INTRODUCTION
GAIN ATTENTION
PURPOSE
The purpose of this period of instruction is to provide the student with the basic knowledge of the types of hides that may be used in an urban environment.
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING STANDARDS
Ref: FMF 1-3b, FMFM 0-11, II MEF SOTG URBAN SNIPER COURSE
8541.3.2, 8541.3.4
MISSION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
Ref: FMFM 1-3b
8541.3.5
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Without the aid of references, understand the principles of urban hides.
ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. The procedures for selecting a urban hide location.
2. How to construct a detailed and a hasty hide.
3. The materials required to construct a urban hide.
4. Planning to occupy an urban hide.
5. Some of the various methods to remain undetected while occupying a urban hide.
METHOD AND MEDIA
This period of instruction will be taught through lecture aided by the use of urban hides throughout the MOUT facility.
TESTING
This period of instruction will be evaluated during practical application.
TRANSITION
BODY
1. Urban Hides
A sniper team’s success or failure during MOUT will greatly depend on each sniper’s ability to place accurate fire on the enemy while maintaining the least possible exposure to enemy fire. Consequently, the sniper must constantly seek firing positions and use them properly. Positions in urban terrain are quite different than those used in rural area. In urban areas, the sniper team will normally have several places to choose from. These can range from inside attics to street-level positions in basements. Urban terrain is ideally suited for a sniper and if the position is correctly chosen, a sniper team has the capability to stop a fairly sizeable enemy advance through its area of responsibility. However, one important fact for the team to remember is that the enemy will be keenly aware of the sniper’s capability and will use every asset he has to detect and neutralize Marine sniper teams. There are two types of firing positions, hasty and prepared.
a. Hasty Hide – A hasty hide is normally occupied in the attack or early stages of the defense. It is a position from which a sniper can place fire upon the enemy while using available cover to gain some degree of protection from the enemy. Some of the more common hasty firing positions in a built-up area are as follows:
1) Firing from corners of buildings – The corner of a building provides cover for a hasty firing position if it is used properly. A sniper must be capable of firing his weapon from either shoulder to minimize body exposure to enemy fire. A common mistake when firing around corners is firing from the standing position. The sniper who stands when firing exposes himself at the height the enemy would expect a target to appear and risks exposing the entire length of his body to fire.
2) Firing from behind walls – When firing from behind a wall, the sniper must fire around cover when possible, under over it.
3) Firing from windows – In built-up areas, windows provide readily accessible firing ports. However, the sniper must not allow his weapon to protrude beyond the window. This is an obvious sign of the sniper’s position and this is especially true at night when the muzzle flash can be easily seen. A sniper should position himself as far into the room as possible, fire from a supported position (table or sandbag), and remain low enough to avoid silhouetting. The sniper should use room shadow during darkness and leave blinds and shades drawn to avoid being observed.
4) Firing from an unprepared loophole – To avoid using windows, the sniper may fire through a hole torn or blown in a wall. He should stay as far away from the loophole as possible so that the muzzle does not protrude beyond the wall.
5) Firing from a peak of a roof – Roof peaks provide an excellent vantage point for snipers, increasing both the snipers field of vision and the ranges at which he may engage targets.
b. Prepared Hide – A prepared hide is one that is built or improved to allow a sniper to engage a particular area, avenue of approach or enemy position while reducing his exposure to return fire. Common sense and imagination are the sniper team’s only limitation in the construction of urban hides. There are several principles, which must be followed in the construction of urban hides. The sniper must avoid silhouetting, take into account reflections and light refraction, and take particular care to minimize muzzle blast effects on dust, curtains and other surroundings. Examples of where urban hides can be constructed and occupied include:
1) Chimney hide – A chimney, or any other structure protruding through the roof of a building can provide a base from which a sniper firing position can be built. Part of the roofing material is removed to allow the sniper to fire around the chimney while standing inside the building (on beams or a platform) with only his head and shoulders above the roof. Sandbags are used on the sides of the position to protect the sniper’s flanks.
2) Roof hide – When preparing a sniper position on a roof that has no protruding structure to provide protection, the position should be prepared underneath on the enemy side of the roof. A small piece of roofing material is removed to allow the sniper to engage targets in his sector. The position is reinforced with sandbags and prepared so that the only sign that a position exists is the missing piece of roofing material. Other pieces of roofing should be removed at various locations on the roof so as to deceive the enemy as to the true firing position.
3) Room hide – In a room hide, the sniper team uses an existing room and fires through a window or loophole. Weapon support may be achieved through the use of existing furniture (desks, tables, etc.). When selecting a position, teams must take notice of front, side and rear windows. To avoid silhouetting, they may need to use a backdrop such as a dark-colored blanket, canvas, carpet or screen. Screens make excellent backdrops as they allow the sniper maximum visibility while reducing the enemy’s capability to observe the firing position. Additionally, screens are a common form of material found in urban areas and blend with the environment. Sniper’s must not remove curtains, however, windows may be opened or a single pane of glass removed.. Remember to randomly remove panes from other windows so the firing position is not obvious.
4) Crawl space hide – The sniper team builds this position into the space between floors of multistory buildings. Loopholes are difficult to construct, but a damaged building may provide ready-made loopholes. Escape routes (holes) can be knocked into the floor or ceiling. Carpet, furniture placed or temporarily replaced ceiling tiles should be placed over escape holes as a means of concealment.
5) Rafter hide position – The sniper team constructs this position in the attic of an A-frame type building. These buildings normally have shingled roofs. Firing from inside the attic and around a chimney or other structure helps prevent enemy observation and clear fields of fire.
c. Principles for Selecting and Occupying Sniper Positions
1) Make maximum use of available cover and concealment.
2) Carefully select a new firing position before leaving an old one.
3) Avoid setting a pattern. The sniper should fire from barricaded and non-barricaded windows.
4) The sniper position must never be subjected to personnel traffic regardless of how well hidden the sniper is. Traffic will invite observation and the sniper may be spotted through the enemy use of optical devices. The sniper must always be aware of any backlighting that might silhouette him to the enemy.
5) Abandon a position from which two or three misses have been fired, detection is almost certain.
6) Operate from separate positions. In built-up areas, it is desirable that sniper team members operate from separate positions. Detection of two snipers in close proximity is very probable. Sniper positions should also provide mutual support.
7) Select alternate positions as well as supplementary positions to engage targets in any direction.
8) Always plan the escape route ahead of time.
9) Minimize the combustibility of firing positions (fireproofing).
10) Use a secure and quiet approach route. If possible this route should be free of garbage cans, crumbling walls, barking dogs and other impediments.
11) Use a secure entry and exit point. The more obvious and accessible the entry or exit point the more likely the sniper team may be compromised.
12. Positions should have good arcs of observation. Though restricted arcs are inevitable in an urban area, always attempt to get the greatest arc possible.
13. Security is always paramount.
14. Though important, comfort is the lowest priority when selecting and constructing a firing position. Uncomfortable observing and firing positions can be maintained only for short periods. If there is no adequate relief from observation, hides can rarely remain effective for more than a few hours.
d. Characteristics of Urban Hides
1) The overriding requirement of a hide is that it must dominate its area of responsibility.
2) When selecting a suitable location, there is always the tendency to go for height. In an urban area this can be a mistake. The greater the height of an urban hide, the more the sniper has to look out over an area and away from his immediate surroundings. For example, if a hide were established on the tenth floor of an apartment building, in order to see a road beneath, the sniper would have to lean out of the window, which does little for security.
3) The locations of incidents that the sniper may have to deal with are largely unpredictable, but the ranges are relatively short. Consequently, a hide must cover its immediate surroundings as well as middle far distances. Always remember that the higher a hide, the greater the dead space in front of the hide.
4) Because of the weakness in local defense of urban hides, the principle of mutual support is of great importance.
e. “Musts” When Constructing a Urban Hide
1) Always be aware of the outside appearance of the structure. Shooting through loopholes in barricaded windows is preferred but the team must also insure that there is more than one position to fire from. When building loopholes, the team should make them in different shapes (not perfect squares or circles). Dummy loopholes should also be constructed to confuse the enemy. Positions in attics are also effective. When using attics, remove shingles from other areas of the roof so as to confuse the enemy.
2) Do not locate the position against contrasting background or in prominent buildings that automatically draw attention. The team must stay in the shadows when moving, observing, and engaging targets.
3) Never fire close to a loophole. The team must always back away from the hole as far as possible to hide the muzzle flash and to muffle the weapon’s sound. Some positions can be located in a different room and be accessed by making a another loophole in the wall between the rooms. This creates a “double baffle” as the sniper fires from the far room and takes advantage of a further reduction in muzzle flash and sound. Additionally, the team must not fire continuously from one position. If time permits always construct more than one position ensuring that they all cover the desired target area. Firing positions should never be used by any personnel other than sniper team members.
f. A Few Examples of Possible Hide/Observation Post (OP) Locations
1) Old derelict buildings. But pay special attention to the possibility of encountering booby traps. One proven method of detecting booby traps is the absence of pedestrian traffic in areas where it should or might be common.
2) Shops.
3) Factories, sheds and garages.
4) Basements and between floors in buildings. If there are no windows or readily useable firing port bricks, stones or other material will have to be removed in such a way as to not leave any noticeable evidence that can be observed from outside the building. To do this the sniper must carefully measure the selected brick/stone. He must then construct a frame exactly the size of the brick or stone with the frame edges exactly the size of the surrounding mortar. The brick or stone is then carefully removed from the wall and placed into the frame and places this combination back into the wall so that it blends perfectly with the untouched mortar still in place. The brick/frame combination is removed for firing and immediately placed back after. Care must be taken when firing from this type of position, as dust can be blown about by the muzzle. This type of position also offers a very restricted field of view.
7) Rural areas from which urban areas can be observed.
g. Manning the Sniper Hide/OP
1) Before moving into the hide the following information must be obtained.
a) The exact nature of the mission (observe/shoot, etc.)
b) The length of stay.
c) The local situation.
d) The procedure and timing for entry.
e) Emergency evacuation procedures.
f) Radio procedures.
g) Movement of any friendly troops in area.
h) The procedure and timing for exit.
i) Any special equipment needed.
2) The well-trained and understood principle of remaining back from windows and other apertures when in buildings has a marked effect on the manning of hides. Because the field of view from the back of a room is limited, two or even three snipers may have to observe at one time from different parts of the room.
h. Sniper Techniques in Urban Hides
1) The second floor of a building is usually the best location for a firing position. It presents minimal dead space and provides concealment from passerby’s on the ground.
2) Normally, a window is the best viewing aperture.
3) Do not clean a dirty window for better viewing.
4) If curtains are prevalent in the area, do not remove those in the position. Lace or net-type curtains can be seen through from the inside and difficult to see through from the outside.
5) If strong winds blow the curtains open; staple, tack or weigh them down.
6) Firing a round through a curtain has little effect on accuracy; however, ensure the muzzle is far enough way to avoid muzzle blast.
7) When the local area normally has open curtains, follow suit. Set up well away from the viewing aperture but at the same time ensure effective coverage of the assigned target area.
8) Firing through glass should be avoided as it greatly reduces accuracy and may result in more than one shot. Options include breaking or opening several windows throughout the position before occupation. This can be done during the reconnaissance phase of the operation. However, avoid drawing attention to the area. Another option is to remove the window pane or to replace it with plastic sheeting.
QUESTIONS
SUMMARY
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