Marine Rifle Squad

STONE
BRICK
THICK WALLS DEEPLY RECESSED
WINDOWS
CONCRETE
WALL AND SLAB
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
IIIII IIII1 II.WI Ii
SMALL, VERTICALLY
ALIGNED WINDOWS
CONCRETE
TILT.UP
THICKER
LOWER STORY
WALLS
SLAB WALLS, FLOORS
TWO BUILDING FACES
MOSTLY WINDOWS
Figure 9.1. Frameless Buildings.
up to five stories in height, are located on relatively narrow streets and form
a hard shock-absorbing protective zone for the inner city. The volume of rubble
produced by their complete or partial demolition provides countless defensive
positions, and narrow streets are easily blocked to impede traffic. In some cities,
brick buidings have been replaced by concrete and steel structures in civic reconstruction
projects. Approximately two-thirds of the world's total buildings are
frameless. Brick Structures account for nearly 62 percent of all buildings.
b. Framed. (See fig. 9-2.) This category is typified by a skeletal structure
of columns and beams which support both vertical and horizontal loads.
Exterior walls are nonload-bearing. Without the impediment of loadbearing
walls, large open interior spaces, which offer little protection to
defenders, are possible; the only available refuge is the central core of reinforced
concrete present in many of these buildings (e.g., an elevator shaft).
Multi-storied, steel and concrete framed structures have an importance far
beyond their one-third contribution to the world's total buildings. They
occupy the valuable core areas of cities, and as seats of economic and political
power, may have a high degree of military significance.
9.3