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TOPIC: Use of Weapons in an Urban Environment.

DISCUSSION: Within the confines of house-to-house fighting, all infantry weapons are of value if correctly used. However, a knowledge of house construction is necessary to avoid endangering oneself, fellow soldiers, or innocent bystanders. For example, attempting to fire through the ceiling of a room to neutralize the occupants of the floor above or below may be disastrous if the house has concrete floors. Similarly, to throw a fragmentation grenade into a room with wooden or plaster walls is equally self defeating. Soldiers in peace operations should avoid unnecessary noncombatant casualties and damage to property. If the situation is not life threatening, negotiation, persuasion, and show of force should be used before violence is applied.

LESSON(s):

• The sniper rifle can best be used to pick off belligerent leaders or key individuals and to keep armored vehicles buttoned up. Also it can be used effectively in a counter-sniper role.

• Machine guns are the main supporting weapon in urban fighting. Approximately 100 rounds of 7.62mm can create a hole one foot in diameter in a brick wall 20 inches thick. Another 300 rounds can enlarge the hole to two feet by shifting the point of aim and firing in a spiral method.

• The 60-mm mortar is effective in providing smoke and can be fired low angle against the sides of buildings to achieve a shorter range than would otherwise be possible. The HE round is invaluable for firing over buildings and reaching dug-in belligerents in gardens and similar types of enclosed cover.

• The grenade is a basic tool for house and room clearance. The destructive effect is determined by the type of construction in the structure. Grenade launchers are also extremely valuable in urban areas because of the variety of rounds available.

• The LAW and AT-4 antitank weapons have a primary purpose of disabling or killing lightly armored vehicles. They can be fired through windows or doors to eliminate snipers. HEAT rounds are unsuitable for making entry holes through brick or concrete walls.

• Claymore mines are well suited for protective obstacles not only above ground but also on rooftops and in underground facilities such as sewers and subways. They cannot breach wire obstacles such as chain-link fence.

Back to Chapter 4: Table of Contents

Converting an Urban Structure into a Strongpoint