| 3rd Reconnaissance Demonstration Battalion 3rd Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion | |
|---|---|
| Aufklärungslehrbataillon 3 | |
 Battalion insignia | |
| Active | 28 June 1956 – present |
| Country |
 West Germany (to 1990) Germany (from 1990) |
| Branch |
West German Federal Army (to 1990) Germany Army (from 1990) |
| Type | Reconnaissance Unit |
| Role | Demonstration Unit |
| Size | Battalion (appx. 590 personnel) |
| Part of |
 9th Panzerlehr Brigade |
| Location | Theodor-Körner Barracks, Lüneburg |
| Nickname(s) | "Lüneburg" |
| Deployments | |
The 3rd Reconnaissance Demonstration Battalion "Lüneburg" (German language: Aufklärungslehrbataillon 3) is a lehr (demonstration unit) of the Bundeswehr currently part of the 9th Panzerlehr Brigade based in Lower Saxony.
History[]
In 1956 under Order No. 20 dated 28 June 1956, the new West German Ministry of Defense ordered the creation of a new armoured reconnaissance battalion based in Linger an der Ems under the 3rd Panzer Division. The initial location was the former Wehrmacht barracks occupied by the British known as Alma Barracks in Lüneburg.
The 3rd Reconnaissance Demonstration Battalion was formed in 1956 as part of the reformation of the German Army as the West German Federal Army as the 3rd Armoured Reconnaissance Battalion (Panzeraufklärungsbataillon 3) based in Lüneburg in Lower Saxony. In 1966, the battalion was affiliated with the 103rd (Huzaren van Boreel) Reconnaissance Battalion of the Royal Dutch Army, which was organised as an armoured reconnaissance unit. In 1989, the battalion was based in Neu Hagen, Lüneburg and had a strength of 559 personnel, mostly regulars.[1][2] The battalion structure at this point was as follows:[2]
- Battalion Headquarters
- 1st Company (Staff & Supply) – 1 x Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank and 2 x Luchs Recon Armoured Personnel Carriers
- 2nd Company (Heavy Reconnaissance) – 13 x Leopard 1 Main Battle Tanks
- 3rd Company (Heavy Reconnaissance) – 13 x Leopard 1 Main Battle Tanks
- 4th Company (Mixed Reconnaissance) – 7 x Leopard 1 Main Battle Tanks and 8 x Luchs Recon Armoured Personnel Carriers
- 5th Company (Armoured Reconnaissance) – 10 x Fuchs Recon Armoured Personnel Carriers and 3 x Milan Anti-Tank Guided Missiles
- Radar Unit 3 (9 x Fuchs Armoured Personnel Carriers with RASIT Radars)
- Lüneburg Medical Group
- 25th Company, 7th Medical Group
- 1st Lüneburg Divisional School Group
In 1996, as part of the overall reorganisation of the Bundeswehr, the battalion was subordinated directly to the 9th Panzerlehr Brigade and reorganised as a heavy reconnaissance demonstration battalion, along with an SFOR Reinforcement Company. In 1999, the company was a split into two companies and deployed as part of the follow-up continent, while forming two new task force companies, and the 310th Airborne Reconnaissance Company.[1]
In 2003, the battalion left the 9th Panzerlehr Brigade and was subordinated directly to the 1st Panzer Division as its divisional reconnaissance battalion. In 2004 and 2005, the battalion was deployed as part of the 9th KFOR Continent, 1st EUFOR Contingent, and later 6th ISAF Contingent.[1]
In 2005, the 310th Airborne Reconnaissance Company left the battalion and was subordinated directly to the 31st Airborne Brigade. In 2006, the battalion deployed as part of the 15th contingent for KFOR. In 2007, the battalion was re-designated as the 3rd Reconnaissance Demonstration Battalion and re-joined the 9th Panzerlehr Brigade. In 2008 the battalion deployed as part of the 17th contingent of ISAF, and subsequently awarded the designation of "Lüneburg". In 2010 and 2011 the battalion again deployed in ISAF part of the 25th Contingent. In 2011 and 2012 it was again deployed in ISAF as part of the 26th and 27th contingents. Finally, in 2013 the battalion was directly assigned to the EU Battlegroup for the duration of the year.[1]
As of 2023, the battalion is based at Theodor Körner Barracks in Lüneburg and equipped with LGS Fennek light scout cars and Rheinmetall KZO miniature unmanned aerial vehicles. The battalion's role is to provide reconnaissance for the brigade alongside equipment demonstrations and equipment testing.[3][4][5] It's structure is now as follows:[6]
- Battalion Headquarters
- 1st Company (Staff & Support)
- 2nd Company (Reconnaissance)
- 3rd Company (Reconnaissance)
- 4th Company (Reconnaissance)
- 5th Company (UAV Reconnaissance)
- 6th Company (Logistic Support)
Footnotes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Geschichte der Aufklärungslehrbataillon 3" (in de). http://www.deutschesheer.de:80/portal/a/1div/!ut/p/c4/DcYxDoAgDADAt_iBNq5u_kJdTIEKDQQJVEx8veSWwwOHTF08qdyZEm64W1nMC4G5nrOTDk44N23KKXGG8tFzxdFQjSbw3GwQG5SxxHX6AdeGb9c!/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Dragoner, O. W. (February 2012). "Die Bundeswehr 1989: Organisation und Ausrüstung der Streitkräfte der Bundesrepublik Deutschland zum Ende des Kalten Krieges" (in de). p. 59. https://www.relikte.com/_basis/docs/bw_2_1-4.pdf.
- ↑ "Aufklärungslehrbataillon 3" (in de). https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/organisation/heer/organisation/1-panzerdivision/panzerlehrbrigade-9/aufklaerungslehrbataillon-3.
- ↑ "Auftrag" (in de). http://www.deutschesheer.de:80/portal/a/1div/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP3I5EyrpHK9jNTUonjDlMwyvZTM1LzikuKS1Jyc1Dy9gqrE0rRsIDOjKKkkRw_IKSlKTNcvyHZUBABuGDAu/.
- ↑ "Anfahrtsskizze" (in de). http://www.deutschesheer.de:80/portal/a/1div/!ut/p/c4/DcYxDoAgDADAt_gBGlc3f6EupkiVhqYSqJj4esktBxt0io0vNL4VBRZYD5786yJR2cfAzQUmrVaNREhd_vA5U28s3sShnhiLQU7z8ANah797/.
- ↑ "Gliederung" (in de). http://www.deutschesheer.de:80/portal/a/1div/!ut/p/c4/DcYxDoAgDADAt_gBGlc3f6EuBqRCQ1MJFEx8veSWgwMGsZ2CVXrEMmywX7S410TEcs6euvGEUrUqMqOY_Nl2p9FYnLIJTOixNAmQ0zr9gX4Z2g!!/.