URBAN COMBAT HOW DO WE ORGANIZE TO WIN?

ParaGator ATV is awesome

""The only thing harder than getting a new idea into the military mind is to get an old one out."

B.H. Liddell Hart, Strategy

People fight wars and people live in CITIES

Airborne operational maneuver: victories in cities

Panama. 1989; parachuting.

Afghanistan/Czechloslavakia forced airlandings, and lots of light AFVs to swarm and overwhelm the defenders.

People need food to eat. This requires farms--excellent DZs.

Not to mention airports, which I believe are over-used as DZs in general.

Runways are Preferable but not necessary for C-130 and C-17 STOL transports

Noone is advocating any military force flying directly into a city to take it down--not even helicopters. We keep trying land men on rooftops and they get shot down. The Russians do not helo troop insert over cities. They are right.

If you study Panama you will see the Airborne able to quickly mass on the outskirts of city areas and move in simultaneously with Regimental Combat Teams (RCTs) task-organized so the defenders couldn't mass to defeat a single more predictable attack (like from the sea over the shore). Each included air-dropped light tanks, and plenty of Light Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs). It was a stunning VICTORY and our guide to the future.

NAVFOR

TASK FORCE SEMPER FI

  • 6th Marine Expeditionary Battalion (-)
  • Marine Security Element (Galeta Island) [mc]
  • 1st Platoon, Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team [mc]

    • TASK FORCE BAYONET (193d Infantry Brigade) [Panama]

    TASK FORCE ATLANTIC (3d Brigade, 7th Infantry Division)

    TASK FORCE AVIATION (Aviation Brigade, 7th Infantry Division)

    82D AIRBORNE DIVISION (-) [Ft. Bragg, NC]

    7TH INFANTRY DIVISION (-) [Ft. Ord, CA]

    JOINT SPECIAL OPERATIONS TASK FORCE

    ELEMENTS REMAINING DIRECTLY UNDER JOINT TASK FORCE SOUTH CONTROL

  • 470th Military Intelligence Brigade [Panama]
  • 525th Military Intelligence Brigade (-) [Ft. Bragg, NC]
  • 35th Signal Brigade (-) [Ft. Bragg, NC]
  • 1st Support Command (-) [Ft. Bragg, NC]

    • The next thing in taking down any city is sealing it off from outside help via multiple BN or RCT-size blocking forces, some of which can move rapidly in place from air insertion points by All/Extreme Terrain Bikes.

    Then, you "gain a foothold" and seize a chunk of the city with infantry-armor shock action. This is your "foot in the door". Now you own some buildings and can direct fire onto others and repeat the process, block by block. But QUICKLY with several large "task forces" from several directions to overwhelm the enemy and not let him mass to respond to any one of your attacks.

    To do this well we need local superiority in all aspects---a specially trained and equipped force = "A siege engine". Light troops must have light tanks to blast open holes in buildings, to "mousehole" into them instead of trying to fly onto rooftops by helicopters. Light tank gun action eliminates resistance instead of "garden hosing" them like we tried in Somalia. Kill the threat with adequate HE shells--not expensive AT missiles and move on.

    To do this even better we need 3 types of armored infantry carriers---one is a "lift" vehicle that can deliver a team or squad to any floor or roof. Another is a big gun--106mm RR or 120mm mortar turret to blast instead of relying just on light tanks. The last model is a firefighting AFV to put out fires as we go along, and not burn down the city we are trying to take.

    Details:

    http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2116/popguns.htm

    http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2116/lighttanks.htm

    http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/2116/m113combat.htm

    http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/7963/war1.htm

    The idea is to go directly to the enemy's source of cohesion--usually some despot hiding behind a palace guard and the civilians (Noriega, Aideed etc) or the military's nerve center (La Commadancia) and take it out. The enemy without leadership or direction collapses from a lack of unity of command (principle of war).

    Airborne Infantry Battalions: building blocks of MOUT RCTs

    LTC Ralph Peter's article in Parameters, "Our Soldiers, their cities" addresses the urban battle well. His thoughts mirror many of mine on this subject. It indeed concerns me that many of our recent conflicts, where I might add we sustained very high %'s of casualties, seems to have done nothing to significantly change the U.S. Army's stance on the urban battle.

    Our MOUT villages (see links on bottom) are so paltry to provide REALISTIC training, yes, even the best of them: mc combat town, Hollenfhels MOUT village, and Drum's MOUT village. I have long thought, along with the author, that taking over some of the abandoned slums in NYC, Detroit, etc would be such an immense win-win situation. First, we provide an awesome true urban training facility complete with tunnels, sewers, railheads, highways, overpasses, dead ends, super structures, etc... Secondly, we provide good paying jobs for the local populace to not only fill the normal civilian jobs on a mil post, but to give many of these underprivelaged people full time jobs to role play OPFOR, terrorists, non combatants, etc...

    Osprey tilt-rotor's narrow body unable to fit a HMMWV

    The vogue marine "Mctheory" on "the three block war" is yet another cliche' for a methodical city battle McGloryhogs long for to give them something to do; this time with electronic gadgets. If the mc was really serious about urban war they'd put 105mm gun turrets on its LAVs, buy Wiesel tracked AFVs instead of sexy-media intensive "dune buggies" (shot into flaming wrecks by one burst of AKM fire) for their Osprey heliborne forces, wouldn't put a McWorthless 25mm chain pop-gun on the AAAV, and load up our amphibious LHA/D ships with over 100 soft-skin vehicle "victims". The whole point of a ship is to bring in HEAVY, if all they load is Mclight items, we can FLY (airdrop or airland) that stuff in faster directly to where its needed on land.

    Who REALLY is immensly ahead of us is the Swedes, they have at least one battalion MTOE'd and trained for urban war, in fact it is called "urban infantry battalion". Here's their webpage:

    111.Stadsskyttebataljonen (111th Urban Infantry Battalion, Swedish Royal Army)

    They're trained for/mtoe'd, but at least they've gone so far as to designate a battalion specifically for urban battle. With so many variances in rural area, we have schools: JOTC, NWTC, MMS, etc. The bulk of our light infantry battalions are just that: light infantry, but as you know some inf battalions have been specifically designed and designated on different themes. Some obviously are more numerous than others.

    Airborne Infantry-(11). 1,2,3/504th, 1,2,3/505th, 1,2,3/325, 1/501st, 1/508th note: I do not include TRADOC's two bns: 1/507th, 1/509th

    Ranger Infantry-(3). 1,2,3/75th RGR

    Air Assualt Infantry-(11). 1,2,3/502nd, 1,2,3/327th, 1,2,3/187th, 1/503rd, 1/506th note: I do not include our many National Guard aaslt inf bns because they aren't truly mtoe'd like the their active duty cousins

    Mountain Infantry-(1). 3/172nd(Vermont ANG)

    Scout Infantry-(5). 1,2,3,4,5/297th (Alaska ANG) note: commonly referred to as "eskimo scouts", originally incepted to counter Soviet Spetsnaz recon probes in NW Alaska

    Now this clearly shows our willingness to commit whole battalions to special roles, complete with special equipment, training, and sometimes location. I ask, why do we still have five battalions of "eskimo scouts" since the Russians, nor anybody, are probably not probing Alaska anymore. I have trained once with these guys, and they're good, and like to smatter U.S. Army uniforms with whatever they want. The creation of all these specialized groups had lots of naysayers, just like any change.

    I agree with the LTC Peters that the role of artillery could be significantly reduced, but only if mobile, tracked AFV direct fire support assets are assigned to the Light Infantry Battalions. The roles of CA, MP, and Psyops would only grow. However, most importantly would be the roles of engineers. Civil, Combat, Heavy, Light, all of them. First I would think a squad attached to every infantry company would have to become one per platoon.

    Now here's where things get real controversial. It is of my firm belief that current 11 series in the urban infantry unit would have to be just as well versed with most of current 12 series tasks, and the 12 series in an urban infantry unit would have to have much, much, more enhanced in their knowlege. Blue print reading, bldg construction, hydrology, complete knowlege of power stations, steam plants, water treatment facilities, structural fire fighting, et cetera, et cetera. New units would have to be completly created: like the "combat structural fire companies": armored M113A3 AFV pumper vehicles drafting off of PLS flatracks with water tanks moved and refilled by PLS Hemmets.

    Soldier/Civilian boards should be formed to study in depth the layouts of major cities that pose threat problems, and to learn basics of urban geography of certain regions: i/e exactly how more power stations in Brazil differ from Sri Lanka. Perhaps some of the best knowledge we could gain from this would be our SFG's, and CA BN's. At any rate, a team with all the information of that board would be attatched to the Regimental Combat Team/Task Force commander so they can provide the best information on how to best employ troops.

    On the medical side things get mutiplied here to. Not only are casualties much higher than anywhere else, but evacuation could prove to be near impossible, example: Mogadishu. Every company needs their own PA. This is someone who can actualy trepan a Soldier with an ICP head wound, not "write him off" in triage. Every platoon their own combat paramedic trained in the same way as the 18D series variant. Every squad with a combat medic. And every man a CLS graduate. All Soldiers wear hard body armor and have gunshields on the end of their weapons to deflect bullets away from their bodies.

    The Soldiers load would be much different here. Warm gear, weather gear, and a lot of food and water could be gotten rid of here. Let me state that for some time I think we wouln't be too spread out here, and resupply would probably be close. Given our current way of fighting from building to building, occupying as we go; I think resupply would be quite easy here. So the items I just metioned could be easily found by troops in occupied areas, and if not brought to them. Now here is what would have to be carried. More ammo and pyro, climbing gear, more med gear. All-Terrain All-purpose Carts and armed ParaGator ATVs would proove vital in this arena as well.

    Form one Battalion or BDE-size RCT/Task Force right now, give them some time to adjust the way they equip, train, and form. Then test them. Go from there.

    Here's a possible Urban infantry Regimental Combat Team lead Battalion

    HHC of the BN
     Doubled sniper section, TOW HMMWV's replaced by M113A3 with 106mm RRs or rockets since wire ATGM guidance is almost useless in a tight angled environment of city streets. These personnel would man the M113A3 Special Assault Section which in addition to 106mm RRs/rockets would have boom ladder/capsule equipped M113A3s to scale buildings and specific floors in urban assaults. Rockets would fire grapnels/ropes to rooftops if required.

    Not on unarmored trucks

    Armored VertAssault

    BN scouts would be trained for URBAN infiltration, and would have to completly re-think how they conduct their recons. Perhaps go to the FBI for training.

    Attached to the RCT/Task Force and assigned to the lead MOUT Infantry BN:

    -A complete CA company tasked out to platoons needing they're skills
    -A combat structural firefighting platoon w/ maybe M113A3 w/ nozzles drafiting from PLS fire fighting module racks on Hemmets
    . -Psyops platoon
    -SFODA appropiate for region orientation
    -GSR is probably voided out in this environment. This platoon would use newly obtained FLIR devices, counter-sniper sound devices, for early warning/intel gathering

    -ALL BN HMMWV's and (20,000 pound) 2 1/2 ton trucks done away with and replaced with 11 ton M113A3's, retaining only a few ARMED 5 ton FMTVs for supply in friendly secured area. One M113A3 a fully equipped Medical Treatment Vehicle used by the BN PA.

    -LRS element does not attend LRSC at RTB, but gets trained through FBI HRT, and SFG assigned to region.

    This needs to have been done "yesturday" once the exact BN MTOE is addressed adequately, then form BN units of "urban infantry" in each LID in the U.S. Army.

    The Battalion Urban Infantry Task Force:

    -One urban infantry battalion.

    3 line companies

    Line companies consist of 5 platoons

    Headquarters platoon
    Includes the PA, a complete supply squad w/Paragator ATVs and ATACs (not limited to supply).

    Weapons platoon
    120mm Heavy mortars (building buster) moved by ParaGators ATVs; not geared towards anti-armor and area indirect fire support, but mortars trained more to point target fire support for areas of bldgs, smoke, and CS mortar rounds. Anti-armor section equally trained in "building-busting" using 106mm RRs on ParaGator ATVs. And SMAW-D, MPIM SRAW by shoulder fire.

    3 Rifle platoons
    Have essential gear load per man of:
    -M4 Carbine with rifle/hand grenades in Infil-Exfil Tactical Load Bearing Vest with integral climbing chest harness
    -1 M72A4 Improved LAW per man, M136 AT4 or better SMAW-D for ldrs
    -20' kernmantle sling rope per man, 100' for ldrs
    -Etrier/jumar ascendars
    -three cammers of different sizes, chalk bag, and six carabiners
    -Mini-Combat Lifesaver kit
    -section of assualt ladder
    -more CS, and smoke
    -Nomex fire-resistant BDUs/clothing

    Each squad holds their own 18D-level medic. Attached w/ the platoon besides the normal FO team is a Paramedic, Sniper and Observer, Assualt Climber to lead climb and lay safeties for plt, and an engineer squad minus. The company would have available ladders, grapnels, heavy ballistic shields (like police use), door busters, crow bars, etc, available to the platoons that the supply squad could rapidly provide via AT cart or ParaGator ATV.

    Airborne!!!

    Military Units With MOUT Missions:

    Navy Seals Assault Force
    Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment (U.S. Army)
    1st Battalion, 115th Infantry Regiment (Maryland National Guard)
    111.Stadsskyttebataljonen (111th Urban Infantry Battalion, Swedish Royal Army)
    S:T Erik's Home Guard Coy(Stockholm defense, in Swedish, images)
    S:T Erik's Home Guard Coy (Abbreviated English version)
    PATRULJEKOMPAGNI 9101 (Danish recon and patrol unit, in Danish)
    Singapore Guards (FIBUA)

    MOUT Training Facilities:

    Shughart-Gordon U.S. Army Fort Polk, LA
    Camp Ripley U.S. Army NG MN, MOUT assault course
    Mounted Urban Combat Training Site (Wilcox Range West, Fort Knox)
    McKenna MOUT Site U.S. Army Fort Benning, GA
    McKenna MOUT Site (VRSG overhead image, commercial site)
    It Takes a Village for Urban Combat.....and Fort Knox is Getting One U.S. Army Armor magazine
    Camp Lejuene MOUT Facility Familiarization (Images)
    Marine Corps Base Quantico MOUT Facility
    Marine Course Base Quantico MOUT Assault Course

    Images of Urban Combat Operations and Exercises:

    Just Cause Pictures U.S. Army CMH
    The British Army Picture Library
    (Register, then search; for example, use key word "Ireland" for Belfast images)
    Stabilization Force (SFOR) Photo Album
    Canadian Forces in Action
    Soviet-Afghan War Images (Vladimir Grigoriev, St. Petersburg, Russia)
    War Pictures from the Former Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) (Italian site; Mostar urban damage, buildings)
    War Pictures from the FRY (Italian site, Mostar bridges)
    Urban Warrior Limited Objective Experiment 1 (Warfighting Lab)
    Urban Warrior Limited Objective Experiment 1 (Camp Lejeune, NC)
    Urban Training Images (Warfighting Lab)
    Joint Combat Camera Center
    DefenseLINK Photos (Urban Warrior and ongoing operations and exercises)
    MarineLINK Image Archive