Tactical-Small Unit Tactic II

Urban Combat/Enter Building/Clear Room

Urban Combat• TYPES. Infantry units must be trained to conduct urban combat

under high-intensity conditions. High-intensity urban combat requires the employment of combat power of the joint combined arms team. An Infantry unit’s mission is normally to recon, isolate, penetrate, systematically clear, defend the urban area, and engage and defeat the enemy with decisive combat power. Although the changing world situation may have made urban combat under high-intensity conditions less likely for US forces, it represents the high end of the combat spectrum, and units must be trained for it. High-intensity urban operations can be casualty-intensive for both sides. With the integrated firepower of the joint, combined arms team, leaders must make every attempt to limit unnecessary destruction of critical infrastructure and casualties among noncombatants.

Urban Combat

• Precision Conditions. Infantry units train to defeat an enemy that is mixed with non-combatants in precision urban combat. Leaders plan to limit civilian casualties and collateral damage through the establishment of strict rules of engagement (ROE) and the employment of precision weapons and munitions. The ROE provides the focus for the use and restraint of combat power. The ROE may be significantly more restrictive than under high-intensity conditions.

Urban Combat• Surgical Conditions. Operations conducted under surgical

conditions include special-purpose raids, small precision strikes, or small-scale personnel seizure or recovery operations in an urban environment (for example, hostage rescue). Joint special operation forces usually conduct these operations. They may closely resemble US police operations performed by Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams. They may even involve cooperation between US forces and host nation police. Though regular units may not usually be involved in the actual surgical operation, they may support it by isolating the area, by providing security or crowd control, or providing search and rescue teams.

Urban Combat

• Transitions. Leaders must always be prepared to transition rapidly from one type of urban combat to another, and back. Real-world combat shows us that urban operations can deteriorate rapidly and without warning. A force involved in stability and support operations can suddenly find itself in a high-intensity combat situation.

Principals

• Surprise. Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared. Key to success: gives the assaulting element the advantage.

Principals

• Security. Never permit the enemy to acquire unexpected advantage.(1) Maintain during all phases of the operation. (2) Four-dimensional battlefield (height, depth, width, subterranean). (3) Always maintain 360 degree security (include elevated and subterranean areas). (4) Mission is never complete as long as you remain in the urban environment. The status of actors in the urban environment does not afford the sense of security offered by “open” terrain. The key to survivability is a constant state of situational awareness.

Principals

• Simplicity. Prepare clear, uncomplicated plans, and provide subordinates with concise orders to ensure thorough understanding. (1) Always keep plans simple. (2) Ensure everyone understands the mission and the commander’s intent. (3) Plan and prepare for the worst

Principals

• Violence of Action. Eliminate the enemy with sudden, explosive force. (1) Combined with speed gives surprise. (2) Prevents enemy reaction. (3) Both physical and mental.

Principals

• Speed. Rate of military action. (1) Act as security. (2) Move in a careful hurry. (3)Smooth is fast and fast is smooth. (4) Never move faster than you can accurately engage targets. (5)Exercise tactical patience.

Analysis

• Mission• Enemy• Terrain (OCOKA)• Time• Troops• Civilians

Breaching

• Three types of Breaching– Mechanical– Ballistic– Explosive– Thermal

Breaching/Mechanical

• Mechanical. Mechanical breaching should be an important part of a leader's breaching training program because it is usually an option. Mechanical breaching is best described as gaining access by the use of tools or saws. Although most tools and saws used are recognizable and self explanatory to the individual Ranger, one must practice on various techniques to increase speed an effectiveness. This reduces fatigue and expedites the actual assault.

Breaching/Ballistic

• Ballistic. Ballistic breaching is defined as a forced entry or exit by the use of weapons. Whether using shotguns, M16A2/M4, M249 SAW, specific considerations must be addressed: Type of round and ricochet factor. Composition of the breaching point. Composition of the floor beyond the door. Personnel behind the door (friendly/enemy). Always shoot at a 45-degree angle.

Breaching/Explosive• Explosive. Explosive breaching is the most viable because it is the

most effective. When employing explosives during • c. breaching operations, leaders must consider three major factors.

(1) Overpressure. The amount of PSI released from the concussion of the blast. (2) Missile Hazard. Fragmentation or projectiles sent at tremendous speed from the explosion area. This occurs from either the charge or target being breached. (3) Minimum Safe Distance Requirements. Use of explosives in the urban environment must consider the presence of noncombatants and friendly forces. Additionally, the are many hazardous materials located in the urban environment, these may include chemicals as well as construction materials. There is always a risk of secondary explosions and fires, when employing explosive breaching techniques.

Thermal

Breaching

• Which method should I use?• Breachers assessment• Progressive Breaching• Breaching is a sub-Battle Drill

Clearing a Room

• Use clear, concise arm and had signals• Physically and psychologically dominate• Control the situation within the room• Clear all Red Space• Confirm engaged targets are dead • Establish security • Quickly detain and conduct Cursory search of all

MAMs• Mark room clear

Rules• Once your barrel breaks the plane of the door jam you are committed to

clear• If your partner enters a room, you will follow regardless of the hell he is

dragging you into• 2 men can clear a room (no less)• Always go the opposite way of the man in front of you• If you make a mistake, go with it• Always attempt to make L shape unless room is huge• When in doubt treat everything like a room• Slow Down! Its not how fast your body gets in a room, its how fast you can

get your weapons in a room to accurately engage, never move faster than you can accurately engage a target

• Prioritize your threats and have your weapon pointed at the highest threat

Corner-fed Room

Center-fed Room

Fatal Funnel

Fatal Funnel

Cut Your Body in Half

• Points of Domination are points in the room that your feet and legs take you (the #1 man has 2 points while all others have 1, in a corner-fed room the door counts as first point for #1 man, in other words make an L shape

• Sectors of Fire are areas of responsibility that your weapon and upper body must sweep (Your weapon, head, eyes, and upper body move as one unit; weapon is at high ready)

Points of Domination and Entering a Center-fed Room

43

21

Points of Domination and Entering a Corner-fed Room

43

21

Sectors of Fire

• Snapshot• Sectors start being cleared as soon as you can get

your weapon safely up• Sectors are collapsed as you move (in an empty

room with no threats you can clear a room in three steps before you even reach your points of domination)

• Stop collapsing your sector 1m off any friendly barrel

Center-fed Room #1

243

1

42

1

3

Center-fed Room #2

Center-fed Room #1

3

11211

1

4 2

Center-fed Room #1

3

11211

1

42

Center-fed Room #1

3

11211

1

4 2

Corner-fed

• Same concept but your 12 Shifts to the opposite corner from door

Fatal Funnel

12

The next step

• Flow drills are sub-Battle Drills and are the techniques used to move from room to room, down halls, up and down stairs, up and down ladders, etc….

• Silent vs. Overt• Flashlights (surefire)vs. NODs• Initial Foothold(Eagles in building), Initial Clear(Initial

Clear Complete), Back Clear (Target/Building secured), Establish Security, Post Assault Procedures