Дальнобойные разведывательные подразделения армии США: история и расформирование.

Units of the U. S. Army

Long range surveillance (LRS) teams (pronounced "lurse") were elite, specially trained surveillance units of the United States Army employed for clandestine operation by Military Intelligence for gathering direct human intelligence information deep within enemy territory. Classic LRS employment is to infiltrate deep into enemy territory, construct hide and surveillance sites, and provide continuous surveillance/special reconnaissance of an intelligence target of key interest. LRS teams allow 24 hour surveillance and analysis coverage unlike unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), manned aircraft, and most satellites. Assuming there is no mission compromise, these teams typically remain in position for up to six days, as determined by the availability of food and water. As a result of an evaluation conducted using computer modelling the U. S. Army's senior leadership made the decision to deactivate all active duty and National Guard LRS units. By the end of January 2017 the three active duty LRS companies had ceased to exist, with its personnel being reassigned to other units. The seven National Guard LRS units followed suit in 2018.

LRS units (LRSU) were infantry company size elements that are assets within a battlefield surveillance brigade's Reconnaissance & Surveillance Squadron (R&S Squadron) designated as US Army Cavalry but were functionally Airborne infantry units. The LRSU was structured as an LRS Company comprising three LRS detachments, a communications Platoon, and a Troop Headquarters. Within the LRS company, the LRS detachments typically have designated specialties. Typically, there were three teams, also known as "DETs." 1st DET typically specializes in mountainous terrain/warfare. 2nd DET specialized in airborne operations. 3rd DET was the dive detachment, specializing in water borne operations such as scuba diving and infiltrating harbors and ports as well as employing the Zodiac. LRS detachments were organized as five unsupported LRS teams.

From 2006 to 2015, United States Army long range surveillance units were reorganized into newly formed battlefield surveillance brigades (BfSBs). These brigades contained a brigade headquarters and headquarters company (HHC), two Military Intelligence (MI) battalions, and a reconnaissance and surveillance (R&S) squadron. The BfSB’s R&S squadron was composed of one LRS unit (i. e., Company C), which contains 15 LRS teams. Additionally, the R&S squadron also had two Cavalry troops (each containing two platoons) that conducted basic mounted and dismounted operations, and a headquarters and headquarters troop (HHT). For a standard six soldier LRS team, the primary method of insertion/infiltration behind enemy lines was at night by helicopter (night time heliborne), while secondary methods included airborne and waterborne operations. In recent low intensity conflicts, additional covert methods were added to enable enhanced operational capabilities.

Although both are types of units in the United States Army, LRS units were not the same as RSTA units. During the Army wide transfer to brigade combat teams (BCTs), all combat divisions and separate brigades have transitioned to RSTA units. RSTA units have added light vehicle support in the form of Humvees (HMMWVs) and M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles (CFVs), due to being commissioned as Cavalry. RSTA squadrons also feature a company sized dismounted reconnaissance troop, typically composed of infantry scouts, which conducts dismounted reconnaissance and surveillance operations. LRS units, in contrast, did not utilize a larger vehicle support element. Most RSTA units are not Airborne capable, whereas most LRS units were. Exceptions typically include the RSTA squadrons of airborne infantry BCTs, such as the 2nd BCT (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division; the 173rd Airborne BCT; and the four RSTA units in the 82nd Airborne Division).

LRS Soldiers typically carried weapons that include the following: M4 carbine, M9 pistol, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW/LMG), M203 grenade launcher, as well as mission specific gear, including (but not limited to), optics, A/V recording devices, secure communications gear, etc.