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Manoeuvre and force ratios in urban warfare

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posted on 2025-01-22, 02:43 authored by Ben Christopher Hussell

This research examines the role of manoeuvre and force ratio in urban warfare. The paper uses the comparative case study model to examine three different approaches assaulting forces may take in urban combat: clearing the city house by house, besieging the city from the outside with limited incursions, and using autonomous swarms to move fluidly in the urban environment around and through defending forces. The findings show that the interaction between force ratio and geography dictates the method of operations employed in urban combat. The complete isolation of the city or part thereof is essential to success in these operations. The force ratio and geography interplay dictate, along with the opposing force, the type of operational method employed and the degree of manoeuvrability afforded to the attacks. It was found that defending forces were more easily able to use manoeuvre. However, their defence could be curtailed through the isolation of the city.

History

Table of Contents

Section 1: Introduction -- Section 2: Literature Review -- Section 3: Definition of Key Concepts -- Section 4: Defining the Urban Operating Environment -- Section 4: Case Study in Clearance Operations and the Battle of Mosul -- Section 5: Case Study Siege Warfare and The Battle of Sadr City -- Section 6: Case Study Swarming and the Battles of Grozny and Nablus -- Section 7: Manoeuvre and Force Ratio in Urban Warfare: Analysis -- Section 8: Conclusion and Further Research -- Reference List

Awarding Institution

Macquarie University

Degree Type

Thesis MRes

Degree

Master of Research

Department, Centre or School

Department of Security Studies and Criminology

Year of Award

2024

Principal Supervisor

Mariam Farida

Additional Supervisor 1

Adam Lockyer

Additional Supervisor 2

Alexander Simpson

Rights

Copyright: The Author Copyright disclaimer: https://www.mq.edu.au/copyright-disclaimer

Language

English

Extent

98 pages

Former Identifiers

AMIS ID: 374894

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