Ranger Urban Operations

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

RANGER URBAN OPERATIONS

14-1. GENERAL.

Urban operations are defined as all military actions that are planned and conducted on terrain where man-made construction affects the tactical options available. Urban terrain is likely to be one of the most significant future areas of operations for American forces throughout the world. Expanding urban development affects military operations as the terrain is altered. The increasing focus on stability and support operations, urban terrorism, and civil disorder emphasizes that combat in urbanized areas is unavoidable. Urban areas are the power centers, the centers of gravity, and thus the future battlefield. References for further study are: FM 90-10-1, FM 90-10, FM 90-1, FM 7-8, 75th Ranger Regiment Advanced MOUT SOP, Ranger Training Circular 350-1-2.

14-2. TYPES OF URBAN OPERATIONS

(a) High-Intensity Conditions of Urban Combat. 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 engaging and defeating 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.

(b) Precision Conditions of Urban Combat. 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.

(c) Surgical Conditions of Urban Combat. 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.

(d) Leaders must always be prepared to transition rapidly from one type of urban combat to another and back. Lessons learned from combat demonstrate that urban operations can rapidly deteriorate with little or no forewarning to combatants. It is quite possible for a force involved in stability and support operations, to suddenly find themselves in a high-intensity combat situation.

14-3. PRINCIPLES OF MOUT.

(a) 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.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

(d) Speed. Rate of military action.

(1) Acts 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.

(4) Exercise tactical patience.

(e) 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.

14-4. METT-TC CONSIDERATIONS.

To effectively plan combat operations in urban environments, leaders must utilize Troop Leading Procedures and conduct a thorough analysis utilizing METT-TC factors. The following lists specific planning guidance that must be incorporated when planning for urban operations. For more specifics on mission planning, refer to Chapter 2, Ranger Handbook.

a. Mission: Know correct Task Organization to accomplish the mission (Offense, Defense, or Stability and Support Operations).

b. Enemy.

(1) Disposition. Analyze the arrayal of enemy forces in and around