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

FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC), is a December 1999 Department of the Army field manual outlining specialized training for Special Forces Operational Detachment Alphas (ODAs) in high-intensity urban environments. The document, traditionally marked as For Official Use Only (FOUO), covers comprehensive tactical training, including precision marksmanship, close-quarters battle (CQB), and advanced breaching operations. For more details, visit Special Forces Training. SF Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Special Forces Training

Field Manual (FM) 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC), dated 1 December 1999, outlines foundational doctrine for high-risk urban operations, focusing on Close Quarters Battle (CQB), precision breaching, and rapid decision-making. While classified as FOUO (For Official Use Only), these techniques established the bedrock for modern, multi-domain special operations training. For a detailed overview of these historical tactics, visit Special Forces Training. SF Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC) - Special Forces Training

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4. Tactical Breaching (Mechanical, Ballistic, Explosive)

The December 1999 edition provides a rare matrix comparing breach methods by door type. For example, it ranks the time-to-clear for a reinforced steel door using: FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (SFAUC),

• Mechanical: Hydraulic spreaders (Slow, Quiet)
• Ballistic: 12-gauge frangible rounds (Fast, Loud)
• Explosive: C4 linear shaped charges (Fastest, High structural risk)

This matrix is a goldmine for military simulation developers and SWAT team leaders training for high-risk warrants.

Review: FM 31-28 Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat (1 Dec 1999)

Author: 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 prearranged verbal cues

Organization and tasking

• SF organizational models for urban tasks include A-Teams (Operational Detachment Alpha), B-Teams for staff and planning, and augmented elements (explosive ordnance disposal, military police, medics, intelligence, civil affairs).
• Recommended task-organizations for raids, reconnaissance, and direct-action missions are presented, including assault, support, and reserve elements.
• Use of scouts, snipers, and surveillance teams to monitor avenues of approach, rooflines, and choke points.

Who Should Read It?

• Military history enthusiasts studying pre-GWOT Special Forces doctrine.
• Wargame designers / milsim players (e.g., ARMA, Squad) seeking period-authentic urban tactics.
• Security professionals interested in the evolution of small-unit CQB doctrine.

2. Historical Context

This manual emerged during a transitional period for U.S. Special Forces:

• Pre-9/11, with urban operations seen as a niche but growing requirement after operations in Somalia (1993), Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
• Focused on unconventional warfare (UW) and direct action (DA) in urban environments, emphasizing small-team tactics, host-nation integration, and indigenous force training.
• Lacked the heavy mechanized urban warfare emphasis of conventional manuals like FM 90-10-1 (1993).

1. Introduction

Urban terrain has historically been the least desirable battlespace for Special Forces. However, by the late 1990s, the proliferation of megacities, failed states, and transnational threats forced a doctrinal reassessment. FM 31-28, Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat, issued on 1 December 1999, was the U.S. Army Special Forces Command’s response to this shifting reality. Classified FOUO to limit dissemination among potential adversaries, the manual was never intended for public release. Nevertheless, its existence and general outline are matters of unclassified record. Close-quarters battle (CQB) tactics

This paper addresses three research questions:

1. What operational gap did FM 31-28 attempt to fill?
2. How did its advanced urban combat techniques differ from conventional infantry urban operations?
3. What is the manual’s legacy in current Special Forces urban doctrine?

Close-quarters battle (CQB) tactics

• Room and building clearing procedures: stack formations, entry techniques, room domination, clearing sequence, and internal movement.
• Weapons and gear: loadouts optimized for short-range engagements, less-lethal options, breaching tools, and night-vision devices.
• Individual and team roles: point man, team leader, breacher, rear security, and medic.
• Use of hand and arm signals, prearranged verbal cues, and simple command and control to maintain tempo.