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
Fatal Funnel

Fatal Funnel

Center-fed Room
 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

1
2
3
4
Points of Domination and Entering a
Corner-fed Room

1
2
3
4
 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

3 4 2
 Center-fed Room #2

2
3 4
 Center-fed Room #1
11 12 1

3 4 2
 Center-fed Room #1
11 12 1

4
3 2
 Center-fed Room #1
11 12 1

3 4 2
 Corner-fed
• Same concept but your 12 Shifts to the
opposite corner from door
12

Fatal Funnel
 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