Door breaching is a process used by military, police, or emergency services to force open
closed and/or locked doors.
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, explosive
breaching, and thermal breaching.
Mechanical breaching Mechanical breaching can be minimally destructive,
through the use of lock picks.
This method is relatively slow and requires a trained operator, but does not damage the
lock or door.
Using specialized tools a lock cylinder can also be quickly dismantled still in the door
and unlocked.
This also allows the door to be closed and relocked.
Mechanical breaching also includes hydraulic breaching, which uses a special hydraulic
ram to bust in the door.
The hydraulic ram may be powered manually, pneumatically, or electrically.
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.
Ballistic breaching
Ballistic breaching uses a projectile weapon to breach an opening.
Weapons used can range from small arms to the 120mm cannon of a main battle tank with
a HEAT round, which will breach most obstacles easily, though the force involved may violate
the rules of engagement.
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.
While in theory other firearms can be used, handguns are usually underpowered and rifles
are less effective than the shotgun and pose a far higher risk of ricochet and collateral
injury.
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.
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 TESAR or Hatton round, which turns
to dust upon penetrating the door, and disperses completely upon exit.
Breaching a door with the fewest number of shots possible both is 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.
Magazine capacity and operating mechanism are also important considerations 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 opened, the process would need to be quickly repeated.
If the hinges must be breached, then doctrine calls for a total of three shots, one per
hinge followed by an attempt to open the door.
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.
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.
Breaching using explosives is primarily an operation performed by highly trained explosives
experts, such as combat engineers or sappers.
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 of C-4, that can breach even reinforced concrete bunkers.
Thermal breaching Thermal breaching is one of the least common
techniques and also one of the slowest.
It involves the use of a cutting torch to cut through metal doors.
Examples of breaching tools and operations Mechanical breaching
Ballistic breaching
Explosive breaching
Thermal breaching
See also Mouse-holing
No-knock warrant References