2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion is a fast and mobilized armored terrestrial reconnaissance battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Their primary weapon system is the 8-wheeled LAV-25 and they fall under the command of the 2nd Marine Division and II Marine Expeditionary Force. The unit is based out of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. The current mission statement of the battalion is: To perform combined arms reconnaissance and security missions in support of the Ground Combat Element (GCE) of a Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Its mission is to conduct reconnaissance, security and economy of force operations, and, within its capabilities, limited offensive or defensive operations that exploit the unit's mobility and firepower.
The LAR battalion may function as an independent maneuver element or as an element of a larger unit such as a regimental combat team, or its subordinate companies may support other tactical units in the GCE.
Subordinate units
Organization
The United States Marine Corps Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalions, or LAR Battalions, are fast and mobilized armored terrestrial reconnaissance units that conduct reconnaissance-in-force (RIF) ahead of the battalion landing teams or division infantry forces. They mainly provide the Marine Air-Ground Task Force and the Marine Expeditionary Unit commanders vital intelligence of the enemy.
They perform their methods as special motorized, infantry-based reconnaissance units (or light cavalry) as they are equipped with LAV-25s to quickly penetrate enemy lines and locate and/or harass any enemy forces to determine their size, strengths, location, and any other pertinent information requested of the Marine commanders.
In counter-insurgency operations in the war on terror, LAR units provided long range patrolling capabilities, line of communication security, quick reaction force service, conducted and supported raids and cordon and searches, and supported infantry units in direct combat.
The 2nd LAR Battalion is assigned to the 2nd Marine Division and possess 3 line companies along with a headquarters and service company.
Light Armored Vehicle Mission Role Variants
The LAR battalion is equipped with six mission role variants (MRVs):
LAV-25 (light armored vehicle-25 millimeter). LAV-AT (light armored vehicle-antitank). LAV-M (light armored vehicle-mortar). LAV-C2 (light armored vehicle-command and control). LAV-L (light armored vehicle-logistics). LAV-R (light armored vehicle-recovery). Light Armored Reconnaissance Scouts:
Light Armored Reconnaissance Scouts
Marines who have the military occupational specialty (MOS) 0311, rifleman are assigned to the LAR battalion as scouts. The scouts receive their scout training from the LAR battalion. The LAR scouts are not employed the same way as infantry or mechanized infantry. Each LAV-25 carries three scouts, who are trained and organized for employment in support of the LAV-25. The LAR scouts should be thought of as an integral part of the vehicle's employment capabilities. The vehicle/scout team is a complete system, with the vehicle and its scouts each dependent on the other for security, mobility, and firepower.
Troop density
The LAV-25 carries three LAV crewmen and four personnel (typically three scouts and either a corpsman, engineer, sniper, or mechanic) per vehicle. The LAR battalion table of organization (T/O)provides for 216 scouts. Operations requiring large numbers of infantry favor employing mechanized infantry units due to their higher troop density. This limitation can be offset by planning for reinforcements of LAR by helicopter borne or mechanized infantry units. The LAV should not be viewed as an infantry fighting vehicle or as an armored personnel carrier. This vehicle is an armored reconnaissance vehicle that lacks sufficient armor protection and troop density to perform missions normally assigned to a mechanized infantry unit.
History
Activation The first Light Armored Vehicle unit to be activated was Second LAV Battalion at Camp Lejeune, NC, during May 1985 and it began receiving its first LAVs in June 1985. The battalion underwent several name changes to include Light Armored Infantry in 1988 before settling in 1994 on Light Armored Reconnaissance (LAR) Battalion. This was done to better reflect the capabilities, mission, and purpose of the LAV equipped battalions.
Call signs The battalion has been known by various call signs over the years. At inception, the battalion was known as "Wolfpack". In the late 1980s the call sign was briefly changed to "Dragoon" but was reverted to "Wolfpack" before deploying in support of Operation Desert Shield. When the battalion deployed in 2002, the call sign was changed to "Barbarians" because 3rd LAR BN was also known by the call sign "Wolfpack". During combat operations in March 2003, enemy transmissions were intercepted by Radio Battalion that referred to the unit as "the destroyers". RCT-1 re-designated the battalion as "Destroyer" and is still the current call sign of the battalion. When the battalion deployed in September 2006, again the call sign had to be changed due to a conflict in call signs. An army unit already in theater was using "Destroyer". For the duration of the deployment, the battalion was known as "Mountaineer". The name was chosen because the battalion commander at the time, LtCol Renforth, was a fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers.
Operation Just Cause Operation Just Cause in Panama during 1989 was the first time LAVs were involved in combat operations. As US troops invaded the country to arrest the dictator President Manuel Noriega to justice for drug trafficking. LAV Companies from 2D LAV BN started deploying to Panama in 1988 and conducted freedom of movement exercises throughout the country and demonstrated their amphibious capability by swimming the Panama Canal. During Operation Just Cause LAVs demonstrated their versatility to supporting Special Operations Forces, blocking major highways, and securing important objectives. The first casualty for the battalion also occurred 20 December 1989 when Cpl Garreth Isaak was killed in action, by enemy gunfire. He was awarded the Silver Star (Posthumously).
Gulf War The attack order assigned the 2d LAI Battalion to screen the division's front and flanks on the Kuwaiti side of the berm, starting on G minus 3, 21 February. The battalion was to "attempt to identify any gaps in the obstacle belt and locate an alternate breach site for Tiger Brigade in the Northwest." This last task was especially important should the division's main breach effort fail or be held up by the enemy. An alternate breach site would permit the Tiger Brigade to move its heavy armored power around the division's flank and help to pull the remainder of the division through. Although this was not needed in the end, it was an important contingency to anticipate.
The 2d LAR Battalion along with its supporting artillery unit the 1-3 field artillery from the US Army 1st Tiger Brigade sought contact and reported information on enemy troops, activities, and equipment. Operating almost continuously under antitank, rocket, and indirect fire, the battalion's companies engaged enemy troops, artillery, and tanks on at least 17 occasions, using organic antitank weapons, artillery fire from the 10th Marines, 1-3 field artillery and close air support. During these three days, the battalion accounted for numerous enemy KIA, the destruction of 12 enemy tanks, a further 35 tanks with air strikes, and the capture of 120 EPWs.
April 1991 through January 1992 the battalion provided detachments to the 24th and 26th MEU's in support of Operation "Provide Comfort" in Northern Iraq. On 15 May the 24th MEU Detachment swam the Tigris River.
Humanitarian missions
Several detachments in support of MEU operations deploy to support operations in Kismayu and Mogadishu, Somalia from April 1992 through May 1994 during Operation "Restore Hope".
On 20 September 1994 BLT 2/2 landed in Haiti with a LAR platoon attachment during Operation "Restore Democracy". Landing on "Blue Beach" Camp Haitian, the Marines conducted convoy escorts, arms collection, disarmament of the Haitian Forces, and various Humanitarian Effort tasks.
From June to July 1999 an element of D Co deployed with the 26th MEU and participated in Operation "Joint Guardian". As the first U.S. peacekeepers in Kosovo, the Marines and sailors of the MEU provided stability to the embattled region.
During August 1999 elements of D Co deployed with the 26th MEU to support Operation "Avid Response". A Humanitarian mission following an earthquake in Turkey.
On 26 February 2003 the battalion received a Warning Order to prepare to deploy to Haiti in order to assist in stabilization operations. On 1 March 2003 the first elements of B Co arrived at Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
The company immediately began an aggressive patrol posture combating looters and gangs that controlled the area. They quickly seized control and maintained momentum throughout the deployment.
From 15 January to 8 March 2010, elements of Co B in support of 22 MEU, just returned from a 7-month deployment when they were recalled off of post deployment leave in order to re-deploy to provide humanitarian support to Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck just west of Port-au-Prince on 12 January 2010. The MEU conducted the re-call and was embarked for departure in less than 56 hours from receiving the order to redeploy for Operation "Unified Response".
Global war on terror During late 2001 2d LAR landed at Camp Rhino in Afghanistan which was already held by the 15th MEU to begin the assault on Kandahar. A combined unit formed by 2d and 3d LAR and the 15th and 26th MEU assaulted and took Kandahar international airport in December 2001. Further operations would be held from that location up to February 2002 to include the most notable Operation Anaconda. In February 2002 that base was handed over to 101st Airborne units.
Operation Iraqi Freedom During early 2003 all three active-duty LAR battalions and the one reserve battalion were mobilized and deployed to Kuwait for Operation Iraqi Freedom. The LAR battalions accompanied all the regimental combat teams into action, and elements of 1st LAR attached to RCT-5 were among the first ground combat units into Iraq. Lieutenant General Conway, the MEF commander, opted to orchestrate the war forward using a pair of LAV-C2s for command and control. LAVs from 2nd LAR, attached to RCT-1, broke through the city of Al Nasiriyah after stiff Fedayeen resistance was encountered. Once in Baghdad, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd LAR Battalions were reorganized into Task Force Tripoli to continue the attack north and capture Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Along the way elements of 3d LAR Battalion rescued the American prisoners of war from the Iraqis. Operation Iraqi Freedom marked the longest inland penetration by US Marine Forces ever, and no units went further and faster than the LAR battalions, again proving their incredible versatility and capability.