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Because the use of heavy weapons is
restricted in urban environments, the employment of Effects Based
Operations (EBO) has become more desirable for many operations. EBO
provides commanders with a methodology, and planning and prediction
tools to assess the effects of different types of operations,
including employment of forceful activities by lethal weapons of all
types.
The operation of tanks in urban areas is a good example of the use of
EBO. With their inherent protection and massive firepower, tanks are
an important deterrent even without opening fire. However, several
adverse effects can occur as a result of the employment of tanks in
urban areas.
First, tanks are a lucrative target for guerillas and damaging or
destroying a tank is a "morale booster" for them. Contributing to this
problem is the fact that, as stated above, tanks are more vulnerable
to guerrilla attacks when employed in urban areas.
Second, excessive damage caused by tank weapons can have long lasting
negative effects and can lead to restriction of commanders’ freedom to
use tanks in their operational areas. This is why, in several
instances, the US Army in Iraq has restricted firing of 120mm tank
guns without the specific approval of battalion level operational
commanders. The problem is that, when tanks are using their HEAT or KE
main gun ammunition against an urban target, they frequently cause far
more damage than is required to eliminate the target. These ammunition
types can completely penetrate buildings, pass through multiple walls
and endanger non-combatants and friendly forces over a wide area.
Third, intensive activity by heavy tracked vehicles causes severe
damage to roads, leaving deep permanent scars on paved surfaces, and
ruts in unpaved surfaces. Urban guerrillas can then use these damaged
road surfaces to conceal IEDs and mines.
 The use of artillery and mortar fire, with associated explosive and
fragmentation effects, can also cause a lot more damage than is
necessary to accomplish the mission. The ballistic trajectory and
rapid response of these weapons are perfectly suited for engaging
urban targets since they can attack protected targets from above,
however, the inherent inaccuracy of these area fire weapons, and the
large amount of fragmentation caused by surface impact, limits their
use in UC. An artillery shell or mortar bomb usually explodes on
impact, rarely penetrating hard surfaces. This causes disproportionate
collateral damage. When terrain allows line of sight aiming, artillery
can be used in direct fire mode to engage specific point targets with
high precision, but opportunities for direct fire are rare in urban
combat. Mortars have no direct fire capability, so employing them
safely in urban terrain requires the use of guided munitions, which
are currently under development.
One of the preferred methods of employment of EBO are the
"networked snipers" and
precision-guided weapons, based on detailed intelligence. Suitable
weapons include guided missiles of different types: laser homing
weapons, electro-optically guided weapons with "man in the loop"
control, and, to a limited extent "fire and forget" autonomously
guided weapons. Precision weapons are employed when targets are
positively identified and confirmed by intelligence sources. The
weapons can engage specific targets, such as positively identified
armed personnel, vehicles known to be involved in weapons trafficking,
an assembly of enemy commanders etc., in real-time. Here, one strike
by a single weapon can cause more devastating long term effects than a
massive air or ground attack while eliminating much of the risk of
collateral damage.
Effects Based Operations are not limited to the use of lethal force.
Employment of non-lethal measures has fewer long-term consequences and
can actually be more effective and than lethal weapons when these
techniques are employed in SASO and urban environments. A wide range
of non-lethal and less-than lethal means are already available for use
by military forces, from active and area denial systems, through
various deterrents and means of forcible response used with standard
military weapons, to advanced standoff means for restraining suspects.
New less-than lethal munitions are currently under development for
tanks, grenade launchers, remotely controlled and autonomous land
mines, and perimeter defense systems.
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