1/30
Long, complex🧵
My very good friend @Zarelepotec retweeted this @dewszt video/photo collage & wrote "#SubT (subterranean) is an integral part of #UrbanWarfare. It is a hard & complex environment pushing soldiers to their limits...and sometimes beyond them. Are we prepared?"
Long, complex🧵
My very good friend @Zarelepotec retweeted this @dewszt video/photo collage & wrote "#SubT (subterranean) is an integral part of #UrbanWarfare. It is a hard & complex environment pushing soldiers to their limits...and sometimes beyond them. Are we prepared?"
https://twitter.com/dewszt/status/1636421062169886720
2/30
Conducting operations in the urban environment is extremely challenging & the subterranean factor of it is one of the reasons why. My good friend @Digital_Sapper no doubt agrees:
Conducting operations in the urban environment is extremely challenging & the subterranean factor of it is one of the reasons why. My good friend @Digital_Sapper no doubt agrees:
https://twitter.com/Digital_Sapper/status/1540768995908927490
3/30
In a couple of weeks I will be visiting Toronto & participating in another urban operations training exercise with the 48th Highlanders of Canada. Like last March, they have the use of an unused portion of the city’s subway system for the exercise.
I incorporated the...
In a couple of weeks I will be visiting Toronto & participating in another urban operations training exercise with the 48th Highlanders of Canada. Like last March, they have the use of an unused portion of the city’s subway system for the exercise.
I incorporated the...
4/30
...subterranean system into my portion of the exercise & the officer/senior NCO students had to build into their plan how they were going to either defend/attack it. That meant I had to get myself smart on fighting underground as previous urban warfare exercises I had…
...subterranean system into my portion of the exercise & the officer/senior NCO students had to build into their plan how they were going to either defend/attack it. That meant I had to get myself smart on fighting underground as previous urban warfare exercises I had…
5/30
…conducted had very little to no subterranean systems involved. I've been participating in, planning, executing, instructing & teaching urban operations for two decades but had never used a city with such extensive subterranean systems before. That meant…
…conducted had very little to no subterranean systems involved. I've been participating in, planning, executing, instructing & teaching urban operations for two decades but had never used a city with such extensive subterranean systems before. That meant…
6/30
…getting myself smart by re-reading American, Canadian & NATO doctrine, a number of historical case studies & utilizing all of the resources created by the real subterranean experts listed at the end of this thread to make sure I was good-to-go for this particular exercise.
…getting myself smart by re-reading American, Canadian & NATO doctrine, a number of historical case studies & utilizing all of the resources created by the real subterranean experts listed at the end of this thread to make sure I was good-to-go for this particular exercise.
7/30
This American doctrinal publication was extremely detailed & good so I used it as my "start state" & then continued with the resources I discuss later on:
armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/…
This American doctrinal publication was extremely detailed & good so I used it as my "start state" & then continued with the resources I discuss later on:
armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/…
8/30
Even after all of these years of teaching/instructing urban operations I had to admit I was a bit overwhelmed at how complex subterranean systems really are but was pleased I was getting myself smarter on this growing topic within urban warfare.
Even after all of these years of teaching/instructing urban operations I had to admit I was a bit overwhelmed at how complex subterranean systems really are but was pleased I was getting myself smarter on this growing topic within urban warfare.
9/30
My defending students were pleased because of an underground’s complexity; my attacking students were challenged; we had some great discussions & it was good learning experience overall.
Unlike fighting on the surface, attacking forces cannot use…
My defending students were pleased because of an underground’s complexity; my attacking students were challenged; we had some great discussions & it was good learning experience overall.
Unlike fighting on the surface, attacking forces cannot use…
10/30
…the critical enablers (armoured fighting vehicles, artillery, close air support) underground; it becomes a dismounted, close-quarter, ugly fight because in most cases there are only 2 directions a soldier can move: forward or backward.
…the critical enablers (armoured fighting vehicles, artillery, close air support) underground; it becomes a dismounted, close-quarter, ugly fight because in most cases there are only 2 directions a soldier can move: forward or backward.
11/30
Attacking forces can use smoke/gas to force the defenders to leave or push them further underground but there are ways for defending forces to mitigate the use of chemicals & now the attackers have to fight with gas masks on as a result, which only adds to the complexity.
Attacking forces can use smoke/gas to force the defenders to leave or push them further underground but there are ways for defending forces to mitigate the use of chemicals & now the attackers have to fight with gas masks on as a result, which only adds to the complexity.
12/30
Subterranean systems can include tunnels, nooks & crannies that are kilometres/miles long with dozens of entrances/exits everywhere, which means the attacking forces need brigades (read: thousands) of infantry & engineer soldiers to fight through them.
Subterranean systems can include tunnels, nooks & crannies that are kilometres/miles long with dozens of entrances/exits everywhere, which means the attacking forces need brigades (read: thousands) of infantry & engineer soldiers to fight through them.
13/30
This discussion from @SapperGeologist features the extensive length of a tunnel network in northern Syria:
This discussion from @SapperGeologist features the extensive length of a tunnel network in northern Syria:
https://twitter.com/SapperGeologist/status/1539605158778540033
14/30
A recent example that also demonstrates these challenges is this subterranean diagram from the recent fighting at the Azovstal steel production facility in Mariupol, Ukraine (part of a previous🧵):
A recent example that also demonstrates these challenges is this subterranean diagram from the recent fighting at the Azovstal steel production facility in Mariupol, Ukraine (part of a previous🧵):
https://twitter.com/JaysonGeroux/status/1517218820372455432
15/30
There is a laundry list of dozens of other hazards: environmental (smoke, oxygen, explosive gases, carbon monoxide/dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide), poor ventilation, fire, water flooding, overpressure from explosions,…
There is a laundry list of dozens of other hazards: environmental (smoke, oxygen, explosive gases, carbon monoxide/dioxide, methane, hydrogen sulfide), poor ventilation, fire, water flooding, overpressure from explosions,…
16/30
…steep slopes, slippery stairwells, unlit passageways, uneven flooring, deadfalls, wildlife, dangerous underground stockpiles of toxic materials, weakened structures (which can cause cave-ins), poor visibility,…
…steep slopes, slippery stairwells, unlit passageways, uneven flooring, deadfalls, wildlife, dangerous underground stockpiles of toxic materials, weakened structures (which can cause cave-ins), poor visibility,…
17/30
…degraded night vision device use, wireless communications are limited, no two subterranean systems are identical, narrow passageways, & challenging casualty medical evacuation (to name just a few!).
…degraded night vision device use, wireless communications are limited, no two subterranean systems are identical, narrow passageways, & challenging casualty medical evacuation (to name just a few!).
18/30
Due to all of these hazards, it takes weeks & weeks of physical & psychological training along with very specific individual/small group well-practiced & developed movement & manoeuvre tactics working with…
Due to all of these hazards, it takes weeks & weeks of physical & psychological training along with very specific individual/small group well-practiced & developed movement & manoeuvre tactics working with…
19/30
…specific underground-fighting equipment to fight through subterranean systems.
…specific underground-fighting equipment to fight through subterranean systems.
20/30
The British & the American militaries are developing technologies to support dismounted soldiers in fighting underground but I will suggest they are still in the development & testing stages.
defence-blog.com/us-army-will-u…
The British & the American militaries are developing technologies to support dismounted soldiers in fighting underground but I will suggest they are still in the development & testing stages.
defence-blog.com/us-army-will-u…
21/30
Here is a list of resources from the true subterranean/underground warfare experts:
@SpencerGuard’s “Underground Warfare Wish List” when it comes to equipment:
mwi.usma.edu/underground-wa…
Here is a list of resources from the true subterranean/underground warfare experts:
@SpencerGuard’s “Underground Warfare Wish List” when it comes to equipment:
mwi.usma.edu/underground-wa…
22/30
@SpencerGuard also ensured to include some subterranean points in his “Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender,” slides 19 & 64: johnspenceronline.com/mini-manual-ur…
@SpencerGuard also ensured to include some subterranean points in his “Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender,” slides 19 & 64: johnspenceronline.com/mini-manual-ur…
23/30
Given their depth of knowledge on urban warfare technologies @Stu_Lyle & @ChasAHKnight may be able to add to this discussion. If you haven't read Stu's/@dstlmod's fantastic report, here it is; pages 53-57 on the subterranean challenges: gov.uk/government/new…
Given their depth of knowledge on urban warfare technologies @Stu_Lyle & @ChasAHKnight may be able to add to this discussion. If you haven't read Stu's/@dstlmod's fantastic report, here it is; pages 53-57 on the subterranean challenges: gov.uk/government/new…
24/30
One of the more well-known books that discuss the challenges of tunnel warfare in particular is this book on the North Vietnamese Army/Viet Cong use of tunnels around Ch Chi in the Vietnam War (1959-1975):
One of the more well-known books that discuss the challenges of tunnel warfare in particular is this book on the North Vietnamese Army/Viet Cong use of tunnels around Ch Chi in the Vietnam War (1959-1975):
https://twitter.com/SapperGeologist/status/1537429061684711426
25/30
@SpencerGuard has done a podcast interview with U.S. Army Sergeant-Major (Retired) Joe Vega on this topic, as he is considered an extremely knowledgeable & experienced expert:
mwi.usma.edu/talk-us-armys-…
@SpencerGuard has done a podcast interview with U.S. Army Sergeant-Major (Retired) Joe Vega on this topic, as he is considered an extremely knowledgeable & experienced expert:
mwi.usma.edu/talk-us-armys-…
26/30
Check out @SapperGeologist and @Digital_Sapper as they have a great interest in this topic, including some of the latest developments, articles & technologies that are being used in this environment.
Check out @SapperGeologist and @Digital_Sapper as they have a great interest in this topic, including some of the latest developments, articles & technologies that are being used in this environment.
27/30
@SpencerGuard has also done a couple of podcast interviews with Dr. Daphne @RichemondBarak who is considered one of the world’s leading experts on underground/subterranean challenges/warfare:
mwi.usma.edu/beneath-the-st…
@SpencerGuard has also done a couple of podcast interviews with Dr. Daphne @RichemondBarak who is considered one of the world’s leading experts on underground/subterranean challenges/warfare:
mwi.usma.edu/beneath-the-st…
30/30
@SpencerGuard also has a list of publications we can read that discuss this subject in depth:
mwi.usma.edu/war-books-prep…
@SpencerGuard also has a list of publications we can read that discuss this subject in depth:
mwi.usma.edu/war-books-prep…
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