8.23 Special observation powers

[cjsiam]

The problem is the "designation as spotted" as if they had blown cover by firing, allowing them to be targeted....

IF a normal Infantry (for example) was within 3 of the tank he would be visible, observable by that infantry---and if it had AT it could fire...
but it could NOT magically inform the AT gun many hexes distant of the presence of and targeting info of that tank 3 hexes from it, but out of LOS of the AT gun.

A RECON unit, on the other hand, can designate ONE unit per turn, within LOS (4hexes for limiting terrain for recon) with a spotted marker,
i.e., as if the unit had fired---thus being visible to the AT gun.
The question is WHEN is that unit designated by the special Recon "one unit per turn spotted" rule....

The owning (of the recon) player may NOT want to use the SPOTTED designation on THAT unit...maybe there are a few tanks moving up....
Thus---it is NOT automatic, but completely at the whim of the recon unit owner---and what we are saying is that whim can be exercised at any time...

a) so certainly during the recon owners activations it can be designated at any time....
b) we are also saying (I think) that during the opposing players activation---if a unit moves within 4hexes in Limiting terrain of a RECCE unit,
and would thus be visible to that unit (edge of forest),
the recce player may instantaneously designate it as spotted---and (for example) an AT unit at 6 hexes from said unit can take an OP FIRE AT shot at the 
so marked SPOTTED unit...

So it is NOT automatic---it is a special designation requiring the recce owning player to MAKE A CHOICE to so utilize his 1/turn spotting capability.