Breaching Operations

Explosive breaching is the most effective method for rapid reduction of complex obstacles. It provides the fastest lane creation but requires careful planning, precise execution, and strict safety protocols to protect friendly forces from blast and fragmentation effects.

Explosive Breaching Principles:

• Minimum Distance: Personnel must be outside the danger radius
• Tamping: Confinement increases explosive effectiveness
• Standoff: Maintaining safe distance from detonation
• Timing: Synchronization with suppression and assault
• Overlap: Multiple charges ensure complete reduction

Breaching Charge Calculations:

Standard breaching formula: P = R x K x C

• P = Pounds of TNT required
• R = Thickness of material (feet)
• K = Material factor (Concrete = 0.5, Rock = 0.8, Soil = 0.3)
• C = Breaching factor (External = 1.5, Uncased internal = 1.0, Cased = 0.5)

Charge Types for Breaching:

• Bangalore Torpedo: Long explosive-filled tube for wire obstacles
• M180 Demolition Cratering Charge: 40-lb charge for abatis and obstacles
• M183 Satchel Charge: 20-lb assembly for general demolition
• M112 Block Charge: 1.25-lb block for precise cutting
• Composition Charges: Multiple charges combined for larger obstacles

Wire Obstacle Breaching:

• Bangalore Method: Push or pull Bangalore through wire, detonate
• Donovan Charge: Explosive-filled canvas tube for concertina
• Charge Placement: Center of wire entanglement, properly secured
• Safety: Minimum 300-meter danger radius for Bangalore
• Lane Width: Single Bangalore creates 1-2 meter lane

Log/Abatis Breaching:

• Tree Cutting: Use timber-cutting formula: P = (D²/40) x K
• Stump Removal: 2-3 lb TNT per stump depending on size
• Charge Placement: On contact with wood, properly tamped
• Multiple Trees: Simultaneous detonation preferred
• Safety: Danger radius equals tree height

Anti-Tank Ditch Reduction:

• Methods: Fill sections, create ramps, or bridge
• Explosive Fill: M180 charges or bulk explosives in sections
• Access Ramps: Construct using soil, debris, or fascines
• Calculation: Determine volume to be moved vs. explosive effect
• Time: Often faster to fill with expedient materials

Urban Explosive Breaching:

• Door Breaching: Minimum 1 lb C4 on hinges or lock
• Wall Breaching: Calculate for wall thickness and material
• Internal Charges: Most efficient, requires access
• External Charges: Requires tamping or sandbags
• Fragmentation Control: Consider friendly positions and civilians

Explosive Safety During Breaching:

• Maintain positive control of all explosive materials
• Clear danger radius before detonation
• Use proper initiation systems (electric or non-electric)
• Account for all explosives before and after mission
• Establish blast warning signals
• Consider secondary fragmentation from obstacles
• Protect hearing and eyesight of personnel

Mechanical breaching uses tools, equipment, and manual labor to reduce obstacles. It is quieter than explosive breaching and produces no telltale blast signature, making it ideal for covert operations and when explosives are unavailable or inappropriate.

Mechanical Breaching Principles:

• Time vs. Noise: Trade-off between speed and signature
• Tool Selection: Match tool to obstacle type
• Team Coordination: Organized work parties maximize efficiency
• Rest Rotation: Sustained operations require relief crews
• Equipment Security: Prevent loss or damage to tools

Wire Cutting Tools:

• Wire Cutters: Standard military issue, effective on single strands
• Bolt Cutters: Heavy-duty cutting for thick wire and posts
• Hooligan Tool: Multi-purpose pry bar with wire cutters
• Axe/Entrenching Tool: For cutting pickets and posts
• Technique: Cut at ground level, remove rather than just cut

Concertina Reduction:

• Method: Cut securing wires, roll or drag aside
• Team: Minimum 2 soldiers per concertina roll
• Tools: Cutters, gloves, poles for rolling
• Safety: Sharp barbs cause severe lacerations
• Time: 5-15 minutes per roll depending on entanglement

Mechanical Vehicle Breaching:

• Mine Plows: Excavate buried mines and expose surface mines
• Roller Systems: Detonate pressure-fused mines ahead of vehicle
• Flails: Chain-based systems for mine detonation
• Dozer Blades: Push obstacles, fill ditches, clear routes
• AVLB: Bridge vehicles for gap crossing

Manual Abatis Reduction:

• Assessment: Determine density and tree size
• Tool Requirements: Axes, saws, chainsaws if available
• Method: Cut trees at base, drag clear of lane
• Priority: Create minimum vehicle width first
• Secondary: Widen for two-way traffic if time permits

Ditch Crossing Equipment:

• Fascines: Bundles of brush/logs to fill ditches
• Hesco Barriers: Gabion-style fillable barriers
• Expedient Fills: Rocks, debris, soil in sandbags
• Dozer Operations: Push soil to create access ramps
• Time Estimate: 30-60 minutes for vehicle lane

Tool Organization and Maintenance:

• Maintain sharp edges on cutting tools
• Carry spare handles for axes and sledges
• Organize tools for easy access during operations
• Assign specific tools to designated soldiers
• Account for tools before departing breach site
• Replace broken or worn tools immediately

Mechanical Breaching Team Organization:

• Team Leader: Directs operations, maintains security
• Cutters: Primary wire and obstacle cutters (2-4 soldiers)
• Security: Provide 360-degree security during reduction
• Marking Team: Install and maintain lane markers
• Relief Crew: Rotate in to maintain pace

Ballistic breaching uses firearms to defeat locks, hinges, and light obstacles. It is faster than mechanical breaching and quieter than explosive breaching for certain applications. Proper technique and weapon selection are critical for effectiveness and safety.

Ballistic Breaching Principles:

• Target Selection: Identify critical failure points (locks, hinges)
• Angle of Attack: 45-degree angles maximize effectiveness
• Standoff Distance: Balance accuracy with safety
• Backstop: Consider where rounds go after impact
• Follow-Through: Be prepared to breach again if needed

Shotgun Breaching:

• Weapon: 12-gauge pump or semi-automatic shotgun
• Ammunition: 00 buckshot or specialized breaching rounds
• Standoff: 6-12 inches from target
• Target: Hinges, locks, or door frame near lock
• Angle: 45 degrees inward and upward
• Rounds: 2-3 rounds per hinge, 1-2 on lock

Door Breaching Technique:

1. Identify door type (inward vs. outward opening)
2. Locate hinges and lock mechanism
3. Position breacher at 45-degree angle to target
4. Maintain proper standoff distance
5. Fire aimed shots at hinge/lock locations
6. Step aside for assault team to enter
7. Be prepared for immediate action

Breaching Ammunition Types:

• 00 Buckshot: Standard, effective on wood and light metal
• Breaching Slugs: Frangible rounds designed to break locks
• Frangible Rounds: Disintegrate on hard surfaces, reduce over-penetration
• Specialty Loads: Sintered iron or compressed powder

Rifle Breaching:

• Caliber: 5.56mm and 7.62mm can defeat light barriers
• Volume: Multiple rounds on target required
• Application: Padlocks, hasps, light metal barriers
• Limitations: Ricochet hazard, slower than shotgun
• Technique: Controlled pairs on lock mechanism

Ballistic Breaching Safety:

• All personnel wear eye and ear protection
• Clear backstop area of friendly forces
• Consider ricochet hazards from metal surfaces
• Maintain muzzle awareness at all times
• Account for over-penetration in buildings
• Be aware of civilian presence in urban areas
• Have medical support immediately available

Ballistic vs. Other Methods:

Factor	Ballistic	Mechanical	Explosive
Speed	Fast	Slow	Very Fast
Noise	Moderate	Low	High
Equipment	Shotgun + ammo	Tools	Demolitions
Training	Moderate	Low	High

Limitations of Ballistic Breaching:

• Ineffective against reinforced or armored doors
• Multiple rounds may be required
• Ricochet hazards in confined spaces
• Ammunition weight and bulk
• Weather effects on weapon function
• Legal restrictions in some operational environments

Obstacle reduction encompasses techniques for reducing complex obstacle systems including minefields, wire entanglements, abatis, and anti-vehicle obstacles. Understanding the integration of different breaching methods enables efficient lane creation under tactical conditions.

Minefield Breaching:

• Probing: Manual detection using prodders, slow but thorough
• Mechanical Breaching: Rollers, flails, and plows
• Explosive Breaching: MICLIC, Bangalore torpedoes, line charges
• Manual Lane Creation: Detect and mark individual mines
• Proofing: Verify lane is clear before use

MICLIC (Mine-Clearing Line Charge):

• Description: Rocket-propelled line charge
• Range: 100+ meters
• Width: Creates 0.6-meter lane
• Effect: Detonates or disrupts buried and surface mines
• Reload: Requires trailer-mounted reloading
• Safety: 500-meter danger radius

Wire Obstacle Systems:

• Concertina: Coiled barbed wire, easiest to breach mechanically
• Constantine: Knife-rest type, requires cutting multiple strands
• Triple Strand: Three rows of concertina in depth
• Tanglefoot: Low wire for foot traffic disruption
• Combination: Wire plus mines or trip flares

Wire Breaching Sequence:

1. Reconnoiter to identify extent and type of wire
2. Locate and mark any mines or booby traps
3. Select breach point with best cover/concealment
4. Choose method: explosive, mechanical, or combination
5. Create lane at least 1 meter wide (infantry) or 4 meters (vehicles)
6. Mark lane entrance and exit clearly
7. Proof lane before allowing traffic

Abatis Reduction:

• Assessment: Tree size, density, entanglement
• Explosive Method: Calculate charges for each tree
• Mechanical Method: Cut and drag using tools
• Vehicle Method: Dozers or armored vehicles with blades
• Priority: Clear minimum width first, then improve

Anti-Tank Obstacles:

• Dragon's Teeth: Concrete pyramids — requires heavy equipment or explosives
• Hedgehogs: Steel obstacles — cut with thermal or explosive
• Jersey Barriers: Concrete barriers — crane or explosive removal
• Craters: Explosive or mechanical fill
• Ditches: Fill, bridge, or create ramps

Lane Proofing and Marking:

• Visual Inspection: Walk entire lane length
• Prodding: Manual check for buried mines
• Electronic Detection: Mine detectors if available
• Lane Markers: Standardized day/night marking
• Guide Tape: Physical marking of safe path
• Lanes Log: Record all lanes created

Standard Lane Marking System:

• Entrance: Two markers forming a "V" pointing into lane
• Sides: Single markers every 10 meters
• Exit: Two markers forming "V" pointing away from lane
• Colors: White for safe lane, red for danger
• Night: Chem lights or reflective tape
• Width: Markers indicate lane boundaries

Complex Obstacle Reduction:

Many military obstacles combine multiple types (minefields with wire, abatis with ditches). Effective reduction requires:

• Thorough reconnaissance to identify all components
• Prioritization of reduction efforts
• Integration of multiple breaching methods
• Sequential reduction from front to back
• Continuous security during operations
• Quality control through proofing

Urban breaching presents unique challenges due to confined spaces, structural considerations, and proximity to non-combatants. Success requires mastery of all breaching methods combined with tactical awareness of the urban environment.

Urban Breaching Considerations:

• Structural Integrity: Breaching may compromise building stability
• Civilian Presence: Minimize risk to non-combatants
• Collateral Damage: Control blast and fragmentation
• Confined Space: Limited room for operations and backblast
• Multi-Story: Consider floor strength and ceiling height
• Reinforced Structures: Modern buildings require heavier charges

Urban Entry Points:

• Doors: Primary entry point, often reinforced
• Windows: Secondary entry, glass hazard
• Walls: Create new entry points (mouseholes)
• Floors/Ceilings: Vertical breaching between levels
• Roofs: Top-down entry for multi-story buildings

Door Breaching in Urban Environments:

• Assessment: Door material, hinges, lock type, barricades
• Inward Opening: Attack hinges or force with mechanical tools
• Outward Opening: Attack lock side, may require frame destruction
• Reinforced Doors: May require wall breach around frame
• Explosive Method: 1-2 lb C4 on hinges or lock
• Ballistic Method: Shotgun on hinges at 45-degree angle

Wall Breaching:

• Material Identification: Wood frame, concrete, brick, cinder block
• Wood Frame: 1-2 lb C4 on studs or mechanical removal
• Cinder Block: 5-10 lb C4 for standard wall
• Brick: 10-15 lb C4 depending on thickness
• Reinforced Concrete: 15-25 lb C4 or specialized charges
• Charge Placement: Internal charges most efficient

Mousehole Creation:

Mouseholes allow movement between rooms/buildings without using corridors:

• Size: Minimum 2x3 feet for soldier in combat gear
• Location: Corner of room for structural integrity
• Method: Explosive or mechanical depending on material
• Safety: Clear room of personnel before detonation
• Support: May need to reinforce with timber

Urban Breaching Safety:

• Evacuate civilians from blast zone
• Consider building collapse potential
• Control overpressure in confined spaces
• Secure utilities (gas, electric) before explosive breaching
• Position security teams before breach
• Establish casualty evacuation routes
• Have structural engineer assess if available

Floor/Ceiling Breaching:

• Assessment: Floor thickness, reinforcement, occupancy below
• Wood Floors: Mechanical removal or small explosive charges
• Concrete Floors: Calculated breaching charges
• Charge Placement: Use tamping to direct blast downward
• Verticality: Ensure drop zone is clear before breach
• Structural: Avoid load-bearing walls and columns

Tactical Movement After Breach:

• Security team secures breach point immediately
• Assault team enters rapidly after detonation
• Clear immediate threat area (fatal funnel)
• Establish foothold for follow-on forces
• Maintain communication with support elements
• Be prepared for counterattack

Urban Breaching Equipment:

• Shotgun: Primary ballistic breaching tool
• C4/Det Cord: Primary explosive for urban use
• Battering Ram: Mechanical door breach
• Hooligan Tool: Multi-purpose pry and breach
• Thermal Lance: Cutting metal doors/obstacles
• Wall Saws: Mechanical wall breach (time-intensive)
• Flashbangs: Distraction devices (not breaching)

Breaching Team Organization (Urban):

• Breach Team Leader: Plans and coordinates breach
• Breacher: Executes the breach
• Security: Protects team during setup
• Assault Element: Ready to enter immediately
• Support: Suppression and obscuration if needed