in 1944 for Finnish forces to withdraw so they could enter Soviet territory to monitor troop movements "and stuff like that"—as phrased by the photographer Long-range reconnaissance patrols (LRRP) were not used during the
Winter War of 1939–1940. Immediately after the war ended, training was commenced to create patrol detachments for peacetime intelligence and prepare for a possible war. Most of the recruits were veterans from the Winter War; some were refugees from
East Karelia and
Ingria. Around 150 soldiers were trained and equipped before the Continuation War started on 25 June 1941. Four detachments were mobilized and tasked with missions to destroy enemy personnel and material assets, disrupt supply and communication lines as well as to interrogate prisoners and develop special forces tactics. At first, the detachments comprised only as few as 14 soldiers, but as the war progressed, their ranks were increased up to 40–60 men. On 1 July 1943, the units were reorganised as companies of Detached Battalion 4 since direct command of the patrols became too consuming for the Intelligence Division. On 23 June 1944, a special operations
aviation unit with amphibious
Heinkel He 115 transport planes was established to support the battalion with insertions and extractions. Around 350 LRRPs were conducted during the wars. A total of over 650 soldiers served in the patrols during wartime and 90 died or went missing, including 2 from the
Lotta Svärd female auxiliaries. The unit played a significant role during the
Battle of Ilomantsi by disrupting Soviet supply lines. The battalion was demobilized on 30 November 1944 when the Lapland War came to an effective end. The modern
Utti Jaeger Regiment was established in Detached Battalion 4's footsteps. == Organisation ==