Mouse-holing

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In house-to-house fighting, also known as urban warfare or Fighting in Built-Up Areas (FIBUA), mouse-holing is the tactic of creating passages (e.g. by bazooka discharges) through walls between adjoining rooms or buildings. These passages are normally nothing more than holes just large enough to accommodate the slow passage of a soldier; large unrestricted holes offer no resistance to potential enemies and also risk compromising structural integrity.

In urban warfare open streets quickly become death traps to advancing infantry, as they present open areas where soldiers are easily caught in enfilade, and can be raked by machine-gun and sniper fire from hidden positions. It is therefore paramount that troops avoid open streets, and clear urban areas building by building, while exposing themselves to enemy fire as little as possible.

The use of mouse-holes allows infantry forces to move undetected through various parts of a building or city block without needing to expose themselves to enemy fire and observation. In some cases use of mouse-holes allows soldiers to appear behind enemy front lines, causing havoc out of proportion to their numbers.

Mouse-holes may be camouflaged with articles of furniture.

This tactic is first noted in World War II military manuals. It was notably used by Canadian soldiers with great success during the Battle of Ortona. The tactic was also used successfully by Soviet forces in the Battle of Stalingrad, who were able to constantly infiltrate areas to the German rear that were supposedly cleared.