URBAN OPERATIONS

1. As in all operations, the platoon plays a critical role in setting the conditions for successful urban operations. Detailed reconnaissance, mapping of the urban terrain, HUMINT reconnaissance, and support of transitions from full-scale operations to stability operations (and vice versa) will be required.

2. Training. Training for urban operations requires special training considerations. It may require three to five weeks to prepare for urban operations depending upon the quality and availability of facilities and OPFOR. Specific areas which require additional training, skills, or resources are:

a. Maneuvering and navigating in urban areas.

b. Navigating by aerial photos.

c. Close quarter combat (CQC) and entry techniques.

d. Conducting battle drills such as:

1) corner drills

2) actions at obstacles

3) breaching urban obstacles

4) clearing buildings

e. ROE and civilian/noncombatant considerations.

3. Planning. Planning is similar to any reconnaissance operation, but requires some special considerations:

a. The platoon will likely have to conduct a reconnaissance of the area perimeter to assist in the initial isolation of the area.

b. Determine availability of additional reconnaissance assets.

c. Define the ISR objectives and PIR with higher HQ.

d. Determine requirements to establish OPs and define length of time and type of support requirements.

e. Identify ingress and egress routes.

f. Determine if the operation is dismounted, mounted, or a combination.

g. Define platoon organization

h. Develop the communications plan. Expect to have to use FM relay teams in built-up areas.

i. Ensure MEDEVAC assets are positioned forward with security. Identify ingress and egress routes for MEDEVAC and resupply.

4. Preparation.

a. Vehicles:

1) Sandbag the floors and tops of vehicles to provide additional protection. Ensure that vision and weapons traverse is not blocked.

2) Remove all flammables from vehicle exterior.

3) Increase basic load of small arms and machine gun ammunition and grenades.

4) Tie antennas down.

5) Mount tow cables front and rear for expedient recovery.

6) Increase basic load of water and MREs.

b. Individuals (reduce load to absolute essentials).

1) Eye protection, knee and elbow pads, gloves.

2) Body armor.

3) Small arms ammunition and grenades (including smoke grenades).

4) Radios.

5) NVGs.

6) Extra batteries for radios, NVGs, flashlights.

7) Flashlights, chemlights (colored and IR).

8) Paint for marking buildings.

9) Water and MREs. Water consumption will be higher than in other operations.

5. Threats. Urban operations add a variety of threats.

a. Armored vehicle and long-range anti-armor fires are reduced.

1) Sections execute movement in depth to provide overwatch and supporting fires as required.

2) Plan indirect fire to support tactical movement and defensive operations.

b. Snipers, RPGs, petrol and satchel bombs, car bombs, command detonated mines, industrial chemical/material hazards, mortar/artillery fires, and collapsing buildings are the major threats.

1) Optimize use of observers in vehicles to ensure 360-degree coverage.

2) Ensure OPs are positioned to provide effective observation of potential danger areas.

c. The ability of reconnaissance troops to avoid contact is significantly more difficult in urban operations.

URBAN OPERATIONS ORGANIZATION / PREPARATION

1. The platoon will take part in urban operations as part of a larger force. In this situation, planning and execution must address combined arms in the ground-level fight (in the street and on ground-level floors of buildings), the aboveground fight, and the subterranean fight.

2. Planning. Planning is similar to other operations but with more emphasis given to the unique aspects of urban warfare.

a. Task Organization. The mechanized platoon will frequently operate with a tank section task organized to it.

1) The combination of tanks and infantry proves effective in urban operations for locating and destroying antitank weapons, assaulting enemy positions, and clearing buildings.

2) A tank is most often task organized to a particular infantry squad or platoon, and a section is attached to an infantry platoon or company. Tanks should operate in sections whenever possible.

a) Task organizing a mechanized platoon with a tank section combines the elements of security, maneuver, and firepower.

b) Optimally, the task organization will incorporate an engineer squad and M9 ACE.

3) When task organized to mechanized elements, a tank or tank section is under the command of the infantry platoon leader.

4) A dismounted infantry fire team/squad is responsible for providing protection to tanks and/or BFVs.

a) Securing a tank section requires six to eight soldiers.

b) Care must be taken not to task the dismounted infantry to secure too many vehicles while expecting them to clear buildings.

b. ISR: Likely focus

1) Urban mapping including sub-surface features; identification and reconnaissance of key buildings and infrastructure; identification of avenues of approach for dismounts, wheels and

tracks; identification of aviation obstacles.

2) Hand-drawn maps, digital photographs, aerial photos and, civilian maps are all useful.

Oil Storage Tanks –

Potential Hazard

Hospital and Church –

Protected Area

Critical Node –

Rail Station

Critical Node –

City Hall

Critical Node –

Military HQs Likely Location for

Threat Artillery

Suspected Detention Area

Likely Demonstration Location

Critical Node –

Radio Station and Tower

Critical Node –

Power Plant

NGO Office

Critical Node –

Police HQs

N

c. Other planning considerations:

1) How is the area of operations to be isolated?

2) Identify the ISR objectives and PIR with the commander.

a) Will surveillance OPs be established?

b) If so, for how long and how supported?

3) Determine ingress and egress routes.

4) Determine if vehicles will be utilized or will the operation be dismounted or a combination. Vehicles may have to be left with a securing force. Establish linkup points.

5) Determine recon squad / team organization

6) Develop the communications plan. Expect a need for FM relay teams.

7) Ensure MEDEVAC assets are positioned forward with security. Define routes for MEDEVAC and resupply.

3. Training.

a. Training for urban operations focuses largely on how the platoon will operate as individual sections in support of dismounted infantry and engineers.

1) All soldiers must be aware that BFVs will not survive long when operating without dismounted

security against even a modest threat force.

2) All effort must be made to secure an urban training area for advance preparation.

b. Essential training tasks to be addressed are:

1) Maneuvering and navigating in urban areas, especially in closed hatch mode.

2) Using aerial photos for navigating.

3) Building and sub-surface reconnaissance.

4) Battle drills.

• corner drills

• actions at obstacles

• breaching urban obstacles

• movement with dismounted security team

• infantry mounting/riding/dismounting from tanks

• close combat drills (fighting in buildings)

5) Direct fire support coordination with dismounted squads.

6) Urban gunnery TTPs

7) ROE/civilian considerations.

4. Preparation.

a. Vehicle.

1) Urban operations requires some modifications to vehicle preparations. The exterior of the

vehicle should be stripped of as much equipment as possible.

2) Sandbag the floors and tops of vehicles to provide additional protection.

3) Remove all flammables from vehicle exterior.

4) Tie down antennas. Place sand bags around the antenna mounts.

5) Mount tow cables to the front and rear towhooks to expedite recovery.

6) Required basic load adjustments will be defined by higher and will likely include:

a) Increase basic load of small arms and machine gun ammunition and grenades.

b) Increase basic load of water, MREs, and self-sealing containers for body waste.

c) Extra chemlights (all colors and IR).

b. Individual soldier.

1) Eye protection, knee and elbow pads, gloves.

2) Body armor.

3) Small arms ammunition and grenades (including smoke grenades).

4) Radios.

5) NVGs.

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

800.2

800.2 – URBAN OPERATIONS ORGANIZATION / PREPARATION (cont.)

6) Extra batteries for radios, NVGs, flashlights.

7) Flashlights, chemlights (colored and IR).

8) Paint for marking buildings.

9) Water and MREs (water consumption will be higher than in other operations).

5. Threats. Urban operations add a variety of threats.

a. Armor vehicle and long-range anti-armor fires are reduced.

b. Major threats to mounted operations include:

1) Snipers

2) RPG

3) Car bombs

4) Petrol and satchel bombs

5) Car bombs

6) Command detonated mines

7) Industrial chemical/material hazards

8) Mortar/artillery fires

9) Collapsing buildings

c. Ambushes against armored vehicles are a likely possibility. Bradley crewmen must maintain

awareness of probable ambush sites.

6. Command and control.

a. Urban operations require detailed attention to all facets of C2.

b. Sections are required to operate in relative isolation. All soldiers must understand the

commander’s intent and concept of operations two levels up.

c. FM is the primary communication medium. Radio relays may be required.

d. Expect reduced effectiveness of digital systems, particularly when much of the unit is operating

dismounted. Most digital map databases will not be useful for battle tracking in urban operations.

e. Communications between dismounted elements and supporting combat vehicles is a challenge.

1) SINCGARS radios on platoon frequencies will be used extensively.

2) Hand and arm signals must used by TCs/BCs and infantry at the squad/vehicle team level.

3) A field telephone provides secure communication between infantry and their supporting tank.

f. Battle tracking must be conducted down to building and floor level. Leaders must maintain SU

and track the progress of mounted and dismounted elements, as well as which buildings and

streets are cleared and secured.

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

800.3

800.3 – URBAN OPERATIONS ORGANIZATION / PREPARATION (cont.)

Block / Building Designation.

1

“B” Side

“C” Side

2 3 4

1 2 3 4

Bldg 22

“Sniper at 22 A C 4”

“A” Floor

“D” Floor

“C” Floor

“B” Floor

“A” Side

“D” Side

Building designation.

Block 60

Block 50

Block 40

Block 80

Block 20

Block 10 70

71 75 74 73

60 66

72

65 64

61 62 63

50 58 57 56

51 52 53 54

55

40

43

81 82

80

88 87

89 86

83 84 85

20 28 27 26 25

21 22 23 24

30

35 34

31 32 33

10 14 13

11 12

Block 30

41

42

Block 70

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

800.4

800.4 – URBAN OPERATIONS ORGANIZATION / PREPARATION (cont.)

g. Establish a clear chain of command down to the section/vehicle/squad level.

1) Define C2 relationships to include tanks, when attached.

2) Dismounted elements providing vehicle security will often fall under the control of the tank

commander/section leader when task organized together.

3) The tank section is normally under command of the mechanized platoon leader.

h. Squads, sections and platoons moving on adjacent streets must cross-talk to assist each other in

isolating buildings, massing fires on buildings, and covering movement across intersections and

danger areas.

i. C2 positioning is planned and briefed as part of the OPORD. In most situations, the infantry unit

leader is in charge of operations and all TCs will be in a supporting role.

j. Platoon uses the standard methods of marking vehicles and buildings as shown in the following

diagram.

Standard NATO markings for urban operations.

7. CSS.

a. Resupply must be pushed forward whenever possible.

b. Increase basic load of small arms, grenades, water and MREs, batteries, chemlights, and spray

paint for marking buildings.

c. Cache supplies in secured buildings.

d. Ensure MEDEVAC is kept pushed forward, utilize armored vehicles whenever possible.

e. CP must track what buildings and streets are secured for ingress and egress.

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

801

801 – URBAN OPERATIONS (OFFENSIVE)

1. Offensive operations in a built-up area are planned and executed IAW METT-TC and generally take

the form of a hasty or deliberate attack. This requires the platoon to conduct planning,

reconnaissance, and coordination as thoroughly as the available time and situation permit.

Additionally the mechanized platoon can conduct the following urban offensive operations:

a. Isolate enemy objective buildings with direct fire.

b. Neutralize enemy positions with direct fire.

c. Clear and mark obstacles across streets.

d. Assaulting and clearing objective buildings.

e. Isolate an urban area by establishing roadblocks and barricades.

2. The platoon is organized for offensive urban operations as follows.

a. Assault element

1) Platoon leader

2) Assault squad #1

3) Assault squad #2

b. Support element

1) Platoon Sergeant

2) Alpha section

a) BFVs 1 & 2

b) Rifle team

3) Bravo section

a) BFVs 3&4

b) Rifle team

3. Security/force protection. Individual TTP for the infantry sections and squads include the following:

a. Maintain 360-degree security at all times.

b. Enforce wearing protective gear (Kevlar, body armor, eye protection, knee / elbow pads, gloves).

c. Vehicle movement must be secured by dismounts.

d. Vehicles move hugging buildings to protect a flank.

e. Dismounts move using buildings for cover, but when shooting starts, buildings can funnel fire and

ricochets.

f. Stay well to the flanks of tanks and Bradleys. Discarding components from tank main gun rounds

are fatal out to 1,000 meters and can easily penetrate vehicles. Components from 25mm rounds

penetrate out to 300 meters.

g. Always maneuver Bradleys with dismounted security to avoid ambush. See figure below.

1) When the squad’s primary mission is securing the BFV, the BC is in charge of the squad’s

movements.

2) Position SAWs with the rear or front section (rear is most vulnerable).

3) Team leader should be on the BC side of the vehicle.

4) Move by bounds (right front moves and sets, then left front; flank and rear sections bound

independently using same process).

5) At danger areas, front security crosses and secures, then tank and flank security cross,

followed by rear security who move up to where the front section is.

6) Keep security team well away from the tanks (they draw fire), but front section within 200 to

300 meters.

7) Dismounts secure from inside buildings to maximum extent possible.

8) BC must remain aware of where the dismounts are, particularly the front and flank section to

avoid fratricide or injury from rapid vehicle maneuvers.

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

801.1

801.1 – URBAN OPERATIONS (OFFENSIVE) (cont.)

Vehicle movement with security team.

4. Maneuver.

a. Use speed discreetly – when crossing danger areas, rushing corners.

b. BFVs isolate buildings and draw fire while infantry clear and secure buildings.

c. BFVs cover each other’s movement and at corners, intersections.

d. When tanks and BFVs are paired, the tank should be in the lead (armor protection, main gun

ammo discarding components, BFVs can provide high-angle overwatch).

e. Movement in and around buildings.

1) Study the construction techniques for the region for common problems (basements, light

frame construction, etc.).

2) Avoid 2-story light frame buildings that will collapse easily.

3) Avoid of parking garages (low ceilings).

4) Utilize buildings with wider interiors and load bearing columns (stores, hotel lobbies) and/or

reinforced floors (libraries, warehouses).

BFV and tank fields of fire on urban terrain.

Team Ldr

Rear

Left Flank

Right Front

Left Front

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

801.2

801.2 – URBAN OPERATIONS (OFFENSIVE) (cont.)

5. Execution. The sequence of urban recon operations will usually follow this pattern:

a. Approach the urban area. Reconnaissance is conducted during the approach to position forces

to isolate the area. Recon and surveillance of the urban area begins from long range.

b. Isolate and recon the urban area.

c. Enter the urban area. METT-TC and mission determines if the entry will be by infiltration or overt

(non-stealth).

d. Conduct reconnaissance or patrol.

e. Collect combat information.

f. Identify and assess HUMINT sources.

g. Occupy OPs for surveillance operations.

h. Report.

i. Employ combat effects (lethal or non-lethal) as required.

j. Conduct battle or target handover.

k. Exploit information sources.

l. Assist in isolating / securing the area.

6. Close Quarters Combat. When dismounted recon teams make unexpected contact with threat forces

they must be prepared to conduct close quarters combat. Surprise, speed and controlled violence

are essential for success. Fundamentals (see battle drill on card 305.16):

a. Dominate the room

b. Eliminate the enemy

c. Control the situation and personnel

d. Move at the speed that you can accurately engage targets

e. Stay out of the middle of the room

f. Establish security. Search dead, live and then the room

g. Evacuate personnel (casualties, EPWs, friendlies)

h. Mark cleared room

i. Begin exfiltration following compromise

j. Room entry terms and techniques are in the figures below.

7. Transporting Infantry. Tanks are sometimes used to transport infantrymen. This is done only when

contact is not expected. If the platoon is moving as part of a larger force and is tasked to provide

security for the move, soldiers should not ride on the lead tank or tank section. Infantry and armor

leaders must observe the following procedures, precautions, and considerations when infantry ride on

tanks:

a. Passengers must always alert the TC before mounting or dismounting. They must follow the

commands of the TC.

b. Infantry platoons should be broken down into squad-size groups, similar to air assault chalks, with

the infantry platoon leader on the armor platoon’s leader’s vehicle and the infantry PSG on the

armor PSG’s vehicle.

c. If possible, the lead vehicle should not carry infantrymen. Riders restrict turret movement and are

more likely to be injured or killed on initial contact.

d. Whenever possible, passengers mount and dismount over the left front slope of the vehicle. This

ensures that the driver can see the infantrymen and that the infantrymen do not pass in front of

the coax machine gun. Passengers must ensure that they remain behind the vehicle’s smoke

grenade launchers. This will automatically keep them clear of all weapon systems.

e. Passengers should be prepared to take the following actions on contact:

1) Wait for the vehicle to stop.

2) At the TC’s command, dismount IMMEDIATELY (one fire team on each side). DO NOT

move forward of the turret.

f. Infantry can often enter the second floor of buildings from the top of tanks/BFVs.

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

801.3

801.3 – URBAN OPERATIONS (OFFENSIVE) (cont.)

g. Rules for riding on tanks:

1) DO NOT move behind or forward of the vehicle.

2) DO NOT move in front of tanks unless ordered to do so.

3) DO NOT dismount a vehicle unless ordered or given permission to do so.

4) DO NOT dangle arms or legs, equipment, or anything else off the side of a tank; they could

get caught in the tracks, causing death, injury, or damage to the equipment or tank.

5) DO NOT carry too many riders on the vehicle.

6) DO NOT fall asleep when riding. The warm engine may induce drowsiness; a fall could be

fatal.

7) DO NOT smoke when mounted on a tank.

8) DO NOT stand near a moving or turning vehicle at any time. Tanks have a deceptively short

turning radius.

8. Gunnery.

a. Machine guns are the primary weapons against personnel and soft targets.

b. When suppressing a building, fire a “Z” pattern from top to bottom, starting with suppression of

the roof.

c. The 25 mm gun is used against armored vehicles and to conduct ballistic breaches against

buildings or hardened targets.

d. If attached, tanks are valuable in conducting a breach. The BCs and dismounted soldiers must be

aware of where they are relative to firing tanks. The discarding components from sabot or MPAT

rounds can penetrate through tank grill doors and into engines at close ranges, and can kill out to

1,000 meters. The blast, concussion and flying debris/glass can injure or kill dismounts close to

the cannon.

e. Thermals can’t see through glass – it will appear as an opaque surface.

f. Gunners can rapidly lose orientation. Mark the turret ring/hull at points relative to the front of the

hull to help maintain orientation.

g. The best firing positions are those that allow the tank to fire on the corner of a building from an

oblique angle enabling fires down two sides of the structure.

9. Attack.

a. Attacks in the urban environment are characterized by precise planning based on detailed

intelligence information, reconnaissance, preparations, and rehearsals.

b. When planning an attack, leaders will incorporate the following steps and considerations.

1) Urban attack techniques are similar to those for assaulting a strongpoint.

2) The tank platoon may be tasked to perform the role of support, assault, or reserve force

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

801.4

801.4 – URBAN OPERATIONS (OFFENSIVE) (cont.)

c. An urban attack consists of these phases:

1) Reconnoiter the objective. Generate intelligence and communicate with friendly forces to gain

information about the objective.

2) Move to the objective.

3) Isolate the objective. Infantry seizes and holds dominating terrain; tanks provide ABF/SBF

and cover high-speed avenues of approach.

4) Secure a foothold. This is normally one or two city blocks, with tanks providing SBF to

infantry.

5) Clear the objective. Eliminate enemy resistance. Infantry clears rooms/buildings and marks

them with engineer tape (chemlights at night).

6) Consolidate/reorganize. Prepare for future missions.

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

802

802 – URBAN OPERATIONS (DEFENSIVE)

1. Like offensive urban operations, defensive urban operations require thorough planning and precise

execution based on METT-TC and established doctrine. The mechanized platoon may be tasked to

defend against an enemy approaching from outside the urban area or against enemy forces already

in the urban area.

2. The following considerations and procedures must be integrated into planning and executing platoon

defensive urban operations.

a. Use procedures and considerations similar to those for open terrain defensive operations, to

include preventing the enemy from isolating the defensive position, conducting reconnaissance of

the defensive position, and gaining a foothold in the urban area.

b. Designate engagement areas that can be covered by direct/indirect fires.

c. Position vehicles where they can cover the following:

• Likely avenues of approach from city edges.

• Flanks of towns/villages.

• Barricades and obstacles.

d. The platoon operates as a whole or by section. DO NOT deploy individual BFVs if at all possible.

Secure all BFVs with dismounted infantry.

e. A tank section will frequently augment the mechanized platoon during the conduct of a defense.

Integration of this capability is important in the planning process.

3. The platoon leader incorporates the following measures when building an engagement area for

defensive urban operations.

a. Conduct mission analysis and reconnaissance of the BP.

b. Identify and analyze the BP from the enemy side. Identify and mark indirect fire trigger lines.

c. Platoon leader establishes section/vehicle sectors of fire, fire pattern/method of engagement,

TRPs, trigger lines, and disengagement criteria.

d. Identify and mark obstacles and dead space to ensure indirect fire coverage.

e. Platoon leader/BCs/squad leaders recon the EA. Bradley and crew-served gunners develop

range cards.

f. Coordinate with adjacent units and tie-in supporting fires.

g. Platoon leader designates primary/supplementary fighting positions. BCs select alternate vehicle

positions.

h. Position dismounted infantry as needed.

i. BCs verify that gunners can observe obstacles/dead space.

j. Complete platoon fire plan and submit to the commander.

k. Mark TRPs using orange VS-17 panels in daylight. In limited visibility, attach three 12-inch strips

of thermal tape vertically to each panel.

l. Mark firing positions with orange spray paint on walls or on the street during daytime. Use orange

chemlights at night.

4. When occupying a BP during defensive urban operations, the mech platoon conducts the following

actions:

a. Occupies vehicle hide positions to the flank or rear of the proposed BP.

1) Rifle squad leaders dismount with BCs and search for OP locations.

2) Teams establish OPs

b. Platoon leader and TCs conduct a terrain walk of the EA. (NOTE: The platoon may have up to

four separate EAs, depending on the nature of the urban terrain.)

c. PL designates TRPs and sectors of fire.

d. Coordinates with adjacent platoons and companies.

Mechanized Infantry Platoon TACSOP ST 3-21.713

802.1

802.1 – URBAN OPERATIONS (DEFENSIVE) (cont.)

e. PL issues short count and BFVs occupy hide positions behind primary firing positions.

f. On order, BFVs move simultaneously into turret-down positions (if available).

g. Platoon leader makes visual check of the area to determine if enemy situation has changed.

h. On order, BFVs move simultaneously into hull-down positions (if available).

i. Each BC completes written sketch card and forwards it to the platoon leader within 15 minutes.

j. Upon the completion of the sketch cards, vehicles move back to hide positions individually.

k. All BFVs shut down simultaneously once they are in position.

l. Platoon leader reports “ESTABLISHED” to the commander via FM or FBCB2.

m. Platoon leader finishes platoon fire plan and forwards it to the commander within 30 minutes.

n. Establish wire communications with OPs (when no other means of communications is available).

o. Improve camouflage.

p. Conduct resupply operations. (All resupply operations will use the service station technique, with

movement by section to the resupply point.)

Antiarmor defensive position.

5. The mechanized platoon executes the defense of the urban area.

a. Establish communications (digital and FM) attached/supporting tank section/platoon.

b. BFVs seek hull-down positions during the street-level fight to provide cover and direct fire.

c. Use buildings to conceal snipers/crew-served weapons.

d. Use buildings to hide vehicles before moving into position to engage enemy forces. (NOTE:

Crews must ensure that the floor of the building will support the BFV.)

e. Utilize dismounted OPs to synchronize fires as enemy forces enter the EA.

f. Bradleys move to alternate positions after the engagement to avoid detection