Close quarters combat Close Quarters Combat ( CQC ) , Close Quarters Battle ( CQB ) or Close Combat Fighting is a physical confrontation between two or more combatants . It can take place between military units , police and criminals , and other similar actions . In warfare it usually consists of small units or teams engage the enemy with personal weapons at very short range , up to 30 meters , from proximity hand - to - hand combat to close quarter target negotiation with short range firearms . In the typical close quarters combat scenario , the attackers try a very fast , violent takeover of a vehicle or structure controlled by the defenders , who usually have no easy way to withdraw . Because enemies , hostages / civilians , and fellow operators can be closely intermingled , close quarters combat demands a rapid assault and a precise application of lethal force . The operators need great proficiency with their weapons , and the ability to make split - second decisions in order to minimize accidental casualties . Close quarters combat is always high - intensity conflict , characterized by sudden violence at close range . Criminals sometimes use close quarters combat techniques , such as in an armed robbery or jailbreak , but most of the terminology comes from training used to prepare soldiers , police , and other authorities . Therefore , much material relating to close quarters combat is written from the perspective of the authorities who must break into the stronghold where the opposing force ( " OPFOR " ) has barricaded itself . Typical examples would be commando operations behind enemy lines and hostage rescues . Although there is considerable overlap , close quarters combat is not synonymous with urban warfare , now sometimes known by the military acronyms MOUT ( military operations in urban terrain ) , FIBUA ( fighting in built - up areas ) or OBUA ( Operations in Built Up Areas ) in the West . Urban warfare is a much larger field , including logistics and the role of crew - served weapons like heavy machine gun s , mortars , and mounted grenade launcher s , as well as artillery , armor , and air support . In close quarters combat , the emphasis is on small infantry units using light , compact weapons that one man can carry and use easily in tight spaces , such as carbine s , submachine gun s , shotgun s , pistol s , knives , and bayonets . As such , close quarters combat is a " tactical concept " that forms a part of the " strategic concept " of urban warfare , but not every instance of close quarters combat is necessarily urban warfare — for example , a jungle is potentially a stage for close quarters combat . Principles of assault . Detailed planning . Ideally , the leader of the assault team gathers all available intelligence about the crisis scene , targets , and innocents . He diagrams and discusses the proposed plan , outlining each team ’ s actions and responsibilities , location , fields of fire , and special tasks ( even to the point of a wall - by - wall and door - by - door layout of the objective , where available ) . Since the assault team usually already has specialized training , the operation is based on well - understood , pre - established standing operating procedure . When considerable preparation time is available , the team sometimes conducts step - by - step walk - through exercises on a mock - up that duplicates the target environment . Some units maintain permanent " shoot houses " or even airliner / ship mock - ups for practicing marksmanship and tactics more realistically . In a prolonged standoff , the attackers can sometimes bring in specialized equipment for probing the inside of a well - defended area . Sensitive thermal cameras can help locate the occupants , and surveillance personnel can run microphones and fiber - optic cameras through walls , ceilings , and floors . If hostages escape or can communicate / signal the attackers , they can provide more information from inside . However , the time and resources to carry out such luxurious preparations are not always there . Not every attacker can field an overwhelming force of specially trained and equipped men with reinforcements standing by . Information about the inside of an enemy - held building or vehicle may not be accessible beyond studying it through binoculars or a rifle scope . While some attackers can go to the lengths of wearing the enemy down by siege or even tunneling under them , others must get the current job done immediately with the force available in order to move on to the next . Surprise . The objective is to complete all offensive action before the party being engaged is able to react . To gain this element of surprise , the entry teams use stealth movement and noise / light discipline to get as close to the targets as possible , hopefully putting themselves in a position to engage an enemy from the moment he becomes aware of them . Some teams use suppressed sniper rifle s for their initial shots on sentries or dogs . An assault should come at a time when least expected , taking into consideration fatigue , normal sleep periods , and other factors that detract from the target ' s alertness . Diversions are an essential element in achieving surprise . Staged emergencies , such as a mock auto accident , fire , or explosion near the crisis site , can divert the target ' s attention away from the assaulting elements . Explosive breaching and diversionary devices , such as flashbang , smoke , or gas grenade s can be employed to distract and disorient the targets . Negotiators can try to manipulate the defenders into a more vulnerable position or convince them that their position will not be stormed . Methods of entry . When law enforcement agents clear a building , they usually work slowly and deliberately , using ballistic shield s and mirrors for searching . This affords the highest degree of safety and security for the police , as well as for any uninvolved bystanders inside the search area , who can be identified and safely removed without subjecting them to the shock and danger of a sudden assault . When suspects are encountered , the police can confront them with an alert , armed force and try to take control without shooting . If the searchers meet heavy resistance , they can usually pull back without harm and prepare for a dynamic entry . However , against determined , well - armed opponents who fight in concert to defend an area and keep it under their control , slow stop - and - go movement can cause the deaths of many attackers and hostages . That leads to dynamic entry used in military operations or hostage rescues . It is the popular image of CQC : a flood of gunmen who burst in without warning and attempt to seize the area . Dynamic entry tactics must be rapid and aggressive , ideally a continuous flow using overwhelming force that does not stop until the threat is eliminated . In the vast majority of hostage rescue and other dynamic CQC operations , it is desirable to use multiple simultaneous attacks from different entry points to overload the target ' s ability to react effectively . The more entry points the attackers can choose from , the better their chances . The teams entering the objective usually have to synchronize with sniper s , negotiators , power technician s , perimeter guard s , and others who assist from the outside . Medical personnel , investigators , and bomb experts may be prepped to enter the scene as soon as the initial attackers get control . It is important that a central commander coordinate all armed elements , not only to better complete a sweep of the target area , but especially to guard against friendly fire . When large areas must be searched , leaders will assign boundaries between elements and may track them by radio to ensure they do not interfere with each other . The goal is to establish overlapping fields of fire , so that multiple shooters can attack at once from different directions without danger of hitting one another . It is possible that a point of entry can be created by a precision explosive device to catch the adversary by surprise . Speed . Once the assault begins , the team must gain control before the target understands what is happening and can prepare an effective defense or mount a counterattack . The defenders sometimes have a contingency plan that could cause the attack to fail instantly , such as killing hostages , detonating bombs , or destroying evidence . If they can execute an organized plan , such as falling back into a prepared stronghold , or breaking through the perimeter , the possibility of friendly casualties increases . Speed is achieved through well - designed tactics , such as gaining proximity with an undetected approach , the use of multiple entry points , and explosive breaching . Note that the need for speed does not necessarily translate to individual operators choosing to run in these situations . Violence of action . For the dynamic entry team , gaining and maintaining physical and psychological momentum is essential . The team may breach doors , blast holes in walls , enter through windows , or rappel or fast - rope from helicopters . Vehicle - mounted rams and platforms may be used to create unexpected entry points . The sensory onslaught from tear gas , explosive breaching , flashbang s , and gunfire is complemented by the intimidating and aggressive actions of the assault team . Hostiles do sometimes hide among the hostages , so once the shooting has stopped , operators must maintain dominance over anyone still alive . The defenders try to stop enemies close to the entry points . The " fatal funnel " is the dangerous area where the assaulter is silhouetted against his own entry point from the perspective of defenders inside the room . Once operators begin to enter , the defenders try to keep them from escaping the fatal funnel . The attackers are also vulnerable from the corners closest to the entry point , the first place from which they can be hit from behind as they enter the room . If the first attackers cannot clear the corners and get out of the fatal funnel , allowing those behind to move in and help , the attack can bog down . Military uses of close quarters battle vary by unit type , branch and mission . Military operations other than war ( MOOTW ) may involve peacekeeping or riot control . Specialized forces such as the U . S . Marine Corps specialized units like : RTT , FAST , SRT and U . S . Marine Corps special operations teams such as Recon and MSOB platoons , U . S . Coast Guard Vessel Boarding and Security Teams ( VBST ) , Port Security Units ( PSU ) , Maritime Safety and Security Team s ( MSST ) , Tactical Law Enforcement Team s ( TACLET ) , or U . S . Navy VBSS ( Visit , Board , Search , and Seizure ) teams may adapt CQC tactics to their specific needs , e . g . for the boarding of compliant and non - compliant vessels at sea . Hostage rescue or extraction by commando troops such as the British Special Boat Service , British Special Air Service , US Delta Force , U . S . Navy SEALs , United States Army Special Forces NSG , Spetsnaz GRU , Para Commandos , MARCOS and Sayeret Matkal may involve even more esoteric adaptations or variations , depending on specialized environments , weapons technology , political considerations or a mixture of friendly , unfriendly or civilian personnel . Armies that often engage in urban warfare operation may train most of their infantry in basic CQC doctrine as it relates to common tasks such as building entry , " clearing a room " and concussion and other grenades . Police . Domestically , police crisis response teams ( CRTs ) are the primary groups to engage in CQC . Situations involving the potential for CQC generally involve extraordinary threats outside of conventional police capabilities , and thus CRTs are specifically organized , equipped , and trained to respond to these situations . These situations often require the special tactics and techniques involving building entry and room clearing procedures that are the hallmarks of CQC . Police CQC doctrine is also specialized by unit type and mission . Riot control , corrections , the FBI Hostage Rescue Team and SWAT teams , for example , each have different goals , but may make use of similar tactics and technology such as non - lethal force . A prison , for example , may have a squad which specializes in high - risk cell extractions , and psychiatric hospitals or wards often have similar specialized teams . Among the " less - lethal " tools and tactics central to police CQC are electroshock gun s , pepper spray , riot shield s and riot gun s to fire tear gas , rubber bullet s , plastic bullet s or beanbag rounds . However , so - called " less - lethal " weapons can still inflict injuries that may result in death . Private industry . Private corporations engaged in security or military operations overseas maintain internal CQC teams . For example , these teams might be responsible for responding to an incident at a facility operated by a government agency who has engaged the contractor ' s services . That team would then act as the Crisis Response Team ( CRT ) and " clear " the facility of threats or hostiles . In another example , Military corporations or a Private military contractor might be employed to provide protection for high - ranking diplomats or military officers in war zones .