The company commander was in a state of intense meditative concentration. His task might have sounded easy, but it was of supreme importance to the mission: he had to quickly move through a war-torn city and isolate the enemy stronghold within its old town district from the south, in order to reduce and destroy enemy defenses and free the city. He had to quickly identify which enemy positions were lightly defended and meant as a tripwire and to slow him down so that he could bypass them (the commander of the company following behind his would take care of them) and isolate the enemy. He had to be fast, because he had to stop the enemy forces’ freedom of movement and prevent them from reorienting and maneuvering on his company.

The officer was a member of Germany’s Airborne Brigade 1. And the mission was in the city of Schnöggersburg. The brigade, with its Parachute Infantry Regiments 26 and 31, undertook the challenging assault as part of KOMET23. This exercise, one of the largest in the recent history of the German Army, took place at the Gefechtsübungszentrum Heer, Germany’s counterpart to the US National Training Center. With a focus on traditional airborne and urban operations, the scenario simulated a complex urban assault following a joint forcible entry. Schnöggersburg—Europe’s most advanced urban training facility—served as the setting, featuring realistic cityscapes, subway tunnels, waterways, and high-rise buildings. Opposing forces were professional and well equipped, providing a realistic adversary for the airborne units.

This two-week exercise offered a wealth of insights into the challenges and strategies of modern urban warfare. Below is an examination of the most significant of these insights, which identifies key lessons from Operation KOMET23 and explores their implications for urban combat readiness.

Key Lessons Learned

Reconnaissance as a Force Multiplier

The German tactical maxim that tactical reconnaissance is the key to success was repeatedly validated during KOMET23. Effective reconnaissance enabled company commanders to identify weak points in enemy defenses, allowing forces to bypass areas of minimal resistance and focus their efforts on dismantling fortified positions with precision.

When reconnaissance was properly integrated, airborne units maintained operational momentum, avoided unnecessary engagements, and minimized casualties. Conversely, failures in reconnaissance led to units becoming bogged down in low-priority areas or falling victim to ambushes. These missteps gave the enemy opportunities to reposition and disrupt the larger operational plan. The exercise highlighted the indispensable role of tactical reconnaissance in urban operations, particularly at the company level, where timely and accurate intelligence serves as a critical force multiplier.

Agility in Intensity Modulation

Urban environments, characterized by their density and variability, demand the ability to rapidly adjust operational intensity. Not every building in a city is a stronghold, and Schnöggersburg was no exception. KOMET23 demonstrated that forces must swiftly transition between high-intensity combat in fortified areas and low-intensity movement through less contested zones.

Failure to modulate intensity led to significant operational delays, providing adversaries with opportunities to reposition and reinforce. Units that adapted quickly preserved momentum, enabling them to isolate and neutralize key enemy positions. This adaptability—switching seamlessly between aggressive assaults and rapid maneuvering—is essential for success in urban warfare.

Isolation: A Cornerstone of Urban Operations

As outlined in Army Techniques Publication 3-06, Urban Operations, isolating the enemy is crucial for success in urban combat. KOMET23 reinforced this principle, highlighting the need to prevent adversaries from escaping, receiving reinforcements, or maneuvering freely within the urban area. Effective isolation does not always require complete physical encirclement but demands control of critical terrain, decisive points, and lines of communication both within and around the city.

During the exercise, inadequate isolation allowed enemy forces to withdraw to advantageous positions, enabling them to destroy a significant portion of an attacking company before being neutralized. This underscored the importance of multilayered isolation—physical, electronic, and psychological—to deny adversaries the ability to regroup or counterattack effectively.

The Combined Arms Imperative

Urban warfare is inherently a combined arms fight, and KOMET23 underscored this reality. Fire support—from direct-fire platforms like tanks and the Wiesel fighting vehicle as well as indirect-fire assets such as artillery and mortars—proved indispensable in overcoming urban challenges. These assets addressed the complexities of urban geometry, enabling light infantry to engage enemy positions with reduced risk.

Close air support emerged as particularly vital for airborne operations, compensating for the temporary absence of artillery and armored vehicles during the initial phases of the assault. Close air support not only neutralized fortified positions but also provided critical support against enemy armor. The exercise highlighted the need for seamless coordination and mutual trust among all elements of the combined arms team to maximize combat effectiveness.

Concealment and Survivability

Urban environments offer adversaries numerous opportunities to exploit terrain for ambushes and direct-fire engagements. KOMET23 emphasized the critical role of concealment in preserving the survivability of attacking forces. The deliberate use of smoke to obscure movement in open areas was particularly effective in reducing vulnerabilities.

While some conventional tactics, such as mouseholing, were restricted during the exercise, participants adapted by leveraging existing infrastructure for cover and concealment. These practices underscored the importance of reducing exposure in urban combat and highlighted the need for tactical creativity when traditional methods are constrained.

Future Implications

Exercise KOMET23 stands as a landmark in Germany’s recent military training, offering valuable insights into airborne and urban operations. Among the lessons discussed above that emerged from the exercise, two stand out as particularly critical: the pivotal role of reconnaissance at the company level and the necessity of agility in modulating operational intensity. Both underscore the complexity of urban warfare and the importance of adaptability in modern military operations.

To integrate these lessons into future training, a multifaceted approach is necessary. While resource constraints may limit large-scale exercises, incorporating tactical decision games with a strong red-team component can effectively simulate urban combat scenarios. These games allow units to internalize lessons from exercises like KOMET23, reinforcing critical skills such as reconnaissance, isolation, and combined arms integration.

Ultimately, KOMET23’s lessons provide a blueprint for enhancing urban combat readiness. By embracing adaptability, leveraging combined arms, and prioritizing reconnaissance, modern forces can better navigate the complexities of urban warfare, ensuring operational success in future conflicts.

Captain Ilhan Akcay is a member of the German Army, a paratrooper officer and currently company commander of a training company of Germany’s Homeland Defense Forces.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense, or that of any organization the author is affiliated with, including the German Army.

Image credit: Ruediger Hess, US Army