http://www.sunspide rs.com/cqb.htm CQB Tactics 3-21. CONSIDERA CO NSIDERATIONS TIONS FOR FO R ENTRY The entire entire team enters enters the room room as quickly quickly and smoothly as possible and clears the doorway immediately. If possible, the team moves from a covered or concealed position already in their entry order. Ideally, the team arrives and passes through the entry point without having to stop. a. The door is the focal point of anyone in the room. It is known as the fatal funnel, funnel, because it focuses attention at the precise point where the individual team members are the most vulnerable. Moving into the room quickly reduces reduce s the chance anyone being hit by enemy re directed at the doorway doorway.. b. On the signal to go, the clearing team moves from covered or concealed positions through the door quickly and takes up positions inside the room that allow it to completely dominate the room and eliminate elimin ate the t he threat. Team members stop movement only after they have cleared the door and reached their designated point of domination. dominatio n. The rst mans position is deep into
the near corner of the room. The depth of his movement moveme nt is determin determined ed by the si!e of the room, any obstacles in the room, such as furniture, and by the number and location of enemy and noncombatants in the room. c. To To make precision room clearing technique techniques s work, each member of the team must know his sector of re and how his sector overlaps and links with the sectors of the other team members. Team members do not move to the point of domination and then engage their targets. They engage targets as they move to their designated point. "owever, engagements engagements must not slow movement to their points of domination. Team members may shoot from as short a range as # to $ inches. They engage the most immediate enemy threats rst. %&les of immediate threats are enemy personnel who ' ( )re armed and prepared to return re immediately. ( *lock movement to the position of domination. ( )re within arms reach of a clearing team member. ( )re within + to feet of the breach point. d. %ach clearing team member has a designated sector of re unique to him initially and e&pands to overlap sectors of the other team members. -# The number # and number $ men are initially concerned with the area directly to their front, then along the wall on either
the near corner of the room. The depth of his movement moveme nt is determin determined ed by the si!e of the room, any obstacles in the room, such as furniture, and by the number and location of enemy and noncombatants in the room. c. To To make precision room clearing technique techniques s work, each member of the team must know his sector of re and how his sector overlaps and links with the sectors of the other team members. Team members do not move to the point of domination and then engage their targets. They engage targets as they move to their designated point. "owever, engagements engagements must not slow movement to their points of domination. Team members may shoot from as short a range as # to $ inches. They engage the most immediate enemy threats rst. %&les of immediate threats are enemy personnel who ' ( )re armed and prepared to return re immediately. ( *lock movement to the position of domination. ( )re within arms reach of a clearing team member. ( )re within + to feet of the breach point. d. %ach clearing team member has a designated sector of re unique to him initially and e&pands to overlap sectors of the other team members. -# The number # and number $ men are initially concerned with the area directly to their front, then along the wall on either
side of the door or entry point. This area is in their path of movement, and it is their primary sector of re. Their alternate sector of re is from the wall they are moving toward, back to the opposite far corner. -$ The number + and number / men start at the center of the wall opposite their point of entry and clear to the left if moving toward the left, or to the right if moving toward the right. They stop short of their respective respe ctive team member -either the number # man or the number $ man. e. The team members move toward their points of domination, engaging all targets in their sector. Team members must e&ercise re control and discriminate between hostile and noncombatant room occupants. 0hooting is done without stopping, using re1e&ive shooting techniques. *ecause the soldiers are moving and shooting at the same time, they must move using careful c areful hurry. hurry. -2igure +3+# in paragraph +3 $+, shows all four team members at their points of domination and their overlapping sectors of re.
3-22. TECHNIQUES FOR ENTERING BUILDINGS AND CLEARING ROOMS *attle 4rill 5 is the t he standard technique used by the four3man re team when they perform the task, %nter *uilding67lear 8oom. "owever, 8O% may not allow for, nor the enemy situation requires, such aggressive aggress ive action on the part of the assaulting unit.
*ased on the aforementioned conditions, commanders may determine to use the following techniques when entering and clearing buildings and rooms. a. Situation. Operating as part of a larger force -during daylight or darkness, the squad is tasked to participate in clearing a building. The platoon leader directs the squad to enter the building or to clear a room. )n entry point breach has already been identied, or will be created before initiating the entry. b. S!"ia# Con$i%!&ation$. 9latoon and squad leaders must consider the task and purpose they have been given and the method they are to use to achieve the desired results. -# To sei!e or gain control of a building may not always require committing troops into the structure or closing with the enemy. The following steps describe e:ective techniques to be used when training soldiers to the toughest possible conditions. These techniques and procedures can be trained, rehearsed, and modied to a specic situation and mission. *efore initiating this action the employment of all organic, crew3served, and supporting weapon systems should be directed onto the ob;ective area in order to suppress and neutrali!e the threat, providing the mission and 8O% permit. -$
a night vision device or light source to illuminate the immediate area.
NOTE' The following discussion assumes that only the platoons organic weapons are to support the infantry squad. =rban situations may require precise application of repower. This situation is especially true of an urban environment where the enemy is mi&ed with noncombatants. >oncombatants may be found in the room, which can restrict the use of res and reduce the combat power available to a squad leader. "is squad may have to operate with no re areas. 8ules of engagement can prohibit the use of certain weapons until a specic hostile action takes place. )ll soldiers must be aware of the 8O%. ?eaders must include the specic use of weapons in their planning for precision operations in urban terrain. c. R!(ui&!% A"tion$. 2igures +3$@, +3$A, +3$B, and +3+C illustrate the required actions for performing this task. -# The squad leader designates the assault team and identies the location of the entry point for them. -$ The squad leader positions the follow3on assault team to provide overwatch and supporting res for the initial assault team. -+ )ssault team members move as close to the entry point as possible, using available cover and concealment. -a If an e&plosive breach or a ballistic breach is to be performed by a supporting element, the assault team
remains in a covered position until the breach is made. They may provide overwatch and re support for the breaching element if necessary. -b )ll team members must signal one another that they are ready before the team moves to the entry point. -c Team members avoid the use of verbal signals, which may alert the enemy and remove the element of surprise. -d )ssault team members must move quickly from the covered position to the entry point, minimi!ing the time they are e&posed to enemy re. -/ The assault team enters through the breach. =nless a grenade is being thrown prior to entry, the team should avoid stopping outside the point of entry. -a The number $ man may throw a grenade of some type -fragmentation, concussion, stun into the room before entry. -b The use of grenades should be consistent with the 8O% and building structure. The grenade should be cooked o: before being thrown, if applicable to the type of grenade used. -c If stealth is not a factor, the thrower should sound o: with a verbal indication that a grenade of some type is being thrown -Dfrag out,D Dconcussion
out,D Dstun outD. If stealth is a factor, only visual signals are given as the grenade is thrown. CAUTION If walls and floors are thin, fragments from fragmentation grenades and debris created by concussion grenades can injure soldiers outside the room. If the structure has been stressed by preious e!plosie engagements, the use of these grenades could cause it to collapse. "eaders must determine the effectieness of these types of grenades compared to possibilities of harm to friendly troops.
- On the signal to go, or immediately after the grenade detonates, the assault team moves through the entry point -2igure +3$@ and quickly takes up positions inside the room that allow it to completely dominate the room and eliminate the threat -2igure +3 +C. =nless restricted or impeded, team members stop movement only after they have cleared the door and reached their designated point of domination. In addition to dominating the room, all team members are responsible for identifying possible loopholes and mouseholes in the ceiling, walls and 1oor.
NOTE'
threat. "e has the option of going left or right, normally moving along the path of least resistance to one of two corners.
#igure $%&'. #irst man enters a room.
-5 The second man -team leader, entering almost simultaneously with the rst, moves in the opposite direction, following the wall and staying out of the center -2igure +3$A. The second man must clear the entry point, clear the immediate threat area, clear his corner, and move to a dominating position on his side of the room.
#igure $%&(. )econd man enters a room.
-@ The third man -grenadier simply goes opposite of the second man inside the room at least one meter from the entry point and moves to a position that dominates his sector -2igure +3$B.
#igure $%&*. Third man enters a room.
NOTE' If the path of least resistance takes the rst man to the left, then all points of domination are the mirror image of those shown in the diagrams. -A 9oints of domination should not be in front of doors or windows so team members are not silhouetted to the outside of the room -2igure +3+#. >o movement should mask the re of any of the other team members.
#igure $%$+. oints of domination and sectors of fire.
-B On order, any member of the assault team may move deeper into the room overwatched by the other team members. -#C Once the room is cleared, the team leader signals to the squad leader that the room has been cleared. -## The squad leader marks the room -I)< unit 0O9. The squad leader determines whether or not his squad can continue to clear through the building. -#$ The squad reorgani!es as necessary. ?eaders redistribute the ammunition.
-#+ The squad leader reports to the platoon leader when the room is clear. d. R!a$on$ )o& Mo%i)*in+ t,! Ent&* T!",ni(u!. )lthough this technique is an e:ective procedure for clearing a room, leaders may be required to modify the e&isting action to meet their current situation. 0ome e&le reasons and methods of modifying the technique are shown in Table +3#.
REASON
METHOD
Ob;ective rooms are consistently small.
7lear with two or three men.
0hortage of personnel.
7lear in teams of two or three.
%nemy poses no immediate threat.
One or two men search each room to ensure no enemy or noncombatants are present.
>o immediate One man visually searches each threat, and speed room. is of the essence Table $%+. -easons and methods for modifying entry techniues. e. T,&!!- an% To-Man T!a$.
same thing for a two3man team. ?eaders should use the entry technique blueprint when modifying their techniques.
#igure $%$&. oints of domination and sectors of fire /three%man team, center door0.
#igure $%$$. oints of domination and sectors of fire /three%man team, corner door0.
#igure $%$1. oints of domination and sectors of fire /two%man team, center door0.
#igure $%$2. oints of domination and sectors of fire /two%man team, corner door0.
3-23. REFLE/I0E SHOOTING 9recision room clearing allows little or no margin for error. Too slow a shot at an enemy, too fast a shot at a noncombatant, or inaccurate shots can all be disastrous for the clearing team. 9roper weapon ready technique, stance, aiming, shot placement, and trigger manipulations constitute re1e&ive shooting. 8e1e&ive shooting techniques are used by all members of the re team, to include M$C+ and M$/B gunners. a. !aon R!a%* o$ition$. The two weapon ready positions are low ready and high ready -2igure +3+5. -# Low Ready Position. The butt of the weapon is placed rmly n the pocket of the
shoulder with the barrel pointed down at a /3degree angle. This position is the safest carry position. It should be used by the clearing team while inside the room, e&cept when actually entering and clearing. -$ High Ready Position. The butt of the weapon is held under the armpit, with the barrel pointed slightly up, keeping the front sight assembly under the line of sight but within the gunners peripheral vision. To engage a target, the gunner pushes the weapon out as if to bayonet the target.
#igure $%$3. -eady positions for the 4+3A&.
b. Stan"!. 2eet are about shoulder3width apart. Toes are pointed to the front -direction of movement. The ring side foot is slightly staggered to the rear of the non3ring side foot. Fnees are slightly bent and the upper body is leaned slightly forward. 0houlders are square and pulled back, not rolled over or slouched.
The head is up and both eyes are open.
soldiers can become deadly shots at close range. -/ 'nstincti(e $ire. This technique is the least desirable. The gunner focuses on the target and points the weapon in the targets general direction, using muscle memory to compensate for lack of aim. This technique should be used only in emergencies. d. M4 C#o$! Co5at Oti" . The M5A close combat optic -77O is an e&cellent close combat aiming system when used properly. 8emember, the M5A is not a telescope sight. -# #imed $ire. This technique requires looking through the 77O with both eyes open and focusing on the target. )n optical illusion places a red aiming dot in front of the rer. The dot is placed on the target then the target is engaged with re. The aiming dot does not have to be centered in the optic. The 77O is used in the same manner at all ranges. Therefore, there is no distinction between slow aimed re, rapid aimed re, and aimed quick kill techniques. -$ 'nstincti(e $ire. This technique remains the same with the 77O. e. T&i++!& Maniu#ation. 8apid, aimed, semiautomatic re is the most e:ective method of engaging targets during precision room clearing. )s each round is red from the aimed quick3kill position, the weapons recoil makes the front sight post move in a small natural arc.
The gunner should not ght this recoil. "e should let the weapon make the arc and immediately bring the front sight post back onto the target and take another shot. This two3shot combination is known as ring a controlled pair . 0oldiers must practice a controlled pair until it becomes instinctive. 7learing team members continue to re controlled pairs until the target goes down. If there are multiple targets, team members engage with a controlled pair and then return to reengage any enemy left standing or still trying to resist. f. S,ot #a"!!nt. In precision room clearing, enemy soldiers must be incapacitated immediately. 0hots that wound or are mortal but do not incapacitate the target instantaneously are better than misses but may allow the enemy to return re.
been taught previously to aim at center of mass.
#igure $%$'. "ethal to incapacitating shot placement.
g. R!6!7i8! S,ootin+ T!",ni(u!$ Du&in+ Liit!% 0i$i5i#it*. 8e1e&ive shooting techniques are also used during periods of limited visibility. -# )isib"e '""umination. Hs, use the instinctive re technique to
point the weapon at the target while activating the aiming light. This technique should place the aiming dot within the eld of view of the >Hs and on or near the target. )d;ust placement of the aiming dot onto the target and re. >ote that target discrimination is more diGcult when using >Hs. I8 illumination provided by 1ashlights with I8 lters, or the illuminator that is integral with the 9%J3$, can aid in target identication and discrimination. I8 illumination is also required inside buildings when there is no ambient light. -+ #*/P#!+0 Therma" 1eapons !ight. The thermal weapons sight -T<0 o:ers some distinct advantages over I8 viewers. It does not require any ambient light and does not bloom out when encountering a sudden light source. "owever, its weight and bulk are a disadvantage when performing re1e&ive ring techniques. position, the T<0 has a power saving feature that turns o: the viewer after a period of inactivity. The soldier reactivates the sight by placing his eye against the rubber eyecup. 7K
setting, which allows it to remain continuously active. NOTE' The emergency setting on the T<0 greatly reduces the battery life, which requires more frequent battery changes.
-/ 69H03#/ Monocular >H for re1e&ive shooting engagements. =se the T<0 when the slow aimed re technique is appropriate. 2or daytime and high visibility periods, soldiers using the T<0 should not be placed on point , or be among the numbers # through + men of a room clearing team.
3-29. TARGET DISCRIMINATION Target discrimination is the act of quickly distinguishing between combatant and noncombatant personnel and engaging only the combatants. =0 forces engage in precision room clearing to apply discriminating combat power and limit unnecessary casualties among noncombatants. Target discrimination is vital in precision room clearing. If there are no noncombatants then there is less of a need for selective engagements. "owever, even if an area is known to be free of noncombatants, other soldiers moving through the area may be mistaken as enemy and engaged unless
clearing team members are disciplined and well3 trained in re control and target discrimination. %ven with well3trained, disciplined soldiers, precision room clearing can result in unintentional casualties among noncombatants. 7ommanders must recogni!e this and take steps to relieve the stress it causes soldiers.
3-2:. MO0EMENT ITHIN A BUILDING
#igure $%$(. 4oement within a building.
b. Ha##a* C#!a&in+ T!",ni(u!$. The clearing team must always be alert. Team members provide security at the breach point and to the rear. Inside buildings they provide security laterally down corridors, and upward if near stairs or landings. The two basic techniques for moving down hallways are shown in 2igure +3+B. "allway intersections are dangerous areas and should be approached cautiously -2igures +3/C and +3/#. -# !erpentine . The serpentine technique is used in narrow hallways. The number # man provides security to the front. "is sector of re includes any enemy soldiers who appear at the far end of the hall or from any doorways near the end. The number $ and number + men cover the left and right sides of the number # man. Their sectors of re include any soldiers who appear suddenly from nearby doorways on
either side of the hall. The number / man, normally carrying the M$/B, provides rear protection against any enemy soldiers suddenly appearing behind the clearing team. -$ Ro""ing T. The rolling3T technique is used in wide hallways. The number # and number $ men move abreast, covering the opposite side of the hallway from the one they are walking on. The number + man covers the far end of the hallway from a position behind the number # and number $ men, ring between them. Once again, the number / man provides rear security.
#igure $%$*. 5allway clearing techniues.
-+ C"earing 2T2 'ntersections. 2igure +3 /C depicts the re teams actions upon reaching a hallway DTD intersection when approaching from the base of the DTD. The re team is using the serpentine formation for movement.
(
The team congures into a $3by3$ formation with the numbers # and $ men left, and the + and / men right. -
#igure $%16. T%shaped hallway intersection clearing positions.
2igure +3/# depicts the re teams actions upon reaching a hallway DTD intersection when approaching along the cross of the DTD. The re team is using the serpentine formation for movement. ( The team congures into a modied $3by3$ formation with the numbers # and + men abreast and toward the right side of the hall. The number $ man moves to the left side of the hall and orients to the front, and the number / man shifts to the right side -his left and maintains rear security. -
(
The numbers $ and / men continue to move in the direction of travel. )s the number / man passes behind the number + man, the number + man shifts laterally to his left until he reaches the far corner. )s the number + man begins to shift across the hall, the number # man turns into the direction of travel and moves to his position in the formation. ( )s the numbers + and / men reach the far side of the hallway, they too assume their original positions in the serpentine formation, and the re team continues to move.
#igure $%1+. 5allway junction clearing.
#igure $%1+. 5allway junction clearing /continued0.
c. C#!a&in+ Stai&!##$ an% Stai&"a$!$. 0tairwells and staircases are comparable to doorways in that they create a fatal funnelE however, the danger is intensied by the three3 dimensional aspect of additional landings. The ability of the squad or team to conduct the movement depends upon which direction they are traveling and the layout of the stairs. 8egardless, the clearing technique follows a basic formatL ( The squad leader designates an assault element to clear the stairs.
(
The squad or team maintains +5C3 degree, three3dimensional security in the vicinity of the stairs. ( The squad leader then directs the assault team to locate, mark, bypass and or clear any obstacles or booby traps that may be blocking access to the stairs. ( The assault element moves up -or down the stairways by using either the two3, three3, or four3man 1ow technique, providing overwatch up and down the stairs while moving. The three3man variation is preferred -2igure +3/$.
#igure $%1&. Three-man flow clearing techniue.
3-2. 0ERBAL COMMANDS AND SIGNALS
actions that soldiers are familiar with and to which they know how to respond. a. The use of verbal commands and signals within the assault element are e&tremely important. The soldier must always let others in the assault element know where he is and what he is doing. b. )s an e&le, terms similar to the ones listed in Table +3$ should be a part of each soldiers vocabulary I)< unit 0O9.
TERM
E/LANATION
D0T)T=0 0ignal by an element leader that D requires all members to report whether their sectors are clear and if they are prepared to continue the mission. D7?%)8D
0ignal given by individuals to report their sector is clear.
D=9D
0ignal given by individuals to report they are ready to continue the mission -weapon loaded, equipment accounted for.
D8OOM 7?%)8D
0ignal from team leader to team members, squad leader, and follow3on teams that the room is secure and cleared.
D7OMI> 0ignal given by an individual or O=TD team that they are about to e&it a room. D7OM% O=TD
8eply given by security element or follow3on team that it is safe to e&it the room.
D7OMI> 0ignal given by an individual who I>D is about to enter an occupied room. D7OM% I>D
8eply given by an occupant of a room stating it is safe to enter.
D7OMI> =9 -4O<>
0ignal given by an individual or team that is about to ascend or descend a stairway.
D7OM% 8eply given by security element =9 that it is safe to ascend or descend -4O<> a stairway. D DM)> 4O<>D
0ignal given when an individual has been wounded or in;ured and cannot continue his mission.
D0"O8T 0ignal given by either the number 8OOMD # man or the number $ man to indicate a small room, and that all team members should not enter.
D8%>) ) command given by any soldier, 4%D when an enemy grenade has been thrown. )ll soldiers need to take immediate actions. )lthough diGcult, the soldier should identify the location of the grenade, if possible. DO ) command given by one member ?O>D of the team to tell another team member to take up security farther into the room or farther down a hallway. D=> ) signal given when an individuals 4O<>D weapon has malfunctioned and is being corrected. D=> =9D
) signal given when an individual has corrected a malfunction and is ready for action.
D8%?O)4 ) signal given when an individual I>D is reloading any weapon system. This signal is followed by D=> =9D when ready. Table $%&. 7erbal commands and signals.
NOTE' The use of loud verbal commands may reveal to the enemy the location and immediate intent of friendly forces. )lthough code words may be
