It’s Time to Create a Megacities Combat Unit

Modern War Institute ^ | January 31, 2017 | John Spencer

[C19fan]

Every year, more and more of the world’s population moves into cities. The number of megacities is growing exponentially. Both of these global patterns and their inevitable consequences for military operations are well documented. Yet we still do not have units that are even remotely prepared to operate in megacities. If we want to find success on the urban battlefields the US Army will inevitably find itself fighting on in the future, that needs to change.

[KrisKrinkle]

“I see 100X more downside than upside in trying to fight a Stalingrad or Leningrad today. We are long past throwing 100,000 KIA at a Berlin like the Soviets.”

“I can see a small elite force going in to grab or kill high value targets...”

We will have to trust that the adversary doesn’t present the necessity for a response between those two extremes, neither of which seem to be what the article is driving at.

[CodeToad]

“That’s a lot of perimeter to secure against the infiltration of supplies. What size force do you have to accomplish this?”

Not really. Roads, waterways, railroads, and airways are needed. Controls those and you control supplies.

[KrisKrinkle]

“Not really. Roads, waterways, railroads, and airways are needed. Controls those and you control supplies.”

The smallest Megacity I found listed is Chennai, India at about 460 square miles. By quick survey subject to correction, it’s got about 30 sizable roads going into it, 2 or 3 times that number smaller roads and streets if I estimated correctly, 3 rivers, 5 or 6 lakes on its edge, and around 30 miles of coastline. Except for the coastline, the perimeter is irregular with somewhat irregular distribution of the entry points.

The question still stands: “What size force do you have to accomplish this?” Additionally:

What size force do you have to have to control supplies and prevent infiltration to the opposing enemy force?

Assuming you can prevent the infiltration of materiel to the enemy force, can you prevent them getting food and so forth once it’s in the megacity without your forces entering the megacity itself? Or do you propose starving the general population of the megacity, which may start out as friendly to you if not actually on your side, in order to get the relatively small number of enemy combatants? The article is not about seizing a megacity, it’s about neutralizing an opposing force within a megacity.