7-221. A route reconnaissance patrol is conducted to obtain detailed information about one route and all its adjacent terrain, or to locate sites for emplacing obstacles. Route reconnaissance is oriented on a road, a narrow axis such as an infiltration lane, or on a general direction of attack. Patrols conducting route reconnaissance operations attempt to view the route from both the friendly and enemy perspective. Infantry rifle platoons and squads conducting the patrol require augmentation with technical expertise for a complete detailed route reconnaissance. However, platoons are capable of conducting hasty route reconnaissance or area reconnaissance of selected points along a route.
Focus And Conduct
7-222. A route reconnaissance patrol focuses along a specific line of communications (such as a road, railway, or cross-country mobility corridor). It provides new or updated information on route conditions, for example, trafficability, determining radius of a curve, or degree of slope. Additional more detailed information may include obstacles and bridge classifications, and enemy and civilian activity along the route. This type of reconnaissance includes not only the route itself, but also all terrain along the route from which the enemy could influence the friendly force’s movement. A route reconnaissance patrol is conducted to obtain and locate the following:
- Detailed information about trafficability on the route and all adjacent terrain.
- Detailed information about enemy activity or enemy force moving along a route.
- Sites for emplacing hasty obstacles to slow enemy movement.
- Obstacles, CBRN contamination, and so forth.
7-223. The patrol can be tasked to survey a route in a planned infiltration lane. After being briefed on the proposed infiltration, the patrol leader conducts a thorough map reconnaissance and plans a series of fans along the route. (See figure 7-23.) The coverage must reconnoiter all intersecting routes for a distance greater than the range at which enemy direct-fire weapons could influence the infiltrating forces.
Figure 7-23. Route reconnaissance using fans
7-224. The patrol reports conditions likely to affect friendly movement. These conditions include:
- Presence of the enemy.
- Terrain information.
- Location and condition of bypasses, fords, and obstacles.
- Choke points.
- Route and bridge conditions.
7-225. If all or part of the proposed route is a road, the leader must treat the road as adanger area. The patrol moves parallel to the road, using a covered and concealed route.When required, reconnaissance (and/or surveillance) and security teams move close tothe road to reconnoiter important areas. The patrol plans a different route for its return.
Control Measures
7-226. Control measures for a route reconnaissance create an AO for the unit conducting the reconnaissance. The leader should submit the patrol report in an overlay format including:
- Two grid references (required).
- Magnetic north arrow (required).
- Route drawn to scale (required).
- Title block (required).
- Route classification formula (required).
- Road curves with a radius of less than 45 degrees.
- Steep grades and maximum gradients.
- Road width of constrictions such as bridges and tunnels, with the widths and lengths of the traveled ways (in meters).
- Underpass limitations with limiting heights and widths.
- Bridge bypasses classified as easy, hard, or impossible.
- Civil or military road numbers or other designations.
- Locations of fords, ferries, and tunnels with limiting information.
- Causeways, snow sheds, or galleries if they are in the way. Data about clearance and load-carrying capacity should be included to permit an evaluation to decide whether to strengthen or remove them.
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