8. Multiple Entry Advantages
a. More eyes searching and more fire power.
b. Provides shock effect when grenades are not available or building construction precludes their use.
c. Multiple targets will force the enemy to make a decision on which to engage – this decision will take time and may be the decisive factor allowing the Marines to take the advantage.
d. Moral support/sense of security resulting from not going it alone.
e. Enables the team to effectively clear larger rooms.
g. If the first Marine into the room is killed or seriously wounded, there will be other Marines who now know where the threat is and eliminate it.
9. Points to Remember about Multiple Entry Room Clearing Techniques
a. Nobody “Sprays” the room with rifle fire, unless it is absolutely necessary.
b. Always take into consideration room size and expected number of enemy targets.
c. If feasible, “cook-off” a grenade before throwing it into a room.
d. Communication between team members is essential.
e. Always designate the order of entry.
f. Be prepared to be flexible.
g. No room is considered clear until a through search is completed.
h. Once a room is clear, it is marked with a pre-designated signal.
10. Danger Area Clearance Techniques
a. Clearing a Room through an Open Doorway: In most circumstances, an open door must be cleared from the stacked position. Marines must not expose themselves to an open door until they actually cross the threshold. The steps in this procedure are as follows:
1) The Marine closest the door checks for booby traps without exposing himself.
2) He will show all Marines in the immediate area his hand grenade to warn of its use (if applicable). He will do this silently if possible, if not he will use a code word known to all the other Marines. Never use the word “grenade” as it would serve to warn the enemy as well.
3) The first Marine cooks-off the grenade for two seconds then throws it vigorously into the room as the clearing team takes appropriate cover. Avoid throwing the grenade through the door and out an opposite window.
4) Immediately after the grenade explodes, the designated number of Marines will quickly enter the room.
5) The clearing team will sound off, describing the room to those outside.
6) The designated Marine(s) will systematically search every section of the room.
7) When clear, enough security personnel will be left to adequately cover all possible means of entry into the room.
8) The room will be marked.
9) The assault team moves on to clear the next room.
b. Clearing a Room through a Locked Door: The procedures for clearing a room through a locked door are as follows:
1) Use the split position if possible.
2) The Marine nearest the door will breach the door by kicking it in. If a grenade is to be used, the Marine on the opposite side of the door (hinged side) will prepare and throw it in when in the split position. The Marine next to the door kicker will throw in the grenade when in the stacked position.
3) The door kicker will use either the front kick or the mule kick to breach the door.
4) When available, demolitions are the best method to breach a locked door.
5) If an attempt to kick a door open fails, shoot the lock with a shotgun or utilize a pickaxe when available.
c. Mouse Holes: The best way to enter a room through an opening made by the assault team is as follows:
1) The size of the mouse hole will dictate the clearing technique to be used.
2) If the mouse existed prior to the arrival of the assault team it must be checked for booby traps.
3) If possible use a mirror to observe the room while another Marine maintains security on the mouse hole.
4.) Clear using the same techniques as an open doorway clear.
d. Clearing a Hallway: Before beginning movement down a hallway, security must be posted against any enemy that may come out of any rooms not yet cleared. This is true for any other type of entrance into the hallway. Frontal security must also be maintained. The Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) is ideal for these security missions. Ensure that as the team(s) move down the hallway, they do not mask the SAW. The minimum number of Marines required should move down the hallway to clear the next room. The other Marines can remain in the cleared rooms until called or needed. Remember that security must be maintained on all openings. Movement will vary depending on the wall construction. Hallways are danger areas and must be considered fatal funnels of fire! Also remember the rule of thumb mentioned in prior periods of instruction: small arms rounds tend to ricochet 1- 5 inches off and along hard constructed walls. When moving along hard constructed walls maintain a 6-8 inch standoff.
1) Soft constructed walls are made of wood, sheet rock, or any material that will absorb a round.
2) Hard constructed walls are made of concrete, brick, or any other material that can not be penetrated by rounds.
3) Marines must keep heads and eyes up while moving down a hallway. This will enable quick recognition and reaction to any threats.
4) When moving down a hallway, Marines must pick up their feet and be aware of foot placement on the down step. This will enable the avoidance of obstacles and assist in maintaining balance.
5) Marines must not rush when moving in a hallway. A Marine’s speed should only be as fast as he can effectively clear and eliminate any threats. Remember – “slow is smooth – smooth is fast”.
6) When moving down a hallway, security must be maintained at all times. Regardless of the situation, one Marine has to have the responsibility of point security to protect the rest of the team.
11. Floor to Floor Movement: Movement between floors is limited only by one’s imagination. That said, there are two primary methods utilized for this type of operation. They are clearing existing stairwells and creating/using mousetraps (same as mouse hole but in the floor or ceiling).
a. Clearing Stairwells: Stairwells are the most difficult areas to clear within a building. A prior knowledge of the stairwell layout and construction plays an important role in determining which technique to use.
1) Continuing stairwells (switchback) are normally on the ends or corners of buildings (and if the building has an elevator close to it). They normally have thicker walls and fire proof doors. Continuing stairwells would be cleared in bounds while maintaining security under landings, overhead, and to the front and rear. One team moves up (or down) to the next level once a flight of stairs has been cleared. The team then stops to maintain security on the door and to the front. The next team will assume the role of the assault team and clear the next flight of stairs. This is repeated until the top or bottom floor is reached.
This method is performed by the individual Marines by the number one and two men entering the bottom (or top) of the stairway. Number one holds security on the stairs while number two clears the constricted space under the stairs.
The number three Marine will slowly be lowered backwards towards the stairs while number two holds onto his gear and lowers number three back. Number three will ensure his muzzle is pointed toward the overhead to provide protection from any threat.
The number three Marine is lowered to the stairs while number two covers the switchback portion of the stairs. Number four covers the top of the stairs. Number three and four continue to move up the stirs while maintaining security to the next level or door (or opening).
2) Non-continuing stairwells are more open and have two or less landings. They are usually found near the center of a building and close to any large lobbies. This type of stairwell should be cleared by continuous movement by the original clearing team. If the team pauses at the midway point of a continuing stairwell it will be a lucrative target for the enemy. Because this type of stairwell is usually more open, security is more difficult to establish and maintain. Once security is established one team will move to the next landing and set security on the hallway. The next team becomes the assault team to gain a foothold on that floor.
3) Mousetraps are holes that have been blown or cut into a floor or ceiling. Security and initial entry through a mousetrap is very difficult. However, once entry has been made, movement becomes easier. When using grenades it is important to remember that the grenade can be easily kicked back down through the mousetrap. USE CAUTION.
a) The size of the mousetrap will dictate the clearing technique to be used.
b) If the mousetrap already exists, it must be checked for booby traps.
c) If possible, use a mirror to observe the room first. Another Marine must maintain security on the mousetrap.
d) Immediately after the grenade explodes (if used) Marines will buddy-lift Marines through the hole. The first Marine will have to conduct a one man clear of the room because of the time required to get additional Marines through the hole.
12. Security within a Building: The basic concept for security within a building is sealing off every room from enemy reentry, wither from the hallway or the building exterior.
a. The key points of entry into rooms are doorways leading to unsecured areas, windows, and mouse holes. b. The key points of entry to a floor are doorways, windows, and mouse holes; hallways, stairways, and mousetraps must also be considered.
13. Clearing an Elevator Shaft: The sequence for clearing an elevator shaft is seven steps.
a. Locate the elevator control room. Most buildings have a control room or an elevator control panel somewhere near the elevator.
b. Clear the control room as you would any other room. Communicate the location of the room to the team leader.
c. Lower the elevator car(s) to the lowest level cleared. Do not open the elevator doors until the objective has been secured and security is posted on each elevator door. The elevator will be cleared as a constricted space using the two man clear. Another Marine will act as security. Cross coverage is used when the doors open.
d. The senior Marine will communicate to all team members when the door(s) are about to open. This is important because if all doors in the building open together, someone may not be prepared to face a potential threat emerging from an elevator. Once the team is ready, the Marine inside the elevator control room will open the door and the team will clear the inside the elevator.
e. Once the elevator enclosure has been cleared the elevator shaft must be cleared. There is a crawl space under the elevator at the lowest level and another above the elevator at the highest level. The control room Marine will keep the doors open and raise the elevator to the next level. The Marines on the original level will clear the shaft crawl space below the elevator car starting form the time the see the bottom of the car clearing the floor. They will cut the pie downward clearing the shaft area underneath. The elevator will then be raised to the highest level. Here two Marines will be positioned waiting to clear the top of the elevator and the crawl space above the elevator car.
f. The team on the top level will begin by clearing the shaft from the center to the ceiling by cutting the pie. As the elevator car begins to reach the top level the two Marines should be oriented to the top of the car. At this point the top of the elevator shaft has been cleared.
g. Once the bottom and top of the shaft has been cleared, the team leader will tell the elevator control Marine to lower the car to the lowest level. The Marines at the lowest level must be prepared in case any enemy has slipped onto the top of the elevator car during its decent. A two-man team now gets on top of the car and using a spotlight or flashlights ride the elevator to the highest level, clearing the shaft area while ascending.
14. Clearing an L-Shaped Enclosure: An l-shaped room is a single room with a partial wall or partition on one side and an opening on the other side. The corner created by the wall makes up the l-shape. This type of enclosure is cleared as if they were two different rooms, with first room being dominated and cleared before moving on to the next. An L-shaped hallway is a hallway that ends and then turns off to either the left or right. The corner where the hallway changes direction is the L-shape. The portion of the L-shape around the corner will be cleared as a separate enclosure. Entry and clearing techniques do not change in the first enclosure. As the clearing team recognize and move to the L-shape, no team member will enter the second enclosure alone or unnecessarily expose himself to that area. The first Marine to approach the L-shape will wait until he has support from one or more additional Marines.
a. The High/Low Technique: This technique is the least preferred method to clear an L-shaped enclosure. It is slow, uncomfortable to maintain for any length of time, difficult to engage targets from, and runs a risk of becoming unsafe for the Marines.
1) Two Marines are stacked at the L-shape and a bump or verbal command initiates movement into the proper position. The number one Marine will button hook around the corner and drop to one knee to act as a barricade shooter. He will clear his corner and sector of fire. Number two will also buttonhook, bringing his weapon over the top of number one while clearing his sector of fire.
2) Safety and considerable training must be utilized to obtain proficiency in this technique. The number two Marine must maintain total awareness as he brings his weapon over the top of number one. This is in case his muzzle drops or number one stands without warning.
b. The Rabbit Technique: This is the most commonly used of the two L-shaped clearing techniques. It is faster and safer than the high/low method as the Marines are separated while clearing their sectors of fire. The two rabbit techniques are the verbal and the bump.
1) The verbal technique begins after the initial entry is made and the L-shape is discovered. The Marine closest to the L-shape will cover as much area into the second enclosure as possible by “cutting the pie” (he must be careful not to expose himself too far into the second enclosure). The second Marine will move up the wall with his weapon fixed on the L-shape. He needs to be extremely muzzle conscious to avoid accidentally firing on the first Marine). The first Marine will then tell the second Marine “I am the rabbit”. Upon receiving the reply “I’m with you – go” from the second Marine, the first Marine will move quickly across the L-shape into the next enclosure while clearing his sector of fire. His movement should not be a print, but an “accelerated combat glide”. The rabbit must maintain his ability to engage threats on the move. Timing is critical in this technique because when the first Marine (rabbit) is approximately two steps into the open area, the second Marine will buttonhook and barricade shoot around the wall clearing his sector of fire as he moves. The standard rules apply for the rabbit’s new point of domination as he stays at least two steps off the wall.
2) The bump technique begins with two Marines stacked on the same side of the wall or close together in front of the L-shape. A bump is used to initiate the clearing of the L-shape. Upon receiving the bump, the number one Marine will rabbit across the open area while number two barricade shoots around the L-shape. The barricade shooter must exercise good timing and wit until the rabbit has covered his lead distance of two steps into the enclosure before barricading and clearing his sector of fire.
15. Shotgun Breaching
a. Shotgun Characteristics:
1) There are several shotguns that the Marine Corps uses to breach. They are the Remington model 1200 and model 870, and the Mossberg model 590.
2) The addition of a pistol grip in lieu of the stock aids in shortening the overall length of the shotgun.
3) High capacity magazine tube.
4) Sights removed. Helps in the prevention of undershooting the target.
b. Ammunition:
1) Lockbuster-C is currently the only round issued by the Marine Corps.
2) OO Buckshot may also be used if Lockbuster_C is unavailable. Be aware of possible pellet ricochet.
c. Shotgun Employment:
1) The shotgun should always be pointed downward. This allows the breacher full peripheral vision of his environment, especially in darkened rooms or hallways.
2) Remember to place the shotgun on safe prior to slinging the shotgun. Never forget that the shotgun is a tool, not a primary weapon!
3) Have another Marine provide security in the event of a dropped shotgun or a need to reload.
4) The recommended standoff when employing the shotgun is 0-2 inches, preferably 0. Zero is preferred because the shotgun is less likely to move off target if the muzzle is touching it.
d. Round Placement:
1) Round placement is critical. When choosing an attack point on the door, chose the side with the least number of attachment points. Plan on and practice placing at least two rounds per target.
2) When attacking doorknobs and deadbolts, the target is where the lock throw and strike plate meet. This is the weakest point.
3) When attacking the hinged side of a door, the intent is to push the hinge off the door. Once again, the standoff is 0-2 inches. The top hinge should be attacked first, move down each hinge until the bottom hinge is reached.
e. Techniques:
1) Practice weak side firing. This permits you to fire on any attachment point with the protection of the wall or door frame.
2) Get level with the target.
3) Be prepared for immediate follow-on shots. Immediately after firing the first shot, cycle the action to place another round into the chamber.
4) Never enter the room with the shotgun as your primary weapon. After the door has been breached, move away from the stack.
f. Advantages:
1) The shotguns are usually kept with the team.
2) Ease of training, it does not take much time to train a Marine in shotgun employment.
3) Decreased time on target, there are no safety pins to remove, shock tube to pay out, or charge placement involved.
g. Disadvantages:
1) May penetrate walls if target is missed.
2) Breacher is exposed to possible fire from the other side of the target while employing the shotgun.
QUESTIONS
SUMMARY
During this period of instruction we have discussed combat within a building and how to properly clear all types of enclosures which may be encountered. The bottom line is that marines will fight the way they are trained and that the skills presented here are perishable and must be constantly rehearsed.
The MOUT Homepage Hot Links:
U.S. Army FM 90-10-1 An Infantryman's Guide to Combat in Built-up Areas (PDF)
Combat Leaders Guide: Chapter 19 - Combat in Cities (U.S. Army - PDF)
Small Unit Night Fighter Manual (CALL - Enter and Clear Buildings and Rooms)
Replace Battle Drill 6: Clearing a Room (CALL - an alternative to Battle Drill 6)
FM 90-10-1 Appendix G: How to Attack and Clear Buildings
Operation Just Cause Lessons Learned: Building Clearing
FM 90-10-1 Appendix D: Urban Aeas (HOW TO: Move - Enter a Building - Use Hand Grenades - Fighting Positions)
The "Defile" Breach: Tactics - Techniques - Procedures (CALL)
Engineer MOUT Attack Planning Considerations
The MOUT Homepage Comments Site
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