Army Urban Operations

United States Army Urban Operations Field Guide

This manual provides the analytically tools for evaluating an urban operation to

determine if the operation is necessary for overall mission success. It also provides the means to understanding and determining the impacts of the urban

environment on military operations and provides information on managing,

taking advantage of, and mitigating the effects of those impacts as appropriate.

As such, this manual demonstrates how to apply the doctrinal principles to this unique environment.

Chapter 1 URBAN OUTLOOK 1-1

The Prospect of Urban Operations 1-2

Urban Perspective 1-2

Historical Significance of Urban Areas in Warfare 1-3

Modern Army Urban Operations 1-8

Chapter 2 URBAN ENVIRONMENT 2-1

A Complex Environment 2-2

Urban Terrain 2-3

Urban Society 2-14

Urban Infrastructure 2-19

Chapter 3 URBAN THREAT 3-1

Asymmetry 3-2

Weapons of Mass Destruction 3-2

Threat Operational Principles 3-3

Urban Threat Tactics 3-6

Negative Effects of Urbanization 3-11

Chapter 4 CONTEMPLATING URBAN OPERATIONS 4-1

Necessity of Urban Operations 4-2

Characteristics of Major Urban Operations 4-7

Integration into Land Operations 4-10

Chapter 5 FOUNDATIONS FOR URBAN OPERATIONS 5-1

Urban Operational Framework 5-1

Fundamentals of Urban Operations 5-12

General Effects on Operations 5-16

Chapter 6 URBAN OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS 6-1

Purpose of Urban Offensive Operations 6-1

Characteristics of Urban Offensive Operations 6-2

Urban Offensive Operations and Battlefield Organization 6-6

Forms and Types of Urban Offense 6-9

Urban Offensive Considerations 6-15

Chapter 7 URBAN DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS 7-1

Purpose of Urban Defensive Operations 7-1

Characteristics of Urban Defensive Operations 7-2

Urban Defensive Operations and Battlefield Organization 7-5

Types of Urban Defense 7-5

Urban Defensive Considerations 7-10

Chapter 8 URBAN STABILITY OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS 8-1

Purpose of Urban Stability Operations and Support Operations 8-2

Characteristics of Urban Stability Operations and Support Operations 8-2

Urban Stability Operations, Support Operations, and Battlefield Organization 8-3

Types and Forms of Stability Operations and Support Operations 8-4

Considerations of Urban Stability Operations and Support Operations 8-6

Chapter 9 URBAN COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 9-1

Urban CSS Characteristics 9-2

Logistics Preparation of the Theater 9-4

CSS Functions 9-7

General Engineer Support 9-26

Civil-Military Operations 9-28

Appendix A SIEGE OF BEIRUT: AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE FUNDAMENTALS OF URBAN OPERATIONS A-1

Overall Strategic Situation A-1

Israeli Military Position A-2

PLO Military Position A-2

Role of Civilians A-3

Information Operations A-3