Three-Dimensional (3D) Tactics Analysis, is a tactical analysis methodology under the concept of

Terrorist Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) is an essential concept in terrorism and cyber security studies. The role of TTPs in terrorism analysis is to identify individual patterns of behavior of a particular terrorist activity, or a particular ...

, and is related to Rhizome Manoeuvre. The approach is applicable to

urban combat Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat differs from combat in the open at both the operational and the tactical levels. Complicating factors in urban warfare include the presence of civilians and t ...

, and takes into account mass gatherings of people located in highly complex urban structures, incorporating features such as multi-level buildings, open spaces between buildings, crowd congregation points, and transport hubs.

Definition

3D tactics is defined "as tactics in the third dimension which is the space above and below ground level in land and urban operations".

Historical concepts

Giuseppe Fioravanzo defined the concept of 3D tactics in

naval warfare Naval warfare is combat in and on the sea, the ocean, or any other battlespace involving a major body of water such as a large lake or wide river. Mankind has fought battles on the sea for more than 3,000 years. Even in the interior of large la ...

history.

Key concepts

The notion of 3D tactics has been developed from the spherical security concept. The 3D tactics model identifies some of the key phenomenon experienced in urban environments. In particular, the 'inherent information deception qualities' found in 'vertical rather than horizontal envelopment'. A key aspect, in urban tactics, is the importance in achieving, what is called 'spherical security', that is, the three-dimensional nature of the urban battle places a premium on all-round security. This requires tactical thinking in

three dimensions Three-dimensional space (also: 3D space, 3-space or, rarely, tri-dimensional space) is a geometric setting in which three values (called ''parameters'') are required to determine the position of an element (i.e., point). This is the informal ...

Key influences in development

3D tactics are often represented as a cube of space within which the tactical analysis takes place: * It includes the ground, underground and the third dimension (each building can hide enemies). * The 3D tactics concept is also related to the notion of a three-dimensional cube which conceptually overlaid urban space.

Cube application

The 3D tactics cube is a visual tool used to define a tactical space. It incorporates conventional understanding of the third dimension in land combat - as the airspace above terrain - and the urban environment consisting of the three-dimensional solid forms of typical

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...

(CBD) buildings and spaces formed between buildings. As well, the 3D tactics cube notionally conforms within 300m², which gives coverage to most weapons effective ranges, and incorporates most CBD buildings.

Curtis LeMay's combat box tactics

The 3D tactics/tactical analysis approach is an application of the

Curtis LeMay Curtis Emerson LeMay (November 15, 1906 – October 1, 1990) was an American Air Force general who implemented a controversial strategic bombing campaign in the Pacific theater of World War II. He later served as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air ...

's '

combat box The combat box was a tactical formation used by heavy (strategic) bombers of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. The combat box was also referred to as a "staggered formation". Its defensive purpose was in massing the firepower of the bo ...

'. This was a tactical formation designed by

US Army Air Force The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...

heavy (strategic) bombers during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. The use of 3D illustrations, were often used in the World War II period, as a means to visualize how

heavy bomber Heavy bombers are bomber aircraft capable of delivering the largest payload of air-to-ground weaponry (usually bombs) and longest range (takeoff to landing) of their era. Archetypal heavy bombers have therefore usually been among the larges ...

formations would defend themselves against enemy interceptors in the absence of escorting fighters, by providing interlocking fire from each of the planes operating in mutual support.

Modification of swarming tactics

Swarming tactics have been identified as operating within a 3D Tactics paradigm. 3D Tactics Analysis in relation to swarming tactics examines how swarming by multiple entities can attack a target from multiple directions, and building levels (above and below ground) within an urban area. Understanding this tactical behavior, and why it is able to succeed requires an analysis of two key concepts: *

Information warfare Information warfare (IW) (as different from cyber warfare that attacks computers, software, and command control systems) is a concept involving the battlespace use and management of information and communication technology (ICT) in pursuit of a ...

; and, * Command and Influence relationships (as a component of Military C2 '

Command and Control Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization or en ...

').

Related concepts

There are several concepts that are related the 3D tactical analysis approach: * Simultaneous Tactical Actions * Airspace Battle

Simultaneous tactical actions

3D tactical analysis has its origins in Simpkin's concept of simultaneous tactical actions. In summary, Simpkin: * Made a distinction between conventional land-based tactics articulated along a staged -sequential set of actions, where what can be seen within the line-of-weapon's sight, follows movement. * Simpkin also identified a more complex level of tactics, conducted not as a sequence of actions, but occurring as a barrage of continuous simultaneous actions. Simpkin 'originally proposed this, as multiple simultaneous manoeuvre and fire-directed attacks at an opponent in order to overwhelm them'.

Airspace battle

Tactical consideration of the immediate airspace above the surface has been significant in further contributing to the concept of 3D tactical analysis; in particular: * Combining the spherical security concept with Simpkin's concept of simultaneous tactical has developed a focus on 'area analyses'. This has been described as 'considering the three-dimensional

situational awareness Situational awareness or situation awareness (SA) is the perception of environmental elements and events with respect to time or space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their future status. An alternative definition is tha ...

of the local friendly airspace in battle management'. And, in this particular formulation of the tactical paradigm (represented by 3D tactical analysis), the entire space surrounding a position or target in warfare is subject to continuous simultaneous examination.

Geographic information system methodology

Geographic information system A geographic information system (GIS) is a type of database containing Geographic data and information, geographic data (that is, descriptions of phenomena for which location is relevant), combined with Geographic information system software, sof ...

(GIS) approaches have been significant in recent times influencing the development and conceptualization of 3D tactical analysis. This has been described as 'look-around' approach to thinking tactically in three dimensions, and accommodating the full complexity of multidimensional environments. In effect, this is to look vertically, horizontally and spatially at the same time, while being able to see through the confused environment – the traditional '

fog of war The fog of war (german: links=no, Nebel des Krieges) is the uncertainty in situational awareness experienced by participants in military operations. The term seeks to capture the uncertainty regarding one's own capability, adversary capability, ...

Relationship with 3D firefighting concepts

3D tactical analysis has been strongly influenced by

fire fighters A firefighter is a first responder and rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten life, property, and the environment as well as to rescue people and in some cases or jurisdictions also ...

in the UK and U.S. They have developed the most coherent concept of 3D tactics called '3D fire fighting methodology'.

Relationship with Fifth Dimension Operations

More recently, 3D Tactics Analysis the concept has been included into the realm of Fifth Dimensional Operations.Robert J. Bunker & Charles "Sid" Hea. (2014) lFifth Dimensional Operations: Space-Time-Cyber Dimensionality in Conflict and War—A Terrorism Research Center Book. iuniverse. http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000943549/Fifth-Dimensional-Operations.aspx

References

{{reflist Counterterrorism