons. Each recce squadron comprised three scout troops and an assault troop. Scout troops were equipped with Light Reconnaissance Cars (LRCs) such as the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car
Humber Light Reconnaissance Car
The Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, also known as Humberette or Ironside, was a British armoured car produced during the Second World War....
and with Bren Gun Carriers
Universal Carrier
The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrong. Produced between 1934 and 1960, the vehicle was used widely by British Commonwealth forces during the Second World War...
The assault troop comprised lorried infantry and were called up when enemy resistance needed to be overcome. Later in the war more efficient and well armed armoured cars such as the Humber Armoured Car
Humber Armoured Car
The Humber Armoured Car was one of the most widely produced British armoured cars of the Second World War. It supplemented the Humber Light Reconnaissance Car and remained in service until the end of the war.-Development:...
, Daimler Armoured Car
Daimler Armoured Car
The Daimler Armoured Car was a British armoured car of the Second World War.-History:The Daimler Armoured Car was a parallel development to the Daimler Dingo "Scout car", a small armoured vehicle for scouting and liaison roles. It was another Birmingham Small Arms design...
, Staghound
T17 Armored Car
The T17 and the T17E1 were American armored cars produced during the Second World War. They did not see service with frontline US forces but the latter was supplied via the United Kingdom to British and Commonwealth forces during the war and received the service name Staghound...
and Greyhound
M8 Greyhound
The M8 Light Armored Car was a 6x6 armored car produced by the Ford Motor Company during World War II. It was used by the U.S. and British troops in Europe and the Far East until the end of the war. The vehicle was widely exported and as of 2006 still remains in service with some third world...
augmented the LRCs in scout troops.
Units
- 1st Reconnaissance Regiment
- 1st Airborne Recce Squadron
- 2nd Reconnaissance Regiment
- 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment
- 4th Reconnaissance Regiment
- 5th Reconnaissance Regiment
- 6th Armoured Airborne Recce Regiment
- 15th Recce Regiment
- 18th Recce Battalion (Captured in SingaporeSingaporeSingapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in 1942) - 43rd Recce Regiment
- 44th Recce Regiment
- 45th Recce Regiment
- 46th Recce Regiment
- 49th Recce Regiment
- 52nd Recce Regiment
- 53rd Recce Regiment
- 56th Recce Regiment
- 59th Recce Regiment (disbanded in 1944)
- 61st Recce Regiment