CQB

Military abbreviation · Military Term

CQB
Stands forClose-quarters battle
CategoriesMilitary

CQB stands for Close-quarters battle, a military term abbreviation.

Fighting at very short range, especially inside buildings and rooms, requiring rapid entry and precise shooting. Special operations and infantry units train extensively in CQB.

Example: The team practiced CQB in the shoot house until every entry took under four seconds.

Usage notes

Also called close-quarters combat (CQC). Training uses shoot houses or "kill houses" with live or simulated ammunition. CQB techniques are central to hostage rescue, as in the SAS Iranian Embassy operation of 1980.

More military term abbreviations

  • COMSEC – Communications security
  • CONOP – Concept of operations
  • CONUS – Continental United States
  • COP – Combat outpost
  • CP – Command post
  • CQ – Charge of quarters
  • CSAR – Combat search and rescue
  • CT – Counterterrorism
  • CUI – Controlled unclassified information
  • CZTE – Combat Zone Tax Exclusion
  • DA – Direct action
  • DD – Dishonorable discharge

See all 248 military term abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.