Engage Careful use of variable time (VT) is required to avoid premature arming. Wind chill is not as pronounced in urban areas. They must take special measures to control enemy combatants who have intermixed with the local population and civilian personnel who may support the enemy. Light data have special significance during urban operations. The location chosen for the foothold must allow for expansion. Noncontiguous operations complicate or hinder mutual support of combat, CS, and CSS elements because of extended distances between subordinate units and elements. The capability must be present and visible in stability UO and may be required, by exception, in support UO. In planning a defense in an urban area, the battalion staff must identify the following: 6-31. They orient themselves and achieve situational understanding based on a common operational picture and continuously updated CCIR. ), Digital FAQs & Help (Adobe Digital Editions), SMARTbook Design, Composition & Production Services, SUTS3: The Small Unit Tactics SMARTbook, 3rd Ed. Integrating urban areas into a defense. Control measures must be continually adjusted to lower the risks. (1)     The S2 should obtain maps and diagrams of the following: (2)     The terrain analysis should also identify the following: (3)     A close relationship with the local government and military forces can be very beneficial. Rubble can be used to construct a parapet for firing positions. document.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(script); The SBCT avoids being isolated through its security operations. Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Threats. UO of all types are resource intensive and thus commanders must plan to conclude UO expediently yet consistent with successful mission accomplishment. During planning for and the conduct of UO, the commander must use all available assets to minimize collateral damage to potentially vital infrastructure. Recent aerial photographs and other current intelligence products are critical. At a minimum, this requires control of key terrain. Appropriate fire support coordination measures are essential because fighting in urban areas results in opposing forces fighting in close combat. The battalion uses ISR assets to confirm and update their urban maps. Yet, they are particularly relevant to an environment dominated by man-made … Commanders will have to carefully consider and manage the allegiance and morale of the civilian population as these can decisively affect operations. While the active threats vary widely, many techniques are common to all. Typically, this would be for an Introduction to Transportation course, which might be taken by At the battalion level, an attack of an urban area usually involves the sequential execution of the following tactical tasks. The battalion's core operational capabilities rest upon excellent operational and tactical mobility, enhanced situational understanding, and high infantry dismount strengths for close combat in urban and complex terrain. Products that can be developed by the National Imagery Mapping Agency (NIMA) can be specifically tailored for the area of operations. (2)     Move to the Objective. Leaders should take extra effort and time to train and psychologically prepare soldiers for this type of combat. Proper masking enhances survivability. (Planning & Conducting Tactical Operations)” by The Lightning Press. Weather. Properly planned and executed offensive operations involve all tactical tasks shown. Every platoon within the battalion must know what enemy targets will be engaged by SBCT and battalion assets. e.     Isolate the objective area and establish a foothold at the point of entry. During this step, the roles and use of SOF, CS, and CSS units (civil affairs, PSYOP, medical, and military police) become more important with the requirements to maintain order and stabilize the urban area. Disaster Response SMARTbook 3 - Disaster Preparedness, 2nd Ed. The increasing world population and accelerated growth of cities makes UO in future conflicts very likely. He uses terrain factors to defeat the enemy. A small reserve can react to unexpected enemy action and conduct continued attacks on the enemy's flank. This difference can be as great as 10 to 20 degrees and can reduce the effects of thermal sights and imaging systems. Securing a foothold, battalion attack. Apple, iPad, iPhone and iOS are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Nook and Nook Color are registered trademarks of Barnes & Noble. Many of these actions occur simultaneously. Normally, the battalion conducts defensive operations as part of the SBCT. Targets should also be planned on major roads, at road intersections, and on known or likely enemy positions. Analysis of the natural terrain surrounding the urban area (observation and fields of fire, avenues of approach, key terrain, obstacles, and cover and concealment [OAKOC]). Concrete-piercing 155-mm rounds can penetrate 36 inches of concrete at ranges up to 2,200 meters. In turn, this visualization forms the basis of operational design and decisionmaking. Again, all three categories of urban operations require soldiers to enter and clear buildings. The SBCT commander's intent is to safeguard the key nodes seized during the offensive operation in order eventually to return the infrastructure of this particular urban area back to civilian control. The law of land warfare prohibits unnecessary injury to noncombatants and needless damage to property. b. Planning must allow more time for thorough reconnaissance, subordinate unit rehearsals, sniper and countersniper operations, demolitions, breaching, fire fighting, entry and movement techniques, fighting position construction, booby trap recognition and neutralization, combat lifesaver training, and crowd control. The commander must consider whether committing his force to combat in urban areas is required or beneficial for achieving his intent. Ambushes may focus on these soldiers while they are conducting resupply operations or moving in poorly guarded convoys. The staff must ensure the continuous supply of Classes I, III, V, and VIII and water to forward units. Specifically, the SBCT assesses avenues of approach in the urban AO. b. Electrical distribution systems, power stations, and emergency services. (PREVIOUS EDITION), The Stability, Peace & Counterinsurgency SMARTbook (PREVIOUS EDITION), MEU2: The Marine Expeditionary Unit SMARTbook, 2nd Ed. SMARTbooks can be used as quick reference guides during operations, as study guides at education and professional development courses, and as lesson plans and checklists in support of training. The battalion must be prepared to conduct UO operations in both contiguous and noncontiguous areas of operations. SMARTbooks: Reference Essentials for the Instruments of National Power (D-I-M-E: Diplomatic, Informational, Military, Economic)! The SBCT infantry battalion is well suited for urban operations because of its organizational structure and precision weapons systems, organic MGS platoons, and the numerous infantry-specific tasks associated with urban operations. • Intelligence in unified action. During UO, the battalion is often augmented with additional assets, which may include engineers, ADA, and light infantry. The SBCT should attempt to gain access to city planner or civil engineer maps to provide detailed information of the urban area. b. MISSION, ENEMY, TERRAIN AND WEATHER, TROOPS AND SUPPORT AVAILABLE, TIME AVAILABLE, AND CIVIL CONSIDERATIONS (METT-TC). The transition plan may include returning control of the urban area to another unit or agency a portion at a time as conditions permit. Hard, smooth, flat surfaces are characteristic of urban targets. (3)     Manipulate Key Facilities. Commanders and staffs observe and continually learn about the urban environment (terrain, society, and infrastructure) and other mission variables. Security elements may be dropped off along the route to warn of a flank attack. Urban combat operations are conducted to defeat an enemy on urban terrain who may be intermingled with noncombatants. Soldiers conducting close combat in an urban area. The battalion uses this technique when the battalion commander does not have adequate information and a clear vision of the enemy situation and the information cannot be gathered by SBCT or higher echelon elements. a. The battalion is most effective when deployed in two delaying echelons that alternate between conducting ambushes and fighting from battle positions. However, the configuration of streets, especially in close orderly block and high-rise areas, can cause wind canalization. Figure 6-9. The size of the foothold depends on the factors of METT-TC. Guerilla and terrorist elements may look no different than any other members of the community. During a mission of this type, the urban environment makes finding, fixing, and finishing the enemy difficult for conventional infantry forces. After considering the factors of METT-TC, the battalion performs these tactical tasks: The battalion may receive the mission to seize a key node (or nodes) as part of the SBCT operation. 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