Close Quarters Battle
(CQB)
Description
Combat Technique in Confined Spaces (CQB): Close Quarters Battle
Close Quarters Battle is the combat technique in confined spaces where assailants are within very close distances—inside a building, room, hallway, or any other confined area. Actual contact occurs at extremely short distance—often just a few feet apart. It is fast and lethal that demands high accuracy, dynamics, and control.
Whether military units do the clearing of a hostile building or police SWAT team conducts a raid, and special forces rescuing hostages; CQB is integral to modern tactical operations.
Close Quarters Battle is fierce and fast fighting between opposing forces in close confines wherein traditional combat the distance of hundreds of meters usually separate antagonists, but in CQB it ranges to mere meters, even inches apart. The objective is to remove threats from within an environment by gaining control of the situation and then completing the mission with minimum risk not only to the team but also to any civilians who may be present.
CQB does not only mean marksmanship. It is a synthesis of firearms training, movement, communication and coordination, and decision making while under stress.
Where Does CQB Happen?
In any close confines where maneuvering is restricted and the enemy is within proximity. Typical locations are:
- Urban structures (houses, offices, schools)
- Planes or railcars
- Ships or boats
- Subterranean tunnels or bunkers
- Hostage scenarios
Challenges vary per environment because of factors such as lighting conditions to multiple doorways to obstacles that can range from simple furniture to walls and staircases.
Important Parts of CQB
1. Quickness
Time is everything in CQB. Speed makes it less likely that enemies will react, keeps the element of surprise, and keeps you from being exposed to gunfire for too long. But you have to find a balance between speed and control; rushing without thinking can lead to deadly mistakes.
2. Shock
The less predictable the team is, the better the chances of completing the mission. People often use flashbangs, silent entry, and unusual routes to surprise their enemies.
3. Violence of Action
The team must take over the room right away with overwhelming force and confidence after they make an entry. People can die if they hesitate.
4. Talking
It's important to talk to each other, whether it's with words or hand signals. Each team member must know where the others are and what they’re doing to avoid confusion or crossfire.
5. Team Coordination
CQB is never a solo mission. Success depends on how well the team moves, stacks up, enters rooms, and supports one another during the operation.
CQB Stack and Room Entry
The close quarter battle stack is the most common, familiar, and recognizable element of close quarter battle. The stack serves as a basic tactical formation used by teams to prepare for room entries, typically consisting of:
- Point man (first to enter and responsible for initial direction of fire)
- Second man (covering opposite corner or threat)
- Third and fourth (providing rear security; follow the first two in)
In entering a room, the team uses clearing tactics in order to rapidly scan corners and eliminate any threats as well as ensure that there is no enemy waiting in ambush. This is mostly done by using either the “slice the pie” or “dynamic entry” techniques depending on what situation they are facing.
Weapons and Gear Used in CQB
A close quarter battle naturally requires small arms. In a wider sense, such weapons that are handy and easy to point fast toward the target shall be used in this type of combat. More specifically speaking, commonly used firearms include:
- Short carbines (variants of M4)
- Submachine guns (MP5 variants)
- Pistols as secondary or backup weapons
- Shotguns
- Rams, explosives for breaching
- Flashbangs, smokes
Other gear includes:
- Ballistic helmets
- Plate carriers
- Night vision (if it's dark)
CQB Training
CQB is extremely lethal, thereby making advanced training not optional but compulsory. Training may involve the following:
- Drills in shoot houses using live and dry ammunition
- Simulated Hostage Rescue Missions
- Movement and Communication exercises
- Force on Force with Paintball/Airsoft
- Stress inoculation for decision making under stress
It develops muscle memory by instilling reflexes into an operator and enabling him to function well in a high-stress chaotic environment.
Law Enforcement vs. Military CQB
Law enforcement Close Quarters Battle emphasizes neutralization of threats, apprehension of suspects alive, with consideration for civilian safety and minimum collateral damage. It is heavily based on the rules of engagement.
Military CQB is typically more lethal in execution and usually carried out within an extremely high threat environment with adequate leeway to employ lethal force. Both require discipline, precision, and decision-making under extreme pressure and time constraints.
Risks of Close Quarters Battle
CQB is one of the most dangerous combat operations because:
- The enemy will probably be in cover
- There could be booby-trapped or fortified rooms
- A split second decision could result in blue-on-blue
- There is often little time to assess targets or surroundings
Even the best-trained teams face risk in Close Quarters Battle scenarios. That is why planning, intelligence, and reconnaissance are just as important as firepower.
Conclusion
Close Quarters Battle is not a room-clearing drill. It is not a fast shooting exercise. CQB is about managing chaos. CQB requires the highest level of training, the tightest teamwork, and keen mental focus.
While large-scale maneuver warfare may be the preferred method of combat operations against conventional forces today, military and police units must note that the more likely scenarios they’ll face involve fighting in built-up areas and conducting operations to defeat terrorism; therefore, CQB remains an essential proficiency.
From liberating captives to destroying rebels amidst labyrinthine urban centers, the actual war is fought in Close Quarters Battle (CQB)—it is won inside a single room at a time.