With the absence of concrete information, tactical planning must begin with investigation, observation, and vigilance. This ensures positive results. Even when the urban guerrilla is given information, he must still carefully observe and remain continuously vigilant to make certain that this information meets the test of observation and vigilance, or vise versa. Careful terrain reconnaissance, including the study and timing of routes in and out, is so important that to fail in this requirement is like stabbing at darkness.
One must never neglect transportation and logistics. The importance of these are frequently underestimated. It is an error to leave this requirement to the final moment, or the eve of a tactical action. Transportation is an integral part of planning, and its requirements and acquisition should be a function of information, observation, and vigilance. The expropriation of vehicles must be carried out with rigorous care and precision. Equally important, vehicles must be maintained, for proper use, and be repaired and bear phony license plates and registration papers. Transport failure risks the mission, and hurts morale. Therefore those charged with the expropriation of vehicles should be carefully selected. This is no place for indecisive or vacillating individuals.
Withdrawal is as critical, perhaps even more so, than the actual operation itself. It must be carefully planned. Planning a withdrawal considers possible alternatives in the event the original route of withdrawal is blocked.
The rescue of prisoners being transported should be avoided if there are children present, or if it must be undertaken with large bodies of civilians in the area. The rescue itself should be conducted with the least disturbance. The withdrawal should follow winding streets, and take different routes, so that the narrow streets where two cars cannot pass can be put to advantage.
The elimination of all evidence is of the greatest importance. This includes fingerprints or other clues that can provide the enemy with information. Failure in security causes morale problems exploited by the enemy.