Determining battlefield effects in an urban environment: MOUT terrain analysis - Military Operations in Urban Terrain

Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin, July-Sept, 2003 by Alfonso J. Ahuja

The increased population and accelerated growth of cities have made the problems of combat in built-up areas an urgent requirement for the U.S. Army. This type of combat cannot be avoided.

--FM 90-10-1 (1)

Military operations in Panama, Somalia, Kuwait, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Iraq demonstrate the current and future requirements for U.S. forces to be able to operate effectively in an urban environment; the need for an urban warfare capability will not diminish in the future. Operations in an urban environment will present unique and complex challenges for all of our Battlefield Operating Systems (BOSs). The increasing focus on stability operations and support operations--to include Peacekeeping Operations, Combating Terrorism, Noncombatant Evacuations, Nation Assistance, Civil Disturbance Operations, Humanitarian Assistance, etc.--merely reinforces that more attention must be given to operations in an urban environment. Intelligence doctrine must address these needs.

The most recent version of FM 34-130, Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, dated 8 July 1994, added a chapter to address the various considerations of the IPB process when conducting stability and support operations. The number of this type of operation has increased, and the Army increasingly conducts these operations in an urban environment.

The current FM 34-130, Chapter 6, IPB for Operations Other than War, does not adequately address the focus of the IPB process in the urban environment. The previous version of FM 34-130 (May 1989) had Appendix B, IPB in the Urban Battle, which addressed in detail the special considerations for conducting the IPB process in an urban environment. The current FM 90-10-1, An Infantryman's Guide to Combat in Built-up Areas, has a chapter on Urban Analysis and an appendix on Urban Building Analysis that contains some of the material that was in the 1989 version of FM 34-130. While this is a good source of doctrinal information, unit S2s should not need to go to an infantry manual to find doctrine on the IPB process.

Doctrine Note: Although the Infantry Center and School promulgates this manual, in fact the Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca wrote those intelligence annexes and appendixes, not just for FM 90-10-1 but also for FM 3-06, Urban Operations. A Special Text (ST) on Intelligence Support to Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) is emerging; however, the Doctrine Division's subject matter expert recently left, and most of our military personnel are deployed in support of on-going operations. As time and resources permit, work will continue.

While operations in an urban environment affect all steps of the IPB process, the focus of this article is on terrain analysis as part of Step 2, Describe the Battlefield Effects. To succeed in battle in built-up areas, commanders and leaders at all levels must understand the nature of the environment. To assist commanders, S2s must analyze the effects of urban terrain on enemy forces, unaligned elements, and friendly forces.

Terrain analysis in an urban environment differs from that of open terrain in many respects. The analysis of the five military aspects of terrain--obstacles, avenues of approach, key terrain, observation and fields of fire, concealment and cover (OAKOC)--still applies. This analysis, however, must be in the context of urban battlefield characteristics. A standard modified combined obstacles overlay (MCOO) developed from a military map and done in accordance with the current FM 34-130 will not be of much use to leaders at the company level and below.

Standard military maps do not have the detail required to allow S2s to conduct a thorough analysis of urban terrain. Many standard military maps are old and do not reflect the more recent buildings, streets, and sometimes even significant urban growth. In addition, standard maps do not show the subsurface aspects of the urban environment: sewers, subways, and underground water systems. While these military maps show key public buildings and areas such as hospitals, clinics, stadiums, and parks, they do not clearly identify the water facilities, communication facilities, fuel supply, storage facilities, and temporary conditions (e.g., construction sites).

The S2's analysis of these unique aspects of urban terrain is crucial to the commanders' appreciation of the nature of this terrain.

[] Sewer and subway systems can provide infiltration routes.

[] Elevated railways and mass transit routes provide mobility on which the urban residents depend; if operations destroy or disable these facilities, congestion will occur.

[] Utilities such as electrical, gas, or water facilities may be key targets.

[] While forces cannot attack hospitals and clinics when not under use for military purposes, they may be a source of medical support for all factions and elements.

[] Stadiums, parks, and sports fields may serve as holding areas, enemy prisoner of war (EPW) facilities, or landing and pickup zones.

[] Construction sites and other commercial operations may be a source of Class IV (2) materials.