Door breaching is a process used by military, police, or emergency services to force open a closed and/or locked door. A wide range of methods are available, one or more of which may be used in any given situation. These methods may be divided up into mechanical breaching, ballistic breaching, and explosive breaching. [1]
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Mechanical breaching
Mechanical breaching can be minimally destructive, through the use of lock picks. Lock picking is the act of unlocking a lock by analyzing and manipulating the components of the lock device without the original key This method is relatively slow and requires a trained operator, but does not damage the lock or door.
More dynamic methods use force to break the lock or door. The common methods are to use a lever, such as a Halligan bar or crowbar, or to use a tool to concentrate a large amount of force on the door, such as a sledgehammer, hydraulic jack, or battering ram. A Halligan bar (also called a Halligan tool) is a special tool commonly used in the Fire and rescue service. A crowbar, pry bar, or prybar, more informally a jimmy, jimmy bar, jemmy ( British Isles) or gooseneck is A sledgehammer is a Tool consisting of a large flat head attached to a Lever (or handle For other uses see Jack or Carjacking. A jack is mechanical device used to lift heavy loads or apply great forces A battering ram is a Siege engine originating in ancient times to break open Fortification walls or doors [2]
Ballistic breaching
Ballistic breaching uses a projectile weapon to breach an opening. Weapons used can range from the 120mm cannon of a main battle tank with a HEAT round, which will breach most obstacles easily, though the force involved may be far beyond the rules of engagement. Tank classification is a Taxonomy of identifying either the intended role or weight class of Tanks The classification by role was used primarily during In Military or Police operations the rules of engagement ( ROE) determine when where and how force shall be used (for example a submarine of [3] A less damaging ballistic breach needs to destroy either the latch and lock, or the hinges of the door, and the ideal choice for this is the shotgun. A shotgun (also known as a scattergun) is a Firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number While in theory other firearms can be used, handguns are underpowered[4] and rifles are less effective than the shotgun and pose a far higher risk of ricochet and collateral injury. A firearm is a Tool that projects either single or multiple Projectiles at high velocity through a controlled explosion A rifle is a Firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves ("rifling" cut into the barrel walls [3] Most shotgun ammunition can be used for breaching, though the risk of injury varies with type. Of the available shotgun ammunition, shotgun slugs pose the highest risk, as they will retain significant energy to cause lethal wounds well after they have penetrated the door. A shotgun slug is a heavy Lead projectile usually with pre-cut Rifling, often used for hunting large game Buckshot is far safer, and birdshot even safer, as the multiple small projectiles disperse quickly after penetration, reducing the chances of causing a lethal wound. The safest option is a frangible round such as the Hatton round, which turns to dust upon penetrating the door, and disperses completely upon exit. A breaching round or slug-shot is a Shotgun shell specially made for the purposes of Door breaching. [1]
Breaching a door with the fewest number of shots possible is both faster and reduces the chance of collateral damage. Attacking the latch and lock is easiest, as it requires fewer shots and is easiest to target, whereas attacking the hinges requires more shots, and the hinges may be hidden from the outside. Careful aim is required; shots to the lock side are fired at a point halfway between the lock or handle and the door frame in order to hit the bolt holding the door shut. According to US urban warfare doctrine, the breaching operation is performed with the muzzle in contact with the door, or as close as possible, and angled downwards at a 45 degree angle. This process provides the best chance of hitting the desired point, while minimizing risk to occupants of the room being breached. Muzzle attachments are available on some specialized breaching shotguns to facilitate this operation, by holding the barrel securely in place while providing a slight standoff to allow powder gases to escape. [1][5]
Magazine capacity and operating mechanism are also important consideration in a breaching shotgun, because to quickly breach a door requires the ability to quickly fire multiple shots. For a breach on the latch side, US doctrine calls for two shots to be fired, and then an attempt made to open the door. If the door cannot be open, the process would need to be quickly repeated. If the hinges must be breached, then doctrine calls for three shots per hinge followed by an attempt to open the door. [1]
Explosive breaching
Explosive breaching can be the fastest method, though it is also the most dangerous, to both the breachers and the room occupants. Depending on the situation, explosive breaching is potentially slower than a ballistic breach due to the large standoff required when using explosives, if there is no cover available. [3] Breaching can be performed with a specially formed breaching charge placed in contact with the door, or with various standoff breaching devices, such as specialized rifle grenades like the SIMON breach grenade. A rifle grenade is a form of Grenade that utilizes a Rifle as a launch mechanism to increase the effective range of the grenade The SIMON is a Rifle grenade designed to breach through doors developed by Rafael - the Israeli Authority For Development of Weapons [6]
Breaching using explosives is primarily an operation performed by highly trained explosives experts, such as combat engineers. Combat engineering is a Combat service support role of using the knowledge tools and techniques of Engineering by troops in peace and war but specifically in Explosive breaching charges can range from highly focused methods, such as detcord, plastic explosives, or strip shaped charges that explosively cut through doors or latches, to large satchel charges, containing 20 pounds (9 kg) of C-4, that can breach even reinforced concrete bunkers. Detonating cord (also called detonation cord, detacord, det cord, detcord, primer cord or sun cord) is a thin flexible Plastic explosive (or the obsolete term plastique) is a specialised form of Explosive material. A satchel charge is a powerful man-portable explosive device used by Infantry and Airborne forces. C-4 or Composition C-4 is a common variety of military Plastic explosive. Reinforced concrete is Concrete in which reinforcement bars (" Rebars quot or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen a material that would otherwise be A military bunker is a hardened shelter often buried partly or fully underground designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks [7]
Explosive breaching is described in verse 9 of this poem by Rudyard Kipling. Joseph Rudyard Kipling (30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936 was an English Author and poet
Examples of breaching tools and operations
 The adze and pick end of a typical Halligan bar. An adze or adz (ædz is a tool used for smoothing rough-cut Wood in hand Woodworking. |
 A manually operated hydraulic spreader-cutter of a type used by rescue workers to force open doors |
 An externally powered spreader-cutter tool |
 A Halligan tool and an axe, both common tools used by firefighters to breach doors to fight a fire |
 A soldier performs a ballistic breach of a padlocked door using a combat shotgun |
 A ballistic breach at night of a padlocked door; this shotgun has a pistol grip rather than a full stock to make it more compact |
 The breaching shotgun can be carried on a long sling, to allow easy transition to a primary weapon |
 A team of Marines in training places an explosive breaching charge on a door, positioned to separate the door from its hinges. Hydraulic rescue tools are used by emergency rescue personnel to assist Vehicle extrication of crash victims as well as other rescues from small spaces The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape split and cut Wood, Harvest timber, as a Weapon A combat shotgun is a Shotgun that is intended for use in an offensive role typically by a military force |
 A team of Marines in training takes cover behind a protective shield during an explosive breach of a door. |
 A US M100 Grenade Rifle Entry Munition (a SIMON derivative) detonates against a door |
References
- ^ a b c d FM 3-06-11. US Army. Section 3-20, Breaching
- ^ Don Munson. "Action Target’s Tactical Breach Door". Tactical Response Magazine.
- ^ a b c US Army. FM 7-8 INFANTRY RIFLE PLATOON AND SQUAD. Chapter 6, Urban Operations
- ^ See Mythbusters Special 9
- ^ The Mossberg 500 Tactical Cruiser. The cast of the television series MythBusters performs experiments to verify or debunk Urban legends Old wives' tales and the like is equipped with a standoff door breaching barrel
- ^ Scott R. Gourley (March 20). "M100 Grenade Rifle Entry Munition". Army Magazine.
- ^ FM 3-06-11. US Army. Table 8-7, Summary of breaching charges
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