SD:Recon (US)

 is a United States Recon unit, available from Phase A onwards. Recce or recon stands for reconnaissance, a vital part of military warfare. Their main job, as indicated, is to scout surroundings and they accordingly do not have any noteworthy combat abilities. The two-man team is a stealthy unit that gathers information about enemy dispositions. They often arrive with transport units that boast firepower of varying strength, such as the jeep .30 and the M20.

The German and British equivalent of the Recon is the Aufklärer and the Recce respectively.

Overview
Reconnaissance is one of the most important assets to a military operation, gathering information about non-friendly surroundings and enemy troop dispositions. The recon branch is divided in many subdivisions, ranging from aerial reconnaissance to reconnaissance-in-force to hit-and-run tactics.

The 2nd Infantry had intelligence and reconnaissance platoon at the Regimental level and 2nd Cavalry Recon Troop with their Jeep mounted Recon teams.

The Tank Battalions and the Armored Infantry Battalions of the Armored Division had Reconnaissance Platoon in their Headquarters Company. Each Reconnaissance Platoon had one Half-track and five jeeps. The 3rd Armored had 83rd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion while the 4th Armored had 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mechanized).

101st Airborne had Troop C, 4th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron attached to the division.

Strategy
Recce units in the game usually come with a vehicle that possesses at least some firepower, providing supporting fire or attacking enemy recon units. The Recce squad itself consists only of two men carrying close-range Thompson submachine guns and cannot survive lengthy exchanges of fire. Their best way of staying alive is to stay concealed.

It goes without saying that a player should always have recon units at the front lines (and preferably beyond). You can never have too much recon.