CHAPTER 7: OPFOR Operations on Special Terrain

7-1 Combat in Urban Areas.

    Combat in urban areas includes all military actions planned and conducted on a terrain complex where manmade construction impacts on the tactical options available to the OPFOR commander. The OPFOR considers military activities in urban areas to be only those missions conducted in populated cities, towns, and villages. . Although motorized infantry units can conduct combat in urban areas, the OPFOR prefers to task-organize mechanized infantry battalions to serve as the baseline assault organization. Normally combat support units reinforcing the assault battalions must come from higher. This is especially true if the baseline is a motorized infantry battalion.

    a. Effects. Fighting in built-up areas differs in several important respects from field combat. First, the fighting quickly becomes a series of small-scale battles at squad to company level, which often means that there is little central control. Second, the restricted space reduces the unit's ability to maneuver and limits observation and fields of fire. Third, the destruction and obstacles in urban areas make it very difficult to maintain rapid rates of advance. Fourth, effective reconnaissance of an urban area is often difficult to achieve, thus necessitating reconnaissance by fire.

    b. Characteristics. Combat in cities, towns, and villages has a number of unique characteristics:

• A surprise attack from the march, based on detailed reconnaissance, is the preferred form of attack.

• Day and night attacks maintain constant pressure on the defender.

• Rapid exploitation of initial success by the immediate follow-up of preparation fires, and the use of heavy weapons in the direct fire role by task organized assault groups within the confines of the built-up area.

• If initial attacks fail to make progress, the OPFOR launches attacks from positions in direct contact.

• A series of small battles along streets, building-to-building, and room-to-room.

• Smoke, darkness, and limited visibility conditions conceal movement.

• Limited observation and fire.

• Difficult maneuvering of forces and means.

• Constant close contact with the BLUFOR.

• Generation of rubble, fire, and explosions.

  c. Offense. In urban area combat, the infantry battalion is designated as an assault detachment. This designation occurs when the battalion receives the mission to overcome a BLUFOR strongpoint. The detachment is a task-organized infantry battalion, mechanized or motorized, and the group is a task-organized company. A battalion designated as an assault detachment can be reinforced by a tank company, an artillery battalion, an engineer company, antitank weapons, and air defense weapons. The assault detachment normally has two to three assault groups (reinforced infantry companies) and a reinforced platoon-sized reserve. Battalion reserves go directly to the assault groups due to the focus on small-unit actions in the attack. . Up to 50 percent of available artillery is attached to assault groups and used in the direct fire role including the use of large-caliber guns. Engineer units accompany advance guard units as they approach built-up areas to clear obstacles and reconnoiter.

    The OPFOR uses two methods to seize a town. The least favorable method is to plan and conduct a frontal attack against a defending BLUFOR to break through the defense on the approaches to the town. The preferred method is to seize the town from the march. The group frontage can be 200 to 300 meters. A brigade could be responsible for 2 to 3 km, though its attack frontage would be less.

    d. Defense. A division normally defends urban terrain when employed as a part of the expeditionary army. It may also defend along a main avenue of approach into the military district. The threat recognizes that is the nature of defensive combat in villages and towns to fight a series of separate battles. In defensive as in offensive urban area combat, the base element is the motorized infantry, or mechanized battalion. The infantry battalion commander takes direct command of the units allocated to him, e.g., artillery, tank, and engineers. As in the offense, the burden of combat in built-up areas falls on infantry soldiers, supported by other arms. Artillery remains decentralized for the direct fire role. Far fewer troops are necessary to defend a town than to seize one. A company can defend a sector up to 600 meters wide and can create strongpoints in key buildings manned by platoons. Defense combat techniques are the same as those used in the offensive. Defense of a town requires more engineer support. The OPFOR uses patrols and ambushes extensively

    An infantry battalion normally conducts defensive actions in built-up areas as part of a brigade. Reinforced to meet the tactical situation, the battalion deploys to stop BLUFOR attacks on main or secondary approaches to the village or town. The battalion is in either the brigade first or second echelon of defense. As a first-echelon unit, its mission is to prevent penetration of the built-up area. As the second-echelon unit, its task is to contain BLUFOR penetrations and restore first-echelon positions.