the gerealalities of urban operations

Section I. OFFENSE


While operating in urban areas, the major offensive collective tasks at platoon and squad level are attacking and clearing buildings. This involves isolating the objective, suppressing the threat, advancing the assault element, assaulting the building, clearing the building, and consolidating and reorganizing the force.

Regardless of the type of urban area or the structural characteristics, there are six interrelated requirements for attacking a defended building:





Isolation of the building or objective.

Supporting fires.

Tactical movement

Breaching.

Assaulting.

Reorganization.



Proper application and integration of these requirements can reduce casualties and hasten accomplishment of the mission. The platoon leader, when developing the plan for an attack on an urban objective, must consider the type of building to be assaulted, the rules of engagement (ROE) , and the nature of the surrounding urban area. These considerations will determine the method of execution. For example, medium-size towns have numerous open spaces, and larger cities have high-rise apartments and industrial and transportation areas that are separated by parking areas or parks. Increased fire support is required to suppress and obscure enemy observation and fires that may be covering the open terrain and spaces between buildings. Conversely, the centers of small- and medium-sized towns, with twisting alleys and narrow roads or adjoining buildings, provide the platoon and squad with numerous covered and concealed routes that could decrease fire support requirements.



Platoon and squad leaders must consider the task and purpose they have been given and the method they will use to achieve the desired results. To seize or gain control of a building, group of buildings, or an area may not always require the platoon or squad to commit troops into the structures or to close with the enemy. For example, if the threat personnel are of low morale, poorly trained, under equipped, or lack leadership, they may be convinced to surrender or withdraw simply by a show of force and the use of a skilled PSYOPS team. At the other end of the spectrum, an enemy that is well trained, prepared to defend, and has the means to resist may be encountered. In this case the leader may decide (ROE permitting) to concentrate his direct and indirect fire weapons and other combat support systems onto the objective area to neutralize the threat without maneuvering troops to conduct an assault.