FM 3-34.22 - Army Electronic Publications & Forms - U.S. Army

Appendix H
Urban Operations
Army forces will likely operate in an urban environment. An urban environment is
characterized by complex terrain, a concentrated population, and an infrastructure of
systems. Each urban operation is unique and differs because of the multitude of
combinations presented by the threat, the urban area itself, the major operation of
which it may be part, and the fluidity of societal and geopolitical considerations. In
other environments, commanders normally address the depth, breadth, and height of
the AO in terms of airspace and surface. In an urban environment, they broaden their
scope, including supersurface and subsurface areas that voluminously extend the AO.
Engineers can expect a higher proportion of engineer capabilities within combined
arms organizations at the lower-tactical levels, to include the task organization of
engineer assets into combined arms teams at the platoon and squad levels. UO are
planned, prepared for, and executed in the same basic fashion as any other type of
environment; however, there are special considerations for engineers operating in
urbanized terrain. (See FM 3-06 and FM 3-06.11 for more information.)
OPERATING IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT
H-1. UO are offense, defense, stability, and civil support operations conducted on terrain where manmade
construction and high population density are dominant features. UO in future conflicts are very likely
due to increasing world population and accelerated growth of cities. Operations in an urban environment
usually occur when the—
� Urban area is between two natural obstacles and no bypass exists.
� Seizure or retention of an urban area contributes to the attainment of an overall objective.
� Urban area is in the path of a general advance and cannot be surrounded or bypassed.
� Political or humanitarian concerns require the control of an urban area or necessitate operations
within an urban area.
� BCT assigned objective lies within an urban area.
� Defense from an urban area supports a more effective overall defense or cannot be avoided.
� Occupancy of the urban area and seizure or control of key terrain is necessary to prevent the
enemy from occupying the urban area and establishing a presence, thus avoiding more difficult
operations in the future.
H-2. Understanding the potential effects of the urban environment on warfighting functions allows the
commander to better visualize the OE. The staff should be intimately familiar with the effects in their area
of expertise and use that knowledge to understand the problem and develop creative and innovative
solutions to achieve the commander’s intent. Table H-1, page H-2, shows some likely effects that the urban
environment can have on warfighting functions.
11 February 2009 FM 3-34.22 H-1