FM 3-06
URBAN
OPERATIONS
OCTOBER 2006
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION:
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
HEADQUARTERS
DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
This publication is available at
Army Knowledge Online (www.us.army.mil) and
General Dennis J. Reimer Training and Doctrine
Digital Library at (www.train.army.mil).
*FM 3-06
Field Manual
Headquarters
No. 3-06
Department of the Army
Washington, DC, 26 October 2006
Urban Operations
Contents
Page
PREFACE
............................................................................................................vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.....................................................................................ix Chapter 1
The Urban Outlook ........................................................................................... 1-1
The Prospect of Urban Operations .................................................................... 1-1
An Urban Perspective ........................................................................................ 1-2
Historical Significance of Urban Areas in Warfare ............................................. 1-3
Modern Army Urban Operations......................................................................... 1-7
Chapter 2
Understanding the Urban Environment ......................................................... 2-1
A Complex Environment..................................................................................... 2-1
Urban Terrain ..................................................................................................... 2-2
Urban Society ................................................................................................... 2-13
Urban Infrastructure ......................................................................................... 2-18
Chapter 3
Understanding the Urban Threat .................................................................... 3-1
Asymmetrical And Adaptive ............................................................................... 3-1
Weapons of Mass Destruction ........................................................................... 3-2
Threat Objectives ............................................................................................... 3-2
Urban Threat Tactics.......................................................................................... 3-5
Negative Effects of Urbanization ...................................................................... 3-11
Chapter 4
Understanding the Urban Environment’s Effects on Warfighting
Functions and Tactics ..................................................................................... 4-1
Warfighting Functions......................................................................................... 4-1
Key Tactical Considerations............................................................................. 4-17
Chapter 5
Contemplating Urban Operations................................................................... 5-1
Determining the Necessity of Urban Operations................................................ 5-1
Integration into Land Operations ........................................................................ 5-6
Integration of Conventional and Special Operations Forces............................ 5-24
Synchronization of Activities with Other Agencies ........................................... 5-25
Distribution Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
*This publication supersedes FM 3-06, 1 June 2003.
i
Contents
Chapter 6
Foundations for Urban Operations .................................................................6-1
Urban Operational Framework ...........................................................................6-1
Fundamentals of Urban Operations..................................................................6-10
Chapter 7
Urban Offensive Operations ............................................................................7-1
Purpose of Urban Offensive Operations.............................................................7-1
Offensive Characteristics Applied to Urban Operations .....................................7-1
Urban Offensive Operations and Battlefield Organization..................................7-5
Forms and Types of Urban Offense ...................................................................7-8
Urban Offensive Considerations.......................................................................7-12
Chapter 8
Urban Defensive Operations............................................................................8-1
Purpose of Urban Defensive Operations ............................................................8-1
Defensive Characteristics Applied to Urban Operations ....................................8-1
Urban Defensive Operations and Battlefield Organization.................................8-3
Types of Urban Defense .....................................................................................8-4
Urban Defensive Considerations ........................................................................8-9
Chapter 9
Urban Stability and Civil Support Operations................................................9-1
Purpose of Urban Stability and Civil Support Operations...................................9-1
Characteristics of Urban Stability and Civil Support Operations ........................9-2
Urban Stability and Civil Support Operations and Battlefield Organization........9-3
Considerations for Urban Stability and Civil Support Operations.......................9-5
Chapter 10
Urban Sustainment .........................................................................................10-1
Urban Sustainment Characteristics ..................................................................10-1
Logistics Preparation of the Theater.................................................................10-4
Achieving Force Agility......................................................................................10-7
Sustainment Functions .....................................................................................10-7
Appendix A Siege of Beirut: An Illustration of the Fundamentals of Urban Operations ........................................................................................................ A-1
Overall Strategic Situation ................................................................................. A-1
PLO Military Position.......................................................................................... A-2
Role of Civilians ................................................................................................. A-2
Information Operations ...................................................................................... A-2
Conduct of the Urban Operations ...................................................................... A-3
Lessons.............................................................................................................. A-4
Summary............................................................................................................ A-7
Appendix B An Urban Focus to the Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield............. B-1
UNAFFECTED PROCESS ................................................................................ B-1
Significant Characteristics.................................................................................. B-4
Threat Considerations...................................................................................... B-10
Urban Intelligence Tools and Products............................................................ B-14
Appendix C Operations in Somalia: Applying the Urban Operational Framework to Stability Operations ......................................................................................... C-1
General Situation ............................................................................................... C-1
Somali Operations ............................................................................................. C-1
Understand......................................................................................................... C-4
Shape................................................................................................................. C-5
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26 October 2006
Contents
Engage ...............................................................................................................C-6
Consolidate and Transition.................................................................................C-6
Summary ............................................................................................................C-7
Appendix D Joint and Multinational Urban Operations.....................................................D-1
Purpose ..............................................................................................................D-1
Sister Service Urban Capabilities.......................................................................D-1
Urban Functional Combatant Command Capabilities........................................D-5
Multinational Considerations ..............................................................................D-9
SOURCE
NOTES.......................................................................... Source Notes-1
GLOSSARY
..........................................................................................Glossary-1
Section I – Acronyms and Abbreviations .........................................Glossary-1
Section II – Terms and Definitions.....................................................Glossary-4
REFERENCES ..................................................................................References-1
INDEX..........................................................................................................Index-1
Figures
Figure 1-1. Full spectrum urban operations ...........................................................................1-3
Figure 1-2. UO and DOTMLPF ............................................................................................1-12
Figure 2-1. Keys to understanding the urban environment....................................................2-2
Figure 2-2. The multidimensional urban battlefield ................................................................2-4
Figure 2-3. Major urban patterns............................................................................................2-6
Figure 2-4. Basic internal street patterns ...............................................................................2-7
Figure 2-5. Urban functional zones ........................................................................................2-9
Figure 2-6. Some toxic industrial chemicals and their industrial or commercial uses .........2-10
Figure 2-7. Key aspects of the urban society.......................................................................2-13
Figure 2-8. Urban areas by population size .........................................................................2-14
Figure 2-9. Simplified analysis of urban society...................................................................2-15
Figure 2-10. UO society chain of effects ..............................................................................2-17
Figure 2-11. Urban infrastructure .........................................................................................2-19
Figure 3-1. Threat objectives..................................................................................................3-2
Figure 3-2. Urban threat tactics..............................................................................................3-6
Figure 3-3. Favored threat weapons ....................................................................................3-10
Figure 3-4. Negative effects of urbanization ........................................................................3-11
Figure 3-5. Competing power structures..............................................................................3-14
Figure 4-1. Urban maneuver challenges and means to overcome them...............................4-5
Figure 4-2. Urban effects on fire support systems .................................................................4-9
Figure 4-3. Methods to overcome urban communications challenges ................................4-16
Figure 4-4. Compressed tactical factors ..............................................................................4-17
Figure 4-5. Urban understanding and decision making .......................................................4-19
Figure 5-1. Risk management and the associated risks with urban operations ....................5-2
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Figure 5-2. Urban ISR considerations ................................................................................. 5-12
Figure 5-3. IO elements and related activities ..................................................................... 5-15
Figure 5-4. Public affairs principles...................................................................................... 5-21
Figure 5-5. Civil affairs functional specialties....................................................................... 5-22
Figure 6-1. The urban operational framework and battle command ..................................... 6-2
Figure 6-2. Urban isolation..................................................................................................... 6-4
Figure 6-3. Panama ............................................................................................................... 6-8
Figure 6-4. Fundamentals of urban operations ................................................................... 6-11
Figure 7-1. Initial attack in Brittany......................................................................................... 7-3
Figure 7-2. Subsequent disposition of forces in Brittany ....................................................... 7-4
Figure 7-3. Envelopment isolates an urban area................................................................... 7-8
Figure 7-4. Turning movement............................................................................................... 7-8
Figure 7-5. Infiltration ............................................................................................................. 7-8
Figure 7-6. Penetration .......................................................................................................... 7-9
Figure 7-7. Frontal attack....................................................................................................... 7-9
Figure 7-8. Metz envelopment ............................................................................................. 7-10
Figure 7-9. Metz final assault............................................................................................... 7-11
Figure 7-10. Required urban reconnaissance capabilities .................................................. 7-14
Figure 7-11. Shaping through isolation................................................................................ 7-15
Figure 7-12. Critical sensor-to-shooter links........................................................................ 7-17
Figure 7-13. Reactions to isolation ...................................................................................... 7-17
Figure 7-14. Initial attack to isolate Hue .............................................................................. 7-18
Figure 7-15. Subsequent attack to isolate Hue.................................................................... 7-19
Figure 7-16. Final attack to isolate Hue ............................................................................... 7-20
Figure 7-17. Coordination of SOF and conventional capabilities ........................................ 7-21
Figure 7-18. Inchon-Seoul campaign, September 1950...................................................... 7-27
Figure 8-1. An urban area incorporated into a larger mobile defense................................... 8-4
Figure 8-2. German attacks to seize Stalingrad .................................................................... 8-5
Figure 8-3. German attacks to seize Stalingrad, September 1942 ....................................... 8-6
Figure 8-4. Soviet attacks trap German 6th Army ................................................................. 8-7
Figure 8-5. Retrograde through an urban area...................................................................... 8-8
Figure 8-6. Approximate defensive frontages and depths................................................... 8-10
Figure 9-1. Characteristics of stability and reconstruction and support operations............... 9-2
Figure 9-2. Example measures of effectiveness.................................................................... 9-7
Figure 9-3. Adaptability ........................................................................................................ 9-11
Figure 10-1. Sustainment characteristics ............................................................................ 10-1
Figure 10-2. Urban environment and essential elements of sustainment information ........ 10-5
Figure 10-3. Sustainment functions ..................................................................................... 10-7
Figure 10-4. General principles of the law of war .............................................................. 10-25
Figure 10-5. General engineering support tasks ............................................................... 10-27
Figure A-1. The city of Beirut .................................................................................................A-1
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Figure A-2. Initial conduct of the urban operation ..................................................................A-3
Figure A-3. Israeli probe of PLO defenses.............................................................................A-3
Figure A-4. Initial Israeli attack ...............................................................................................A-4
Figure A-5. Final Israeli attack................................................................................................A-4
Figure B-1. The steps of IPB ..................................................................................................B-1
Figure B-2. Relativity of key urban environment elements.....................................................B-3
Figure B-3. Significant urban terrain characteristics ..............................................................B-5
Figure B-4. Significant urban societal characteristics ............................................................B-8
Figure B-5. Significant urban infrastructure characteristics ...................................................B-9
Figure B-6. A refined approach to civilian allegiance .......................................................... B-12
Figure B-7. Urban intelligence tools and products .............................................................. B-14
Figure C-1. Relative proportionality between types of operations ........................................ C-2
Figure C-2. Map of Somalia .................................................................................................. C-3
Figure D-1. USAF E-8 JSTARS platform .............................................................................. D-2
Figure D-2. USN MK45 lightweight gun system.................................................................... D-4
Figure D-3. USN MK V special.............................................................................................. D-8
Historical Vignettes
Rome: A Microcosm of Urban Warfare ..................................................................................1-4
The Three Block War..............................................................................................................1-6
Winning the Peace in Iraq: The Requirement for Full Spectrum Operations.........................1-8
Understanding the Effects of Unit and Soldier Actions in Iraq .............................................2-18
Understanding the Urban Environment: Paris – 1944 .........................................................2-25
Tempo ....................................................................................................................................3-4
Identifying Threats from Noncombatants ...............................................................................3-7
Information and the Media......................................................................................................3-9
Cultural and Religious Instability ..........................................................................................3-12
Food and Water Shortages ..................................................................................................3-13
Insurgencies and the Urban Society ....................................................................................3-15
Crime and Criminal Organizations .......................................................................................3-16
Example of Simple Communications Innovation: Israel’s Six-Day War – 1967...................4-17
Conventional and Special Forces Integration ......................................................................5-24
Applying the Urban Operational Framework: Panama – 1989 ..............................................6-7
Operational Context of Urban Operations: Brittany Ports – 1944 ..........................................7-2
Forms of Attack in the Urban Offense: Metz – 1944 ............................................................7-10
Isolating an Urban Area: Hue, Vietnam – 1968....................................................................7-17
Creative Task Organization: Using Artillery in the Direct Fire Role .....................................7-22
Bold Operational Maneuver to Seize an Urban Area: Inchon and Seoul, Korea –
1950 ..................................................................................................................7-26
Urban Defense in a Major Operation: Stalingrad – 1942 to 1943 ..........................................8-5
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Defensive Combat Power: Suez – 1973.............................................................................. 8-10
Assessment of Security and Force Protection: Belfast, Northern Ireland ............................. 9-8
Civil Support and Coordination with Civilian Authorities: Los Angeles – 1992.................... 9-12
Restraint: An Najaf, Iraq – 2003........................................................................................... 9-14
Base Security: Tan Son Nhut, Vietnam – 1968 ................................................................... 10-2
Host Nation Repair Operations: OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM..................................... 10-13
Combat Stress: Chechnya – 1994 to 1996........................................................................ 10-18
Analysis of an Urban Area’s Underlying Terrain: Mitrovica, Kosovo – 1999 ......................... B-5
Shifting Civilian Interests and Intent..................................................................................... B-12
Operations in Somalia: Applying the Urban Operational Framework to Stability
Operations ..........................................................................................................C-1
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Preface
Doctrine provides a military organization with a common philosophy, a language, a purpose, and unity of effort. Rather than establishing a set of hard and fast rules, the objective of doctrine is to foster initiative and creative thinking. To this end, FM 3-06 discusses major Army operations in an urban environment. This environment, consisting of complex terrain, a concentrated population, and an infrastructure of systems, is an operational environment in which Army forces will operate. In the future, it may be the predominant operational environment. Each urban operation is unique