INTRODUCTION
GAIN ATTENTION
Throughout the history of warfare it has been proven time and time again that to be victorious you must be proactive in the execution of your mission. The three dimensional urban environment with its often unconventional threat leaves little room for mistakes or carelessness. An essential element of MOUT is the effective use of urban patrolling. As a small unit leader, your skills in preparing, organizing and conducting patrols must be of the highest level.
PURPOSE
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING STANDARDS
M0369.2.7, M0369.3.8, M0369.3.9, M0311.5.13, M0311.5.15
MISSION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
M2A.9.16, M2A.16.8, M2A.16.9
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Without the aid of references and in accordance with MCWP 3-34, the student will understand and demonstrate the proper method of conducting an urban patrol.
ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Know the considerations of urban patrolling.
2. Know the principles of urban patrolling.
3. Know the classifications of urban patrols.
4. Know the task organization of an urban patrol.
5. Know what preparation is completed prior to an urban patrol.
6. Know how to conduct an urban patrol.
7. Know the immediate actions upon contact with the enemy.
METHOD AND MEDIA
This period of instruction will be taught through lecture aided by an assistant instructor.
TESTING
This period of instruction will be evaluated during practical application of urban patrolling.
TRANSITION
BODY
A major element that must be considered while planning an urban patrol is the local population. Examples of these considerations are as follows:
1. Considerations:
a. Reassurance: The noncombatant populace must be reassured and their confidence gained through professional and irreproachable conduct.
b. Deterrence: The use of sound and proven patrolling tactics can often dissuade an urban guerilla or terrorist from planning and mounting attacks. If an attack has already been planned the properly executed patrol may force the enemy to abort prior to execution.
c. Attrition: The attrition of urban guerrillas or terrorists can be achieved by employing good contact drills combined with the correct use of arrest procedures and proper forensic evidence handling. Attrition can also be accomplished through depleting the enemy's local support base. A well organized and executed community relations plan can often achieve this.
d. Deception: This is the key to forcing an urban guerilla or terrorist into aborting an attack. For example, most terrorists have a well planned escape route designated. If he or they cannot locate the entire patrol at any one time, the attack may be aborted because it is not known if the escape route is clear.
e. Do Not be Predictable: This is the primary method to achieve deception while conducting an urban patrol. A British Army post-tour report after a deployment to Northern Ireland stated: "We believe that we must maintain unpredictability. In short we have said that anything done by a patrol last week is wrong to do this week. We have switched routes, varied compositions, run, stopped, lurked, backtracked, crossed over, joined, divided, integrated with mobiles, cut short, lengthened or reinforced patrols."
2. Urban Patrolling Principles:
Patrolling in an urban environment often presents conditions that are considerably different and more complex than patrols conducted in jungles or forested areas. While the basic patrolling principles are relevant to urban patrolling, conducting this type of operation has led to the establishment of six urban patrolling principles. They are as follows:
a. Depth: The restrictive, canalizing nature of urban terrain usually limits a patrol's ability to disperse laterally. To prevent bunching up, patrols normally maintain dispersion along the length of the patrol formation. The most common mistakes that result in the loss of depth are:
1) Duck patrolling - where all teams end up following each other along the same street.
2) Bunching - particularly at the same street intersection.
3) Paralleling - where teams end up moving down parallel streets align with each other.
b. If an incident should occur where depth is lost to the patrol formation, it would be almost impossible to react against an urban foe (either conventional, guerilla, or terrorist) in any effective manner. In this case, the most likely outcome is patrol casualties and enemy escape.
c. Mutual Support: The positioning of individuals and units within a patrol depth-wise enables mutual support in that one unit can cover another's movement. This also facilitates immediate actions should an attack take place. Aircraft, vehicles and Marine snipers are useful deterrents and are an excellent provider of mutual support.
d. Deception/Pattern Avoidance: A planning consideration at all levels, the varying of patrol routes, duration of patrols and departure times can often result in foiling the enemy's plans for a well executed ambush, blockade or other offensive action.
e. Intra-patrol Communications: Each unit within an urban patrol must have the means to communicate with the other elements. Ideally, each unit will possess a radio enabling rapid response and reporting to higher and subordinate elements. This is especially important should the patrol find itself in need of reinforcement by a reaction force.
f. Establishment of a Reaction Force: Urban patrols are vulnerable to a wide range of hostile actions. The need for an immediate, coordinated reinforcement is a given. It must ALWAYS be remembered that an urban patrol can quickly find itself faced against a numerically superior enemy and isolated.
g. The Three Dimensional Threat: Patrolling in an urban environment requires constant attention to all dimensions be it ground level, upper level or subterranean. Hostile actions can originate from the streets, rooftops and upper floors of buildings; and from subsurface areas such as sewers, tunnels, basements and subways.
3. Classification of Urban Patrols:
a. By Mission: The vast majority of urban patrols are overt in nature - the patrol's presence is readily apparent to the local populace. Most urban patrols are designated as combat patrols and not reconnaissance patrols. Combat patrols are usually assigned one the of the following missions:
1) Security patrols - the vast majority of urban patrols are security patrols. However, security patrols may be assigned secondary tasks such as reconnaissance of areas along the patrol route.
2) Raid patrols - these types of patrols normally involve a swift penetration of an objective to secure information, confuse the enemy or to destroy an enemy installation. Raid patrols end with a well planned withdrawal upon completion of the assigned mission.
b. Raids are also classified by the method of movement. The methods of movement are dismounted, vehicular (motorized, mechanized and armor) and heli-borne.
4. Task Organization:
Units task organize to meet specific mission requirements. The Marine rifle squad is ideally suited for urban patrolling and can easily integrate those specialists required for the conduct of a specific mission. A few examples of the specialists that may be attached to an urban patrol include:
a. Explosive detection dogs and their handlers.
b. Interrogator Translator Team (ITT) and Counterintelligence Team (CIT) personnel.
c. Explosive Ordinance Demolitions (EOD) personnel.
d. Members of host nation or allied military forces.
e. Host nation or other interpreters.
f. Local community leaders.
g. Local law enforcement officers.
h. Public affairs personnel escorting members of the media.
5. Dismounted Patrol Organization:
It is preferred that patrols maintain unit integrity (fire team/squad) in the selection of sub units within an urban patrol. Similar to reconnaissance patrols, the vulnerable nature of urban patrolling requires all sub units to provide for their own security in addition to the combat aspect of the mission. Combined assault and security teams should always be employed to ensure all- around security.
6. Patrol Organization:
a. Planning:
1) Higher headquarters will:
a) Assign missions to a specific unit (company or platoon).
b) Designate an area for patrol.
c) Provide intelligence briefs and situation updates.
d) Facilitate liaison with allied forces, host nation forces and key individuals of the local populace.
e) Provide special equipment and personnel required for the mission - for example - snipers, bomb sniffing dogs, interpreters, counterintelligence and public affairs personnel, to name a few.
f) Take into consideration deception and pattern avoidance when issuing orders.
2. The patrolling unit will:
a) Assign the patrolling mission to a specific unit - company, platoon or squad.
b) Conduct detailed patrol planning and rehearsals.
c) Coordinate with the unit/section responsible for initiating the patrol - S-3, S-2, etc.
d) Ensure coordination is conducted with the designated reaction force commander - THIS IS ESSENTIAL when conducting urban patrols.
b. Intelligence Briefing:
1) A brief is always conducted prior to a patrol conducting its mission.
2) Should be conducted by the S-2 officer or his representative.
3) The briefing should cover the situation concerning the specific patrol - routes, areas and the latest enemy situation for this area of operations.
c. Coordination:
1) Higher headquarters, battalion or above, will effect liaison with adjacent and allied forces as well as civil authorities and other units/agencies having a potential effect on the patrol.
2) The patrolling unit generally follows the same patrol planning procedures and patrol execution used in performing a jungle/forest patrol.
d. The Urban Patrol Order/Warning Order:
1) This relies heavily on a detailed terrain model and/or photographs to ensure complete understanding of the patrol environment among all patrol members.
e. Rehearsals:
1) The limited size of the patrol base normally precludes full scale rehearsals.
2) Immediate action drills, crossing danger areas, and other potential situational events are rehearsed in as much detail as possible.
f. Inspections:
1) Initial and final inspections are always conducted.
2) Ensure any attached personnel are fully integrated into the patrol and are familiar with the patrol plan and all unit SOPs.
7. Conduct of an Urban Patrol:
a. Movement:
Movement techniques are very similar to those of any other patrol; dispersion, use of terrain and cover and mutual support. However, there are other considerations when patrolling in an urban environment. These considerations include: situational awareness (always being aware of the surroundings - noncombatant civilians - potential cover - urban routine and what is not routine). Always plan for interaction with the civilian populace - this is especially true with children and with pets such as dogs and other domesticated animals.
b. Patrol Formations:
Any patrol formation selected must be designed to allow flexibility and all-around security. An most importantly, it must be based on a careful consideration of METT-T.
1) Squad sized formation - in a high threat environment, the need of immediate firepower outweighs the danger of becoming canalized. However, if the threat is at a lower level - snipers or hit and run attacks for example - there is a greater need to be able to cut off the enemy's route of escape. A typical example of a squad sized patrol is the three teams moving in a "V" formation along parallel routes. Depth and mutual support must also be maintained. The headquarters team is in the center and is flanked by the assault and security team who are slightly forward. If the environment poses a height threat level or the streets are far apart, then the squad should move in a staggered column formation.
2) Platoon sized formation - squads generally travel in the same manner as the teams in a squad sized formation - along parallel routes. The intent is to create less of a target to the enemy but yet still allow the patrol to quickly react to an incident. Individuals within the units/teams move in a tactical stagger formation.
3) Friendly sniper considerations - snipers should be employed in an overwatch position to provide platoons with observation, intelligence/information updates and direct fire support prior, during and after the patrol is conducted.
c. Navigation and Control Measures:
1) The patrol leader is responsible for the navigation of the patrol.
2) The headquarters unit normally function as the base unit during movement.
3) The designated navigator is normally assigned to the headquarters unit.
4) Always remember that city maps are often outdated or inaccurate. However, when used in conjunction with aerial photographs, other navigational aids and annotated with data from previous patrols they can be effective for urban navigation.
d. Security Measures:
1) Camouflage - during many urban military operations it will be advisable to limit the use of camouflage to avoid frightening and confusing the local populace. The often overt nature of urban patrols negates the need for camouflage. Patrols are often employed in these situations to show force presence and achieve this presence by moving along the city streets in plain view.
2) Movement rate - during daylight, patrols will routinely vary their rate of movement. This rate will vary from short halts to brief periods of double-timing. The SPMAGTF(X) has adopted the British term "hard targeting" for this urban patrol technique. This alteration of movement rate is intended to frustrate the enemy's ability to coordinate an attack or ambush against a targeted friendly patrol.
3) Security halts - patrols should perform short security halts with patrol members taking up mutually supporting firing positions. These supporting firing positions should change with each security halt to avoid setting predictable patterns. At least one unit/team should be in motion at all times during a platoon sized patrol.
a) Five-meter check - this is a short term halt to conduct an immediate visual search within a five meter radius.
b) Twenty-meter check - this is a longer halt to conduct an immediate visual search within a twenty meter area.
4) Buddy system - Marines must always work in pairs, thus ensuring mutual support. The last Marine in the unit/team will provide rear security for his unit/team. However, the rear security will always remain in sight of his assigned buddy.
e. Tasks:
Individuals Marines within each unit/team may be assigned the following additional duties:
1) "Carmen" - tasked with looking out for suspicious or known insurgent/guerrilla/terrorist vehicles.
2) "Spotter" - tasked with identifying previously identified enemy within crowds.
3) "Talker" - tasked with gaining information/intelligence requirements from casual conversation with the local populace. Marines assigned this task are normally unit/team leaders or possess a special skill that facilitates the elicitation of information/intelligence requirements.
4) "Searcher" - tasked with the physical searching of vehicles and personnel while other patrol members provide cover and security.
5) "Marksman" - tasked with engaging point targets such as enemy snipers. This task is utilized when the tactical situation does not permit the use of massed fires. Other patrol members provide security to cover the Marksman during the engagement.
f. Danger Areas:
Urban patrols may encounter hundreds of danger areas during the execution of a routine patrol. The three dimensional threat inherent to the city environment requires a keen situational awareness from every member of the patrol. Many danger areas can be dealt with by simply avoiding the area, while others will require an adjustment of the patrol formation, movement rate or other patrol tactics, techniques or procedures. In the urban environment, areas that are treated as danger zones are those points within the city that pose a major threat to the patrol. More specifically, they include (but are by no means limited to) local political and religious headquarters, weapons containment areas, roads and routes that canalize movement and firepower, and any area of repeated enemy contact or suspicious activity. Danger area patrol considerations and techniques include:
1) Near and far side rally points. These are briefed to every patrol member during the issuance of the patrol order and updated during the patrol as necessary.
2) Squad sized formations us the assault and support teams to provide flank security for headquarters element and for each other.
a) The headquarters team identifies a danger area and takes up a static position on the near side. Individual Marines provide all-around security.
b) A designated two-Marine element from each assault and support team moves through the headquarters team and establishes respective firing positions on the near side of the danger area. These positions shall cover the patrol's near side flanks. They are followed by a second pair of Marines; once again, one Marine from each assault and support team. These Marines move across the danger area to the far side and establish respective firing positions covering the patrol's far side flanks.
g. Hostile Incident Indicators:
In an urban environment, hostile incident indicators can often appear to be a spontaneous event or be hidden within the crowded urban environment. However, as the Marine patrol becomes familiar with its area of operations over time and each member maintains situational awareness these indicators will be easier to pick up on. Until then, there are some obvious indicators or hostile actions that must be considered. The most obvious are the absence of normal routines among the populace, a change in the patterns and attitudes of the populace, or the presence of people or objects that are abnormal to the usual urban environment. Some examples are:
1) Observers on roof tops, windows or those that are obviously tracking the patrol.
2) The unusual absence of pedestrian traffic or people huddled in certain areas such as alleys, porches or other relatively secure areas.
3) Stores, markets or street vending sites that are suddenly closed or closed without a viable explanation.
4) A dramatic change in local populace attitude towards patrol members.
5) Unfamiliar individuals or vehicles along/within the patrol route/area.
6) Unfamiliar vehicles parked along/within the patrol route/area (car bomb).
7) Road blocks.
8) Children throwing rocks at patrols - a tactic used in past urban operations to draw the patrol's attention away from a more serious threat - such as a deliberate ambush.
9) Vehciles rising unusually low, a sign of overloading of either people, weapons or explosives.
10) Agitators attempting to provoke an incident with patrol members.
11) Civilians reporting that they have been asked to provide access to their roof top.
12) Absence of stray dogs normally present along/within the patrol route/area. Dogs are especially adept at sensing danger and will move along to avoid it.
13) Anti-American graffiti or images of enemy leaders, martyrs or other hostile images or text not normally present along/within the patrol route/area.
14) Local populace employed by the U.S. not showing up for work.
15) Normal deliveries, pickups or other normal business routines late, early or a no-show for no apparent reason.
16) A sudden change in the local populace's attitude towards the U.S. or Marine forces, as reflected in the local newspapers, radio and TV broadcasts or other media.
17) Families sending their women and children to live elsewhere.
8. Actions Upon Enemy Contact:
Immediate Action (IA) Drills:
a. Reacting to a sniper - sniping is often executed from one firing point; however, a planed secondary sniping point is not uncommon.
1) Unit/team leaders should constantly try to identify likely firing points during the progress of the patrol and to anticipate their own reaction to a sniper attack.
2) Urban snipers normally plan a detailed withdrawal route. Once the Marine patrol comes into contact with a sniper, the patrol leader must IMMEDIATELY assess the situation and maneuver the patrol accordingly. It is incumbent on the patrol leader, as he moves the patrol along the designated route, to visualize potential sniping positions and to predetermine actions that the patrol must take to minimize casualties. This same technique is used by many professional athletes - simply stated - it is visualizing in one's mind an event that may take place and mentally rehearsing the steps that need to be taken to succeed. The patrol's mission, location and size as well as the location of the sniping threat will often determine whether the patrol will attempt to neutralize (kill or capture) the sniper. If the patrol leader decides to neutralize the sniper, he will maneuver his patrol by using planned and rehearsed immediate actions to perform his counter- sniper mission. Ultimately, this very well could mean cutting off the sniper's escape route, then capturing or killing him/her. Immediate action drills to neutralize a sniper are defined as three phases; the contact period, the immediate follow-up and the subsequent follow-up.
a) Contact period - this begins with the first shot. The patrol must react immediately and positively (no hesitation) to get behind the firing position in order to kill or capture the enemy sniper. The contact period ends when the sniper is killed, captured or the patrol leader ends the engagement due to losing contact with the sniper. The contact period is the same for both squad and platoon sized patrols. Procedures during the contact period include the element in contact attempting to identify the firing position and then maneuvering the designated marksman/counter- sniper team into a position to return well aimed and controlled fires. An important consideration here are the rules of engagement (ROE's). Many times during MOOTW, they dictate a positive confirmation of the firing point and the sniper. Regardless, the other patrol members move into a postion to cover the marksman's/counter-sniper's engagement with the enemy sniper. The patrol leader must then determine the appropriate cutoff positions and inform the flanking elements of such. The contact unit/team leader in reports the contact to the patrol leader, who in turn, relays this to higher headquarters. (MOUT Homepage Note: communicating to higher headquarters should never take precedence over the immediate tasks at hand - keeping patrol members alive while defeating the urban sniper). The unit/team leader retains eye contact on the firing point but does not enter this area due to the possibility of booby traps. The flank units/teams set up along likely escape routes. The end of the contact period is signified by the neutralization of the sniper.
b) Immediate follow-up - regardless of the fate of the sniper, isolation of the firing point is necessary to prevent reinforcement and to preserve potential forensic evidence such as spent shell casings. The members of the contact unit /team, if not under fire, should cordon off the area immediately surrounding the firing point. The flanking units/teams should maintain their positions and prevent local populace access to the area. The patrol leader then moves to linkup with the contact unit/team (if not part of the unit/team that made contact) and makes an estimate of the situation. The patrol leader then makes a spot report (SPOTREP) to higher headquarters.
c) Subsequent follow-up - the purpose of the subsequent follow-up is to utilize follow-on forces to clear the firing point (building or other area) of remaining resistance and/or to obtain evidence that may be used to apprehend and convict the sniper. The patrol leader sets up in a position where he can brief arriving members of higher headquarters or other agencies. Examples include the reaction force commander, S-2 representatives, EOD personnel, or U.S., coalition or host nation personnel. Once these arriving personnel/agencies have been briefed, the patrol leader makes recommendations to higher headquarters on potential subsequent actions. Of note - NO ONE is allowed into the cordon without the patrol leader's approval.
b. Reaction to a Decisive Engagement: If a patrol becomes decisively engaged from numerous firing positions, the following immediate actions should b taken:
1) All patrol members should move to available cover and immediately return accurate fire on all identified firing points.
2) The patrol leader assesses the situation and makes the decision to either assault the position(s), request a reaction force, both, or to break contact if necessary.
3) If the reaction force is requested, the engaged patrol leader will maintain his patrol's position until the reaction force arrives to either clear or to cover the patrol during its extraction.
c. Break Contact:
1) As in a jungle or forest patrol, the patrol may be forced to break contact as a result of a decisive engagment with the enemy. The patrol leader will base this decision on breaking contact on his estimate of the situation. Should he so decide, the patrol leader will break contact in one of the following ways:
a) As a patrol, with units/teams providing cover for movement defined by clock direction and distance.
b) As individual units /teams, with the same taking separate routed out of the area and then linking up at a designated rally point. Note: all rally points hould be at a safe distance from any possible engagment area.
2) As in any contact with enemy forces, smoke may be employed to screen movement, fire support should be utilized to suppress targets; and if ROE allow, riot agents may be employed.
QUESTION
SUMMARY
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