Defending the City of Razish

In this episode of the Urban Warfare Project, host John Spencer interviews Colonel Kevin Black, commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Black Horse Regiment), the U.S. Army's premier opposing force (OPFOR) at the National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin, California. Colonel Black shares his deep operational experience from over 55 rotations through the NTC, emphasizing how the Black Horse Regiment’s role as a realistic, adaptive enemy force shapes the training of U.S. Army brigades. The discussion centers on the urban combat exercise known as the 'Battle of Razish,' a large-scale, free-play simulation that serves as a culminating event in NTC rotations. Black explains how the defending force—despite being understrength and less equipped—leverages terrain mastery, junior leader empowerment, and disciplined execution of defensive principles to counter predictable, overcomplicated attacks from rotating units. He highlights key lessons from modern conflicts like Ukraine and Gaza, particularly the growing importance of subterranean networks, sensor saturation, and the 'dead zone'—a lethal, transparent area where movement triggers precision strikes. The episode also explores the shift from traditional urban clearing tactics to more lethal, precision-guided approaches, and critiques the persistent 'coin hangover' that limits fire use in cities. Black and Spencer conclude with a call for a dedicated urban combat training center, arguing that current limitations at NTC prevent full-scale, multi-day urban operations. Key takeaways include: 1) The Black Horse Regiment’s success lies in realism, adaptability, and mastery of terrain, not just equipment; 2) Urban defense is more effective than offense due to the defender’s ability to control space and time; 3) Modern urban warfare demands simplified, decisive operations—especially in the 'dead zone' and subterranean environments; 4) Units must overcome cognitive overload and overcomplication to succeed; 5) The use of precision fires to eliminate strong points is now essential and increasingly adopted; 6) The U.S. military needs a dedicated, larger-scale urban training facility beyond Razish; 7) Junior leaders must be empowered to act decisively without permission; 8) The future battlefield is defined by dispersion, sensor dominance, and long-range precision, requiring new doctrine and formations. The episode concludes on a positive, forward-looking note, underscoring the NTC’s critical role in preparing the Army for future large-scale combat operations.