Fm 31 28 Fouo Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat 1 December 1999 Pdf

Unlike standard infantry field manuals that focus on high-intensity clearing operations, FM 31-29 focuses on the unique skillset required by Special Forces: moving discreetly through complex urban terrain, utilizing specialized equipment, and employing tactics that leverage stealth and precision over brute force.

Utilizing manual tools like hooligan tools, battering rams, and sledgehammers, or mechanical aids like tactical shotguns loaded with frangible breaching rounds (ballistic breaching).

FM 31-28 focused on making the operator faster and more lethal than the enemy in a confined space. Unlike conventional Army field manuals (like FM 3-18 which often deal with broader operations), this document honed in on the niche skills of SF teams. Unlike standard infantry field manuals that focus on

Gaining immediate, dynamic entry through hardened structural barriers Room clearing, hallway navigation, fatal funnel bypass

U.S. Department of the Army Classification: Unclassified (but For Official Use Only / FOUO at the time) Core Focus: Small-team (ODA) offensive & defensive urban operations Unlike conventional Army field manuals (like FM 3-18

Urban entry requires breaching fortified doors, windows, and walls. FM 31-28 categorizes breaching into three distinct methods:

The manual, published on December 1, 1999, stands as a foundational doctrinal document for U.S. Army Green Berets. Designed to bridge the gap between traditional field maneuvers and the complexities of high-intensity urban environments, this manual outlines the Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) program. FM 31-28 categorizes breaching into three distinct methods:

The core operational chapters of the manual focus on the geometry of room clearing. It outlines how a four-man assault team seamlessly moves through fatal funnels—such as doorways and hallways—into unknown rooms:

| Feature | FM 90-10-1 (Conventional) | FM 31-28 (SF Advanced) | |---------|----------------------------|--------------------------| | | Battalion/Company | ODA (12 men) or split-team (6 men) | | Support | Tanks, artillery, CAS on call | Organic small arms, limited air (SOF-specific) | | Logistics | Centralized supply lines | Cache-based, local procurement | | ROE | Force protection heavy | Precision engagement, low collateral damage | | Duration | Sustained combat | Short-duration, high-intensity raids (48-72 hrs) |