INTRODUCTION
GAIN ATTENTION
The capture of objectives in urban terrain has been a military requirement throughout the history of warfare. This has been primarily due to the significance of urban areas as centers of government, industry, transportation and culture.
Urban area will be sites of future conflict. Cities are where radical ideas ferment and mixtures of people cause ethnic or religious conflict. Our political leaders see suppressing urban conflicts as opportunities to neutralize or stabilize many extremely volatile political situation or to provide assistance to allies.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this period of instruction is to familiarize you with the basic characteristics and consideration of Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT).
INDIVIDUAL TRAINING STANDARDS
MISSION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVE
Without aid of reference and in accordance with the MCWP 3-35.3, the Marine will understand and be able to discuss the characteristics and consideration of MOUT.
ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Know the definition of MOUT.
2. Know the categories of built-up areas.
3. Know the characteristics of urban areas.
4. Know the warfighting options available to the commander.
5. Know the characteristics of MOUT.
6. Know the principles of urban warfare.
7. Know the five colors used to represent the different readiness conditions.
METHOD AND MEDIA
This period of instruction will be taught by lecture and aided by video and a Powerpoint presentation.
TESTING
This period of instruction will be evaluated through practical application during situational training exercises.
TRANSITION
Now that we know what will be covered in this period of instruction, let’s look at the role of the Marine Corps in urban warfare.
BODY
1. Role
a. Today’s MAGTF’s are deployed as part of Naval Expeditionary Force’s (NEFs) maintaining a global forward presence for rapid crisis response. This unique combined arms force is the nation’s premier contingency and naval power projection force. A recent geographical study showed that 60% of the politically significant urban areas outside allied territory are located along or within 25 miles of a coastline and 75% within 150 miles of the sea. This is what we consider the urban littorals. As the force of choice across the spectrum of conflict, Marines will be deployed to urban areas as the United States focuses on regional response and early intervention to countries of national interest.
2. Definitions
a. Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT): All military actions that are planned and conducted on terrain where man-made construction affects the tactical options available to the commander. (This is an umbrella term that encompasses all military operations in urban terrain.)
b. "The Three Block War"
"In one moment in time, our service members will be feeding and clothing displaced refugees - providing humanitarian assistance. In the next moment, they will be holding two warring tribes apart - conducting peacekeeping operations. Finally, they will be fighting a highly lethal mid-intensity battle. All on the same day, all within three city blocks. It will be what we call the three block war."
c. Security Operations in Urban Terrain (SOUT)
d. Combat Operations in Urban Terrain (COUT)
e. Urban Littoral: Urban area that a sea based force can influence or operate in effectively.
f. Built-up Area: Concentration of structures, facilities, and people that form the economic and cultural focus for the surrounding areas.
g. Cities: Cities are the center of finance, politics, transportation, communication, industry and culture. Therefore, they have often been the scenes of important battles due to their psychological, political or logistical value. In the last 40 years, cities have expanded, losing their well-defined boundaries as they extended into the countryside. Highways, canals and railroads have been built to connect population centers. Industries have grown along these connectors creating “strip areas”. Rural areas are connected to the towns by a network of secondary roads.
3. Categories of Built-up Areas
a. Villages: Population of 3,000 or less.
b. Strip Areas: Urban areas built along roads connecting towns or cities.
c. Towns or small cities: Population of up to 100,000 and not part of a major urban complex.
d. Large cities: Population in the millions, covering hundreds of square kilometers.
4. Characteristics of Urban Areas
a. City Core: Typically made up of high-rise buildings which vary greatly in height.
b. Outlying High-rise: Dominated by newer open construction style buildings – more spread out than city core buildings.
c. Commercial Ribbon: Rows of stores, shops and restaurants that are built along both sides of major streets through built-up areas.
d. Core Periphery: Consists of streets 12 to 20 meters wide with continuous fronts of older brick or concrete buildings usually 2 to 3 stories in height.
e. Residential Sprawl: Consists of low buildings that are 1 to 3 stories in height – buildings are detached and arranged in irregular patterns along the streets with many open areas.
5. Decision
The decision to attack or defend an urban complex can result in massive damage, destruction and casualties. Because of these factors, this decision will be made at the highest level of command. The commander must decide what course of action should be taken based on METT-T. The following examples illustrate some possible courses of action:
a. Isolate, attack, clear and control the city using a combined arms force.
b. Isolate and bypass the city – possibly leaving it for follow on forces to clear at a later time.
c. Isolate and take limited objectives within the city in order to control certain functions or resources.
6. Characteristics of MOUT
Due to the density and complexity of an urban environment, there are unique characteristics associated with MOUT.
a. Restricted Fields of Fire: Limited fields of fire and observation due to buildings, water towers, rubble and other man-made objects that are found in an urban environment.
b. Close Quarters Battle: Within built-up areas, targets will be exposed for only brief periods and frequently at ranges of less than 100 meters. These limitations induce close violent combat between opposing forces. This greatly increases the reliance on direct fire weapons and hand employed explosives.
c. Restricted Space and Movement: Due to the dense environment caused by the close proximity of buildings the channelization of forces will occur. This is especially true for mechanized forces.
d. Cover and Concealment: Excellent cover and concealment for troops and equipment can be easily achieved in an urban environment. This is the primary reason why the defender has a distinct advantage.
e. Command and Control: Urban warfare makes it difficult to apply basic tactical fundamentals to maintain control. This is the primary reason for the need for detailed yet simple planning with decentralized execution.
f. Small Unit Leadership: Operating in urban areas isolates and separates units. Frequently, operations are reduced to a series of small unit battles. Greater dependence is placed on the individual Marine and the small unit leaders’ initiative, skill and aggression.
g. Psychological and Physical Fatigue: Possibly in no other form of combat are the pressures of battle more intense. Continuous close quarter combat, high casualties and fire from an unseen enemy produces severe psychological strain and physical fatigue.
h. Three Dimensional Battlefield: In addition to fighting the enemy at street level, fighting can (and often will) be conducted on rooftops, in the upper stories of buildings, and below street level in sewer systems, subways and other underground structures. When planning and executing MOUT one must take into consideration all these factors.
i. Civilian Population: The presence of a civilian population can significantly restrict tactical operations. If the population is hostile, it may impose serious security and control problems. Concern for the safety of civilians can seriously restrict the options open to the commander. The necessity to provide essential services to civilians can siphon off a substantial amount of military resources and manpower. However, the civilian population can also be a great source for intelligence material as they may have knowledge of building locations, maps, minefields, booby traps and enemy positions.
j. Collateral Damage: Operational success may be measured by how we accomplish our mission while minimizing the destruction of buildings and the alienation of the population. Rubble channels our own forces and hinders resupply efforts. Fire can sweep through the urban area and present dangers to friendly forces and the civilian population. There must be a concerted effort to establish a sound fire plan (water locations, evacuation routes, etc.).
k. Manpower and Resources: The nature of the urban environment will cause enormously high casualties and resource consumption rates. Because of this, there must be a solid medevac and resupply plan. Logistic resupply and medevacs will be channelized throughout this terrain.
7. Additional MOUT Considerations
a. Biological and Chemical Agents: Biological and chemical agents may be present. The effects of non-persistent chemical agents tend to remain much longer in an urban environment. The close proximity of buildings makes it harder for these agents to dissipate. Operating in MOPP-4 also becomes a factor and the presence of the civilian population must be taken into consideration.
b. Night Operations: Infiltration and harassment will increase during periods of darkness. Although the tendency may be to relax, this is the time that you must maintain your tempo. Command and control will become more difficult and casualty rates can be very high at night. There will be a significant increased risk of fratricide. The bottom line is that those who fight well during periods of darkness will have the advantage. Most ground forces of the world have some form of night vision capability. Cover and concealment must continue at night.
8. Principles of Urban Warfare
a. Simple Plan: Urban combat requires a simple yet detailed plan that is disseminated to the lowest level for execution. Allow small unit leaders the flexibility to fight the battles. Use short bounds and limited objectives.
b. Control: Adhere to inter-platoon and squad boundaries to reduce fratricide. Maintain momentum, but allow for reorganization. Do not let forces get strung out or they will get cut off and infiltrated. Do not sacrifice speed for control. Clearly mark the FLOT and all entry and exit points. Have redundant and alternate methods of communicating with each other (visual signals, linemen, wire, telephone, etc.)>
c. Thoroughness: Clearance must be meticulous. Once a building is clear, prevent enemy re-infiltration and counterattacks.
d. Fire and Movement: Work in assault and support teams as casualties occur. Leap frog teams forward when possible to prevent any one team from becoming physically exhausted or depleted by casualties. Consolidation should be rapid once the objective is taken to maintain momentum. All movement must be covered by fire and obscured (smoke, darkness, etc.).
e. Combined Arms: Fight as a combined arms force to put the enemy in a dilemma from which there is no escape.
f. Force Ratio: Due to the innate advantage of a defender in urban terrain, an attacker must have greater than a 3:1 ratio to be successful. During the battle for Berlin the Soviet Army had a 8:1 force advantage.
g. Intelligence: The gathering and dissemination of information and intelligence materials in urban terrain is vital to the success of urban operations.
9. Mindset
a. Mindset is a term used to describe an individual’s state of mental readiness to act or react to stimulus in our environment. It includes various levels or condition of readiness, which correspond to different levels of perceived dangers. The following colors are used to represent the different readiness conditions:
1) White: Totally oblivious to the surroundings and unaware of the situation at hand.
2) Yellow: Generally aware of one’s surroundings, but not focused on any specific threat – “head on a swivel” assessing the situation.
3) Orange: Focused on a specific threat. In the process of making a decision on how to react to the situation.
4) Red: Decisively engaged with a specific threat. The decision has been made and the determined action is being taken.
5) Black: A state of total panic and denial characterized by the inability to logically think and react.
10. The Mental Process
a. Once you are involved in a violent confrontation and are in the proper mindset, you must quickly respond to a given situation with the correct action. To accomplish this, the following mental process is utilized:
1) Assess: Survey the situation to see if any potential threat exists (Condition Yellow).
2) Decide: Focus on a specific threat and select the appropriate action to follow based on the Rules of Engagement (Condition Orange).
3) Act: Carry out the chosen course of action to handle the specific threat (Condition Red).
QUESTIONS
What are the characteristics of MOUT?
SUMMARY
In summary, MOUT is one of the most difficult operations that we may ever undertake. To be successful, leaders must take into consideration the special characteristics of urban terrain that may directly affect your tactical options. Marines must understand their environment in order to operate effectively.
The MOUT Homepage Hot Links:
MCWP 3-35.3 Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (Marine Corps Doctrine Division - PDF)
Marine Corps Infantry Officer Course MOUT Student Handout
Our Soldiers - Their Cities (Ralph Peters - Parameters)
Will We be Able to Take the Cities? (Ralph Peters)
Concrete Jungle - The Future City Fight in Africa (Adam Geibel)
The Military Problem of Tomorrow - Urban Warfare
The Urban Warrior Experimental Framework (MCWL)
U.S. Army FM 90-10 Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT)
U.S. Army FM 90-10-1 An Infantryman's Guide to Combat in Built-up Areas (PDF)
Operation Just Cause Lessons Learned: MOUT
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