US Installations details - 20 - Ruhleben Fighting City

British forces in Berlin had their own 'Combat in Cities' installation which also was used for simulated combat actions by American Berlin Brigade units. Especially during annual 'ARTEPS' ('Army Training & Evaluation Programs') or 'FTX' ('Field Training Exercises'), also Berlin-Brigade infantry troops practiced there.

The British Army called that kind of special training 'FIBUA' (Fighting in Built-Up Areas), Americans named it 'MOUT' (Military Operations in Urban Terrain). Both names had the same meaning, - 'Combat in Cities' -. In German it's called ' Haeuserkampf '. Especially the Brits in the past have made bad experiences if you remember all the sniper & terrible ambush actions in Belfast. (Ireland)

The British 'Ghost city' was located in Ruhleben, a sub-district of Spandau. To find this range, you could drive down Havelchaussee from the rear of Keerans Range about 7 miles all the way down to its end, right next to the Havel river. Then after a right turn into Elsgrabenweg, you got to the back gate of the huge range complex. After passing about 500 yards of wooded area the first buildings of 'old' RFC were visible. This small forest terrain was often the beginning of military actions (attack developments) & also room for all kind of military support units with its special equipment.

The former British 'Fighting City' still exists. It's located between the former main British live-firing range, (torn down now & opened to the public again), a German cemetery, & a big Berlin Police barracks compound. (like a cadet school). Most of Berlin's cops have started there to learn the job like me in April 1974.

Through the 1970s, 'RFC' was very small, consisting of a dozen one & two story buildings located within a one square mile wooded area. It still was open to the public who had a close-up view of British & other troops while firing with blank ammunition. Very interesting adventure 'stage' but also dangerous for juveniles & kids. Many times expended & unexpended ammo & other military practice stuff were careless left behind. (like in the Grunewald)

'RFC' was renovated & enlarged during the 1980s. Right next to the simple 'old village' suddenly appeared a part of a modern city. It looked like a 'twin' of the U.S. range 'Doughboy City'. Before lots of trees were removed & the whole area made finally inaccessible to civilians. The new range included a large number of light-gray or white concrete houses of various styles. (also 5-6 floors buildings). Next to various streets were a 'church', several bridges & underpasses, Super Markets, a Park House, Gas Station & other specialty buildings. (of course all simulated or faked)

Also street name poles, bus stop signs & a bus waiting hall were installed. The revised 'RFC', erected right next to the old one, also had two old yellow Berlin U-Bahn wagons (1960's vintage), sitting on 'dead' rail way tracks. All these details gave that special installation a very realistic touch!

When completed, 'RFC' was video controlled with remote cameras recording all actions from building tops. Officers in charge monitored units' 'combat actions' which could be taped for after action reviews by participants. The Brits also had erected a 3-floor building which front side was wide open. It looked like a huge doll house. Here all demo-actions could be watched in detail perfectly. Troops from all 3 western Allies but also sometimes guest units from UK & West-Germany used that excellent range.

When U.S. troops trained there, I sometimes have escorted their vehicle convoys to & from RFC. By this way I could observe many operations. Frequently assault troops were 'covered' by comrades with .50 caliber heavy machine guns & M-60s which sometimes were sat up under the old U-Bahn wagons. Temporarily piles of expended blank ammo were visible. During practice attacks, clouds of smoke grenades caused by the realistic combat training, could be smelled from far distance. At night time, sometimes colored flares, hanging on parachutes, brightened the sky.

When the Allies left Berlin, the German government took over 'Ruhleben Fighting City'. It's now used for realistic training by various police & other security units (like SWAT teams), but also by fire brigade teams & German engineer troops (THW).

In 2008, former RFC looked not more this nice than the time before 1994. (departure of the Allies). Until that time the whole military installation has been in best shape. Now, everybody can see the sad result of all the years without proper Brit. maintenance. The former excellent compound looks some kind of dirty, seems to be a lost & forgotten place now.

All of the other former British ranges, just like similar U.S. installations, have become history. Let's keep the memories alive!