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Breaching

A part of room clearing is the ability to gain access quickly to

the rooms to be cleared. Breaching techniques vary based onthe type of construction encountered and the types ofmunitions available to the breaching element. Techniques rangefrom simple mechanical breaching to complex, specializeddemolitions. If possible, conduct the breach to allo the teamto continue movement ithout aiting at the breach !entry"point. #eception should be used to confuse the enemy as to thelocation of the primary entry point. This can be achieved byusing stun grenades in an area other than the actualbreach$entry point.

Opening of Doors if not Locked

If the team knos that the door isn%t locked. &ne of to simpleorders are used "pull and go" or "Push and go".A closed door is considered locked in all cases hen a breacheris present, assuming the breacher has the means available todefeat the door.

'ull and go.(hen the team reaches a door &perator ) gives the order "pulland go". &n this one operator steps out of the stack, moves tothe the door, and pulls it open hen operator ) signals "GO",by nodding his head three times. This could also be done by

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operator ), second man in the stack then becomes operator).

'ush and go. This is done the same ay as +pull and go+ except that the dooropens inards. In most cases operator ) opens the doorhimself.

xperienced teams do this automatically ithout anycommands.

Mechanical Breaching The mechanical breach requires increased physical exertion byone or more soldiers using hand tools such as axes, sas,crobars, hooligan tools, or sledgehammers. The mechanicalbreach is not a preferred primary breaching method because itcan be time-consuming and defeat the element of surprise. semechanical breaching as a backup to a ballistic or explosivebreach.

#ynamic ntry gear is electrically non-conductive, features the/ure-0rip handle system , and is resistant to *11,111 volts A2.

 

#ynamic ntry gear demonstration 

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Ballistic breachA useful method of breaching is the shotgun ballistic breach forforced entry of standard doors. se a *3-gauge shotgun loadedith buckshot or slugs to breach most standard doors quickly.

(hen done properly the shotgun breach requires only a feseconds. The to standard techniques of shotgun breaching arethe doorknob breach and the hinge breach. (hen attemptingeither technique, the gunner is announcing his presence byusing the shotgun and is completely exposed to 4re through thedoor. Therefore, exposure time must be minimized and theoperator ) must be ready to gain entry and return 4re as soonas possible. (hile holding the stock of the shotgun in thepocket of his shoulder, the gunner places the muzzle tightly

against the door, and aims don at a 56-degree angle. If theshotgun muzzle is not held tightly against the door, splattermay occur that could a7ect friendly troops. Also, buckshot andri8ed slugs can over penetrate doors and may kill or oundoccupants in the room

#oorknob Breach9or the doorknob breach, the aim point is a spot halfaybeteen the doorknob and the frame, not at the doorknobitself. The gunner 4res to quick shots in the same location,ensuring that the second shot is aimed as carefully as the 4rst.(eak locks may 8y apart ith the 4rst shot, but the gunnershould alays 4re tice. /ome locks that appear to be blonapart have parts still connected that ill delay entry. If the lockis not defeated by the second shot, the gunner repeats theprocedure.

:inge Breach The hinge breach technique is performed much the same as thedoorknob breach, except the gunner aims at the hinges. :e4res three shots per hinge. The 4rst at the middle, then at thetop and bottom :e 4res all shots from less than an inch aayfrom the hinge. Because the hinges are often hidden from vie,the hinge breach is more di;cult.

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team a clear shot at any enemy ho may be blocking theimmediate breach site.

&nly use small arms !6.6>" as a ballistic breach on doorknobs

and hinges as a last resort.

 

Do not attempt to open the door by hand. If the door islocked, this action will alert any combatants inside ofthe room of your intentions and possibly expose thebreacher to re through the doorway.

!xplosi"e entry The use of explosive charges to breach doors or alls onbuildings and aircraft is an excellent /&'. Althoughunfortunately, because of a lack of training, understanding,expertise, and the cost involved, explosive entry is not acommon standard for entry teams. The to prime advantagesof explosive method of entry ?& are the almost guaranteed

entry and the stun e7ect on the occupants in the room.veryone should be stunned to a certain degree, making iteasier to dominate and control the room. :oever, it is notrecommended that the breaching charge be placed on doors oralls leading into the actual room here the hostages arebeing held.xplosive ?& has been perfected to such a degree that thesecondary fragmentation from the door and the risk of over-pressure in@uries to the hostages have been all but eliminated.

xplosives should only be handled by experienced bombtechnician, personnel, or specially trained operators.

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Breaching charges come in several forms from factory madelinear shaped cutting charges to improvised systems madefrom #etonation-2ord. All are usually command detonated ithan electrical 4ring system and blasting cap. #uring explosive

?& training, the team must be protected ith omex hoodsand uniforms, boots, goggles and ear mu7s, entry vests andgloves. If the door must be breached by more conventionalnon-explosive methods, e.g. battering ram, boot or cro bar,then stun grenades should be dropped through broken indosto temporarily disorient the occupants. Alays target to ormore entry points for breaching in case one is too heavilybarricaded to allo entry.

B#!$%&I'( I')!#IO# *$LL+ $'D $#)I)IO'+

Interior alls generally require much less explosive to create asatisfactory breach than do exterior, load-bearing alls. Aneasily fabricated silhouette charge can further reduce theamount of explosive needed to breach plyood, /heetrock, orlight plaster alls. It can also be used to breach ooden ormetal doors. This charge can be emplaced quickly and createsa hole large enough for a man to move through.

!*" Tape to -type silhouette targets, or similar sti7 cardboard,together. To make the charge easier to carry, it can be built tofold in the middle.

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!3" 'lace detonation cord or 8exible linear-shaped charge!9/2" around the edges of the silhouettes, leaving a >-inch tailfor priming. /ecure the cord to the silhouette using sturdy tape!for example, +*11-mph tape+". Tape several small doels or

other materials at various places around the silhouette if using9/2. This provides the necessary stando7 distance to ensurethe maximum shaped charge e7ect.

!=" 'lace three or four strips of heavy-duty, double-sidedcontact tape on the front of the silhouette from top to bottom.2onstruct a sturdy pocket for a brace stick in the appropriateposition on the back of the silhouette.

!5" 'ull the covering o7 the double-sided tape and place thecharge against the all at knee height, bracing it if necessary.'rime the charge, take cover, and detonate.

DOO#-B#!$%&I'( %&$#(!+

/everal di7erent 4eld-expedient charges can be used to breachinterior or exterior doors . Among these are the general-purpose charge, 8exible linear charge, and doorknob charge. All

can be made ahead of time and are simple, compact,lighteight, and easy to place.

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CAUTION. Any time explosive charges are used to reachdoors! the nos! locs and hinges made o# steel and metal canecome lethal pro$ectiles.

(eneral-urpose %harge The general-purpose charge is the most useful preassembledcharge for breaching a door or other barrier. As its nameimplies, it is useful not only for door breaching, but it can alsocut mild steel chain and destroy captured enemy equipment.

!*" /tart building the general-purpose charge ith a length ofdetonation cord about 3 feet long. sing another length of

detonation cord, tie to liknots around the 3-foot long cord. The liknots must have a minimum of six raps and be looseenough for them to slide along the main line, referred to as li/lider. Trim any excess cord from the liknots and secure themith tape, if necessary.

!3" 2ut a block of 25 explosive to a 3-inch square. Tape oneslider knot to each side of the 25 block, leaving the length ofdetonation cord free to slide through the knots.

!=" To breach a standard door, place the top loop of the chargeover the doorknob. /lide the uli knots taped to the 25 so thatthe charge is tight against the knob. 'rime the loose ends ofthe detonation cord ith a ?#I 4ring system and detonate. Tocut mild steel chain, place the loop completely around thechain link to form a girth hitch. Tighten the loop against the linkby sliding the liknots.

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#ubber Band %harge The rubber band charge is another easily fabricated lighteightdevice that can be used to remove the locking mechanism ordoorknob from ooden or light metal doors, or to break a

standard-size padlock at the shackle.

!*" 2ut a *1-inch piece of detonation cord and tie an overhandknot in one end. sing another piece of detonation cord, tie aliknot ith at least eight raps around the 4rst length of cord./lide the liknot tightly up against the &verhand knot. /ecure itin place ith either tape or string. oop a strong rubber bandaround the base of the liknot tied around the detonation cord.

 Tie an &verhand knot at the other end of the cord to form a

pigtail for priming the charge.

!3" Attach the charge to the doorknob !or locking mechanism"by putting the loose end of the rubber band around the knob.

 The charge should be placed beteen the knob and thedoorframe. This places the explosive over the bolt that securesthe door to the frame.

lexible Linear %harge

&ne of the simplest 4eld-expedient charges for breachingooden doors is the 8exible linear charge. It can be made inalmost any length, and it can be rolled up and carried untilneeded. It is e7ective against hollo-core, particle-4lled, andsolid ood doors. (hen detonated, the 8exible linear chargecuts through the door near the hinges.

!*" ay out a length of double-sided contact tape ith thetopside adhesive exposed. 'lace the necessary number ofstrands of detonation cord don the center of the double-sidedtape, pressing them 4rmly in place. ?ilitary detonation cord has

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61 grains of explosives per foot and there are C,111 grains in apound. ?ost residential doors are D1 inches tall and commercialdoors are D5 inches tall. This must be considered hencalculating the quantities of explosives, overpressure and

?/#s. 9or hollo-core doors, use a single strand. 9or particle-4lled doors, use to strands, and for solid ood doors usethree. If the type doors encountered are unknon, use threestrands. &ne of the strands must be cut about a foot longerthan the others and should extend past the end of the double-sided tape. This forms a pigtail here the initiating system isattached once the charge is in place.

!3" 2over the strands of detonation cord and all the exposed

portions of the double-sided tape ith either sturdy single-sidedtape or another length of double-sided tape.