Category Archives: Counter-Terrorism 101

The History of Irregular Warfare (Six-Part Series)

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H/T WRSA

 

Irregular Warfare Six-Part Series

 

Superb series I recommend you put on your Reference flash drive.

While you are it, Guide to the Analysis of an Insurgency is also worth downloading.

Arm Up, Read Up and Train and Prepare Accordingly.

Tactics Flashback: 2002 D.C. Snipers and 2015 Dallas Police Attack

by in Active Shooter, Armed Citizen Corner, Asymmetrical Warfare, Civilian Operator 101, Counter-Insurgency, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism 101, Historical Study, History of Crime, Law Enforcement, Learning from Terrorist Tactics, Studies in Warfare, Tactics, Tales from the Battlefield, Terrorism, Urban Skill Sets, Urban Warfare, Vehicles as Weapons, Warfare and tagged , , , , , , , , ,

 

Armored Van used in Attack on Dallas PD 6/13

Armored Van used in Attack on Dallas PD 6/13. Bought on Ebay for $8K

The attack on Dallas PD June 13, 2015 by a man in an armored van represents a variation on a tactic that has not been seen since the DC Sniper Murders in 2002, where two gay black muslim extremist using a Chevy Caprice sedan and turning the trunk into a “mobile” sniper hide, killed 10 people and critically wounded three others.

The two concepts, an Armored Wagon or Van and the Mobile Sniper Hide, have at their core, basically the same principle: To Use a vehicle as a platform for a shooter or shooters to engage civilians and law enforcement, attempting to kill as many as possible.

The differences lay in HOW these methods are applied.

The Mobile Sniper Hide (MSH) is a covert weapon, meaning it’s strength lies in NOT being detected, as the shooter engages targets both quietly and quickly as possible, keeping the location of the shooter (and shot) both hid (in the DC Sniper Case, by shooting from the car’s trunk through a small hole). The Armored Wagon on the other hand, OVERTLY engages targets (through gun ports), purposely drawing fire as it rolls on, ie like the Dallas PD attack recently.

The critical keys to remember if the AV (Armored Van) concept is to work effectively, is that the engine block must be further bullet proofed (a .50 Caliber round took out the engine block) the tires must be run flats and reserve fuel bladders added.  If the engine or tires get disabled, or you run out of gas at a critical juncture, you are no longer mobile and have no egress options available; you are dead in the water and a bullet magnet.

car

As far as the two concepts go, the Mobile Sniper Hide is a much more effective tool for the lone or small unit of of Guerilla fighters who live in a civilian population that is not controlled by military forces. Less attention is drawn to the vehicle as a whole, making it easier to hit and run (in reference to the One Shot Sniper Method discussed in the book Fry the Brain by John West.)

If history is studied, armored vans (or improvised fighting vehicles) work well in WAR zones, where both the VOLUME of fire coming OUT of the vehicle and the expectation of SUPPORT (from other vehicles and infantry) can be expected to be large.

The downside of course is ANTI-Tank and Vehicle weapons such as Mines, IED’s, RPG’s, Javelins and Grenade Launchers. The evolution of the IFV is an interesting study for the CO. Although I typically steer away from Wiki-Pedia, their entry on this subject is quite extensive and for the most part, correct. Read it HERE.

 

ATF

Another element of the insurgents use of vehicles to achieve a desired aim can be seen currently with the situation in Iraq where a large number of American Humvees that had been given to the Iraqi Security Forces were stolen by ISIS and turned into VBIED’s (Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Devices). Read that story HERE.

VBIED’s (or car bombs) have been a technique that has seen widespread use by insurgents and terrorist alike. Some of the worst attacks (as far a total number killed) have occurred on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan. However, if you ask any American with a sense of history, they will tell you by far, the two attacks that are seared into their memory are The 1993 World Trade Center Bombing and the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, both car bomb attacks.

In 2010, a car bomb was detected and diffused in New York’s Times Square, thanks to some savvy street vendors who were paying attention. Just another example of why AWARENESS is always our primary weapon in self-defense.

 

Bibliography and Suggested Reading

  • Fry the Brain by John West

  • Buda’s Wagon by Mike Davis

  • Bandit Country by Toby Harnden

  • Days of Rage by Bryan Burrough

 

Prepare Accordingly.

 

SOE Partisan Leader’s Handbook

by in 4GW, American Partisan, Another Reason to Be Armed, Armed Citizen Corner, Asymmetrical Warfare, Citizen Action Groups, Civilian Operator 101, Community Action Groups, Counter-Insurgency, Counter-Surveillance, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism 101, Counterintelligence, Escape and Evasion, European History, Examining GW Tactics, Examining Terrorist Tactics, Guerilla Warfare, Guerilla Warfare History, Historical Study, Know your History, Military History, Military Intelligence History, Militias, Practical Skill Sets, Studies in Warfare, The Surveillance State, Urban Skill Sets, Urban Warfare, World War II History and tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Partisan’s Leader Handbook

 

So many Pearls of Wisdom in these WW2 era SOE manuals.

The Basics of Partisanship have not changed!

Study Up and Prepare Accordingly!

You can read and download the entire manual HERE.

 

 

Bad-Ass Files: Remembering SAS Legend John McAleese

by in Bad Ass Files, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism 101, Great Britain History, In Memoriam, Military History, UK News, Warfare and tagged , , , , ,

John McAleese’s story is one of a true modern day Spartan.

The man was an absolute beast when it came to early Counter-Terrorism Operations.

John’s life continues to inspire millions.

The character of “Captain Price” in the Call of Duty Video Game Franchise is based looely on his life and exploits.

 

The Mini-Manual for the Urban Defender

by in American Partisan, Another Reason to Be Armed, Armed Citizen Corner, Asymmetrical Warfare, Book Suggestions, Civilian Operator 101, COIN, Counter-Insurgency, Counter-Surveillance, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism 101, Counterintelligence, Current Events, Examining GW Tactics, Examining Terrorist Tactics, Fifth Dimension Warfare, Fighting in and Around Vehicles, Fourth Gen Warfare, Future Warfare, Guerilla Warfare, Guerilla Warfare History, Homemade Weapons, Hybrid Warfare, Know Your Enemy, Military History, Military Manuals, Practical Skill Sets, Practical Solutions to Serious Problems, Real World Threats, Reality Check, Reference Materials, Small Unit Tactics, Strategy, Street Smarts, Studies in Warfare, Tactics, Tales from the Battlefield, Tradecraft, Urban Warfare, WRSA and tagged , , , , , , , , , ,

You can download the above manual at John Spencer’s Website.

Highly recommend you bookmark this site as well, LOTS of good stuff there!

I also Highly Recommend you read all of John Spencer’s Urban Warfare Case Studies over at Modern War Institute

Via WRSA:

You will see this material again.

The only real question is whether or not you will use this material against the baddies, or the baddies will use it against you.

Choose wisely.

Prepare Accordingly!