Close Quarters Battle (CQB) Manual

Table of Contents

Close Quarters Battle (CQB) Manual ................................................................................. 1Table of Contents................................................................................................................1

Chapter 1: Introduction to CQB...................................................................................... 2Chapter 2: Basic Reconnaissance ................................................................................... 3Chapter 3: Communication............................................................................................. 5Chapter 4: Shooting ........................................................................................................ 6Chapter 5: Cover and Concealment ................................................................................ 8Chapter 6: Movement and Room Clearing ..................................................................... 9Chapter 7: Using Snipers .............................................................................................. 11Chapter 8: Conclusion................................................................................................... 12

Chapter 1: Introduction to CQB

The most feared situation for any militaryor Special Forces unit is a CloseQuarters Battle(CQB). The reason isbecause there are campers, snipers, andmany other hazards that await them inan enclosed facility. It takes a welltrained and practiced team to execute asuccessful Counter Terrorist(CT)Operation. Some of the most well knownmilitary units known for CT Ops areDelta, SEAL Team Six(now DevGroup),Special Air Service, and lately MarineForce Recon. All of these units trainharder than any other unit in existence.The reason is obvious, the engage in CTOps, they need to know how to operateand be successful.

No CQB Op is the same, they do however have common characteristics. Usually there arecampers, or a person who chooses a place to hide out and wait for you to engage them. EarlyWarning Systems(EWS) are also common. The major threats are always the same however. Ifyou are approaching a building or facility which has hostile enemy personnel(Tangos) inside,unless you are very stealthy, you almost have to expect to take fire. Snipers are also a commonthreat in a CQB situation. All of these threats can be remedied however, with the correct tactics.

The hardest obstacle to overcome is stealth. Most of the time, the tangos will know your entrypoint and will base their defensive formation to defend against that entry point. Which brings upthe next formidable obstacle. They have some idea where you are or will be, you only know theirgeneral vicinity. That gives the tangos a great advantage over you. You must consider this beforeformulating a plan of action.

The mentality you want to have when facing a CQB is to operate swift, silent, and "deadly." Swiftand efficient movement, combined with a level head and stealth is the best offense against ahazardous situation. If you are a commander of a team, you must remember that. Make sure thatyour team operates under those conditions.

Chapter 2: Basic Reconnaissance

The first thing that a CT unit needs to dobefore they jump into the shooting and lootingis to even the odds. The tangos know thatyou're out there but you don't know muchabout them. For those of you aren't familiarwith Reconnaissance, it is going "behindenemy lines" to gain information about yourenemy. Reconnaissance is a non-violentoperation where a shot is fired only ifnecessary. This proves very useful in a CTsituation because if you know where yourenemy is, you can exterminate them withmuch greater ease.

The SEALs were the very first to preach andpublicize this attitude, but 2 is always better than one. From the first phase of BUD/s(BasicUnderwater Demolition/SEAL Training), SEALs are assigned a swim buddy. From that point onanything you do is accompanied by your swim buddy. Reconnaissance should be done in thesame manner. So to make a long story short, the first thing you should do when Reconnoiteringan area of Operations(AOP) is to divide the team up into smaller teams of two. This is smartbecause if all goes to hell and a fire fight breaks out two people stand a better chance than one.

The next thing to do is to set up a rally point. The rally point is a point in the AOP where the entireteam will regroup after reconnaissance. This point needs to be a strategic position in a number ofways. The Rally Point needs to be concealed from enemy view, it's not a huddle in football, theywill shoot you. The Rally Point also has to be a defensive stronghold. If, unfortunately, all goes tohell, the team needs to be together. The team returns to the rally point at that time and defendsitself.

Reconnaissance is the most stealthy part of an entire CT Op. You cannot be detected! The ideais to gain intelligence on the enemy without them detecting you. Movement should be concealedand slow. I'm sure you've seen it mimicked in the movies. Try not to run unless necessarybecause a fast moving object attracts the eye before a slow moving object does. Running alsomakes a lot more noise than walking. The enemy will most likely hear you before they see you.This is where Reconnaissance communication is important. A chapter is devoted later on tocommunication during assault because recon communication is different. You must have a set ofhand signals. Don't get nervous, you only need a few. The important ones are enemy sighted,sniper, danger zone, and a good sniper position. The hand signals should be simple, notelaborate, and very easy to remember. I'm sure you can come up with some logical hand signals.There are a number of things you are looking for when reconnoitering an AOP. These thingsinclude but are not limited to good sniper position for your team, enemy personnel, tango snipers,danger areas(Open areas that attract gunfire), good cover and concealment, possible entrypoints, and enemy escape routes. Once you have found these things, you must record them. Thesecond member of the Recon Team needs to carry a approximately 3 by 5" spiral notebook and apencil(mechanical). Map the area that you have reconnoitered and either write down what youfound and where or mark the map with symbols. This is up to the team, there is no real rule forreconnaissance unless you are in the military.

Movement is probably the most difficult part of reconnaissance. You must move undetected andstill get good intelligence. The two man teams need to move as one. This is accomplished byappointing a point man early on. The point man is the front man in the formation who basically

decides where and when to go. The point man needs to be competent and stealthy. Basically, theway movement works is that the point man decides a path to take and leads his team memberalong that path. Just remember, that you never split up. Move as a team always.

After you have completed the recon of the AOP, return to the rally point. The Officer inCharge(OIC) collects the information and sets up a plan. This should be the only time that talkingis permitted on a Recon Op. They conveying of accurate information and intelligence is crucial,don't screw it up!

The most important things to remember about reconnaissance is you don't fire a shot. It needs tobe practiced and the art needs to be perfected. Only the most skilled military units participate inreconnaissance operations in the real world, so you can imagine the difficulty. Follow the aboveand you should be fine. So far it's worked for my team.

Chapter 3: Communication

Communication is vital for a team's success.There are a number of forms ofcommunication used by today's special Forcesunits. The very first and still favorite in somecases are hand signals. Hand signals arecompletely quiet and they are effective. Theother common method of communication isthrough tactical radios(TacRadio). Eventhough a good radio is expensive, if you're aserious team, you will want to shell out themoney. NOTE: Some tournaments do notallow radio communication. Refer to the rulesin your area before purchasing!! TacRadiosoffer more flexibility than hand signals and canbe more effective. If you do purchase radios,spend the money to get a decent one becauseif your team relies on TacRadio comm. Unitsand they go down, you're screwed.

Depending on if you have military experience or how serious your team is, you may have pre-Assigned positions in the team. Common military positions include the Point Man, OIC,Corpsman(medical Officer), Assaulters, Grenadiers, and Rear security. These positions will bereferred to for the rest of this document. The acting position of a team member is a goodreference for radio communication. While some teams choose to use names, our team quicklychose the position naming reference over names. WE found names to be cumbersome whilepositions worked out quite nicely.

Whether you use TacRadios or hand signals, communication should be short and to the point.You don't want to get caught waiting around in an open area because your comm. Isn't effectiveenough. That's begging for an ambush to happen. Simple code words are an asset to radiocommunication. Hand signals are for more developed and serious team and need to bedeveloped by the team itself. Teams are most familiar with signals that they come up with on theirown. The same goes with code words.

Communication Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) are best developed by the teamsthemselves. The information above is only there to help you formulate your own ideas. No matterwhat form of communication you choose, the same principles apply. Restrict communication toonly necessary comments that directly affect the mission. For TacRadios, make sure that theones you choose have a hands-option. Holding your weapon and concentrating on the task athand can be complicated enough.

Chapter 4: Shooting

Shooting is a fundamental skill that won't becovered in detail in this manual. Shooting is avital part of any Op. After all, you have toshoot the tangos to take them down don'tyou? Shooting in a CQB situation is actuallyquite different from that of any other Op. Thereason is because in CQB the action is fast.Shooting in CQB is based upon initial volumeof fire and instinct. Reaction time is veryimportant in CQB.

There are a number of fundamentals that helpand apply to CQB though. The first is that younever look away from your gun. Keep yourweapon in front of you at all times. The only exception belongs to the Point Man who may need touse his sidearm(if available). Don't look anywhere that your weapon is not pointed. Believe it ornot, it's much easier to depress the trigger than to look, have to swing your weapon to your target,and then depress the trigger. If you head moves, your weapon goes with it. This is even moretrue with a sidearm.

The next fundamental skill is a readiness stance. Keep your weapon in front of you a slightly on alow angle when moving in a "clear" area. The reason is because if you're not in a clear area, youactually present less of a target. Movement like that is also important because you are morerelaxed. When in CQB, tenseness is a bad thing. Tenseness causes premature firing of theweapon and a lot of missed targets because of poor aiming. You do not however want to move inthis manner when you know that you're near tangos. If you're moving through a danger area,keep the weapon in a firing position with a relaxed grip. If you're too tense, you may have atendency to jerk the weapon when firing which could throw your aim off. By the way, missing is abad thing!

The third and equally important aspect to combat shooting in CQB is reloading. Yes, there is aSOP for reloading. The most efficient reloading technique is used by the U.S. Airborne Rangers.The first thing to do if you need to reload is to check for cover. If there is cover move to it. Oncebehind cover, drop to a knee and if necessary, draw your sidearm to within easy reach in case ofan emergency. Replace magazines quickly and engage in the firefight again.

The last and most important aspect of CQB shooting is fields of fire. Each team member needs tohave a pre-assigned field of fire. A team member's field of fire is the area that the team memberis going to concentrate on when moving unless moving through an open area at which youengage targets of opportunity. The point man has the front of the team covered with the help ofthe OIC. The OIC covers the near flanks of the point man. The next man in the line which isusually a corpsman covers the left and right of the team. The Assaulters cover targets ofopportunity. The rear security team member(last man in formation), covers the rear of the team.This is an important position because the most common guerilla tactic is to engage a larger forcefrom behind. Another important thing to remember is if you fire in your field of fire, let your teamknow who is firing by calling out "contact!" If you "drop" the tango, let the team know by saying,not yelling, "tango Down."

The above needs rehearsal and should be trained again and again. My team focuses on targetshooting under controlled circumstances working on a "reflex or Instinct shot." Basically, we set

up a target, mimic clearing an area, and engage the target of reflexes. That involves bringing theweapon up for the ready position and firing until the target is hit.

Chapter 5: Cover and Concealment

Most of this chapter involves being in a heavyfirefight. In a CQB situation you mostly onlyuse cover temporarily when entering a roomthat has not been cleared yet. In a firefighthowever, good cover could mean thedifference between your team losing orwinning. Concealment applies to every aspectof CQB. You want to take down the tangosswiftly and stealthy. At least that's what ourteam attempts to do.

Good cover is usually very hard to find inCQB. The most common and effective is adoor/window opening. They provide full coverof the body and allow for quick movement.When using a door or window opening forcover, keep your weapon ready to fire at alltimes. Stand close to the opening but not to the point where you are exposed to fire. To fire fromthat position, lean at the hips to expose the smallest target to the enemy and engage eithertargets of opportunity or in your field of fire depending on the situation.

Concealing yourself is very important in CQB. The most important time for concealment is duringthe entry of the building or facility. Make your approach silent and not obvious. Good concealmentis usually found with corners and foliage. Depending on the design of the target building, theseoptions may not be present. If that situation comes up, stealthy movement is really the onlysolution.

The best way to conceal yourself is with good clothing and camouflage selection. Don't choose towear black "ninja suits" for a day time Op. Face paint camouflage is also a good addition. Makesure that every part of your body is covered in some manner including your hands and face. Ifyou've chosen good camouflage, you should be able to use most objects as concealment. Oneimportant thing to add is if you really don't want to be noticed, don't stare at your enemy. If you'rein your car sometime and you're at a red light, stare at the person next to you and they will mostlikely look back. That's the human man's sixth sense. Focus on your target for short periods oftime and then return to watching your target. Five seconds usually works good for us.

Chapter 6: Movement and Room Clearing

Smart Movement is a vital part of success fora CQB Op. Movement in CQB is swift andsilent. There should always be a purpose formovement. Never move unnecessarilybecause it just puts your team in danger.When moving be sure to stay low and presentas little of target as possible to the enemy.Running is usually a last resort. Quick andsilent movements are preferred to runningwhich is more noticeable and makes morenoise. Of course if your team iscompromised(discovered), running is requiredbecause you need to get some cover toengage and neutralize the tangos.

Covering areas is a crucial aspect ofmovement. If you approach an open hallway, staircase, intersection or some form of open area,your team's movement needs to be covered. Hall Ways and intersections are the most commonlyencountered obstacles. When moving across a "T shaped" hallway, the point man approachesthe area and peeks around the corner. If a tango is there, the scout should neutralize the threat. Ifnot, the scout should drop to a knee and cover the corner he just cleared. The next man in lineshould cross the open hallway and leave enough room for the rest of the team on the other side.Once across the other side, the OIC(second man in formation) is responsible for covering directlyahead of the way he just came. Once the point man gives the word, the next man crosses. Hethen aids the point man in covering the open area. The team crosses the open area one by oneuntil the point man comes across and assumes the position of point and the "patrol" continues.

Clearing and covering corners is another important aspect of movement. If you approach acorner, the point man should tell the rest of the team they've reached a corner. The point manthen "slices the Pie" on the corner. Slicing the pie involves maximizing the team members viewwhile limiting the reaction time of the tango. Slicing the pie involves making a 90 degreemovement around the corner. In other words, the point man takes a step back from the cornerturns his body so his point of view is looking directly past the edge of the corner. He then sidesteps turning his body slightly as he moves to maximize his field of vision.

When encountering opposite corners as in the "T Shaped" hallway, you need to separate theteam. The OIC and one other team member goes to the opposite corner as the point man. On athree count, the Point man and the OIC slice the pie at the same time which prevents the chanceof a rear ambush. The man coupled with the OIC covers the OIC's movements remainingapproximately three steps behind the OIC incase the OIC goes down. After both corners areclear, the OIC or point man decides which way to proceed and the team regroups and begins the"patrol" again.

Clearing rooms can be very difficult. If you approach a room with an open door the team needs toset up on both sides of the opening. When moving across the opening, do not be detected. If youare, you're screwed. The point man should give warning to the team when he first sees thedoorway and the team should act appropriately. When the team splits up, an assaulter shouldaccompany the OIC to the opposite side of the door opening as the point man. On the OIC'sorder, the Point man swings in through the doorway making a 90 degree turn to his nearest side.For example, if the point man is on the left side of the doorway, he'll enter and turn left. Right afterthe point man enters, the OIC follows and turns to the opposite side of the point man. Be sure to

make those turns 90 degrees because room corners are a favorite for tango campers. After theOIC, the next man on the point man's side enters and follows the same path as the point man butmakes approximately a 60 degree turn focusing more on the center of the room. The next man onthe OIC's side enters in the same fashion but follows the OIC's path instead of the point man.This continues until the entire team is in the room and the room is deemed clear by the OIC.Example of entry: Point man goes left, OIC goes right, Corpsman left, 1st Assaulter right, 2ndAssaulter left, Rear Security, right.

A closed door is handled differently however. If a closed door is encountered, the point man andOIC line up on the opposite sides as before. The OIC moves first and positions himself on abouta 45 degree angle opposite the door swing. In other words, if the door opens and swings left, theOIC will be on the right side of the doorway. The OIC then kneels and has his weapontrained(aimed) directly ahead into the open space laying beyond the door. The OIC must leaveenough room for the door to open! The point man opens the door on the OIC's order. At about .5seconds after the door is opened, the point man makes his normal entry procedure as above andthe operation continues as normal with exceptions to the OIC and the 2nd Assaulter. Instead ofthe OIC clearing the room, the next man in the line, in the case above, the 1st Assaulter clears inthe OIC's place. Everything goes accordingly except for the 2nd Assaulter who positions himselfnext to the OIC and covers the team's rear. Once the room is clear, the OIC and 2nd Assaultermove in with the rest of the team and the "patrol" continues.

An important point to remember is when clearing a room, do not engage targets of opportunity.Engage targets that lie in your path only. If you turn to shoot the tango, you'll hit your own manbefore you hit the enemy. Strict fields of fire are required in order for this method of room clearingto be efficient.

Chapter 7: Using Snipers

Using snipers is fairly complicated in CQB.Snipers need to have a position that providesboth cover and concealment. A sniper must bevery stealthy. I'm not going to cover snipertactics in this manual, if you need some goodsniper tactics, go to this site:www.snipercountry.com This manual willcover this use of snipers in a close quartersBattle.

A sniper's purpose in CQB is to cover themovement of the assault and recon teams andtake out difficult targets that the OIC deemsputs the Assault team in danger. TacRadiosare required if you're going to snipe. A snipermust have excellent determination andconcentration. The Sniper may be the mostexperienced and trained member of the team. Be prepared, being a sniper is hard.

A sniper in CQB is responsible for locating targets on the exterior of the building and for takingout threats to the assault team. The sniper needs to have a radio with direct contact to the OIC.He also must have a scope and in some cases Night Vision Goggles(NGVs) or an NVG scope onhis rifle depending on if the Op takes place during day light or night.

If a sniper makes contact with a tango, he needs to report this to the OIC before he acts unlessthe Tango poses direct threat to the Sniper. When reporting the Tango to the OIC, the Snipermust have a location, approximate range, and difficulty rating of the shot. The OIC then decideswhether the Sniper takes a shot or if the assault team deals with the threat. The only other timethe Sniper has the option to shoot without OIC authorization is if the Assault team is in directdanger and there is no other option. A sniper is a last resort and serves for intelligence purposesmore than anything else.

If you're going to use a sniper, he must be a crack shot. A sniper must practice shooting andbecome very accustomed to his weapon. I would recommend practicing firing from a number ofpositions because no one sniper position is the same as the next. You never know when you'llneed to be prone or be in the sitting position. Once again, I would recommend the sitewww.snipercountry.com

Chapter 8: Conclusion

Hopefully this manual has expanded your knowledge on CQB and will help your team to succeed.A lot of the information in this manual comes from real military tactics from units such as theAirborne Rangers, Navy SEALs, Marine Force Reconnaissance Companies, Army Delta, and theBritish Special Air Service(SAS). My team practices these tactics and so far we've had somegreat successes. Out of all the combat situations out there, CQB seems to be the most difficult.Hopefully this manual will make it less difficult and reduce the time it takes for you to develop yourown SOPs and tactics. Good luck and Happy hunting.