Military Operations on Urban Terrain
Block by Block is a practitioner-first milblog focused exclusively on MOUT. We distill lessons from past city fights, stress-test today's TTPs, and explore the technologies, training methods, and ethical guardrails shaping tomorrow's urban battlespace. No grand theory—just grounded analysis, field-ready methods, and hard-won insights for leaders, trainers, and teams operating block by block.
About Block by Block
Cities are now the decisive terrain. Block by Block exists to help units think, train, and fight smarter in dense, cluttered, and contested environments.
We cover the full urban problem set—subterranean and verticals, C-UAS and counter-sensors, breaching and clearance, ISR and targeting in GPS-/comm-degraded spaces, logistics and medical under fire, civilian harm mitigation, and partner-force integration—supported by historical case studies and modern AARs.
We aim to be the penultimate MOUT journal: precise enough for instructors and S3 shops, accessible enough for squad leaders and students.
Who it's for
- Military leaders, instructors, and planners
- EOD, engineers, medics, CA/PSYOPS/INFO professionals
- Law enforcement and urban rescue with military-adjacent missions
- Researchers and technologists building for the urban fight
Editorial Standards
OPSEC first
No sensitive unit details, locations, or timelines.
Evidence-led
Cite doctrine, AARs, or observable data.
Actionable
Every piece should inform training or execution.
Respect
For civilians and law of armed conflict.
Grozny 1994: Why the Russian Assault Failed
Case Study & AAR: Tactical failures in the 1994-1995 Battle of Grozny and lessons for modern urban operations
Hue 1968: Clearing the Citadel Block by Block
Case Study & AAR: U.S. Marine Corps tactics in the 26-day Battle of Hue during the Tet Offensive
C-UAS in Mariupol: FPV Drones vs. Steel Factory
Modern AAR: Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems lessons from the Siege of Azovstal in Ukraine's urban drone warfare
Content Sections
Comprehensive coverage of the urban warfare problem set, from tactical execution to strategic planning.
Case Studies & AARs
Historical analysis and after-action reviews from urban operations worldwide.
Tactics, Techniques & Procedures
Field-tested methods for clearance, breaching, and movement in urban terrain.
Subterranean & Vertical
Operations in tunnels, sewers, high-rises, and multi-level structures.
Drones, Sensors & C-UAS
Counter-UAS tactics, ISR integration, and sensor employment in cities.
Logistics & Sustainment
Supply chains, medical evacuation, and resupply under urban fire.
Civilian Harm Mitigation
LOAC compliance, civilian protection, and minimizing collateral damage.
Training & Simulation
Urban training facilities, simulations, and preparation methodologies.
Maps & Models
Terrain analysis, 3D modeling, and urban environment visualization.
Reviews
Books, gear, simulations, and technology evaluations for urban warfare.
Submit Your Field Notes
Have a lesson learned from the city fight? We welcome 800–1,200-word Field Notes and 2,000–3,500-word Features. Anonymized submissions accepted with PAO clearance where required.
Submission Guidelines
- Keep it OPSEC-safe—no sensitive unit details, locations, or timelines
- Cite doctrine, AARs, or observable data where possible
- End with a "What to train next week" checklist
- Anonymized submissions accepted with PAO clearance