List the six methods of tactical breaching described in the manual.
- Manual Tools
- Mechanical Tools
- Ballistic / Shotgun
- Thermal / Exo-thermal
- Explosive
- Surreptitious
Define Tactical Breaching, and how that may apply to the use of explosives.
Using the minimum amount of force necessary in order to achieve effective penetration into a selected object.
Which of the following is NOT a policy guideline for regulation of a Breacher Team?
A) Written Mission Statement
B) Written Description of standards outlining team guidelines for “qualifications” and “re qualifications.”
C) Written guideline identifying / justifying essential equipment and supplies required to maintain proficiency.
D) Written Protocol for evaluating that the team’s capabilities are following current trends and contemporary standards.
E) ALL OF THE ABOVE*******
Which of the following is NOT administrative duties of the breacher?
A) Familiarize, maintain and properly use tools, explosives, and equipment related to breaching operations.
B) Be prepared to brief command staff and other officials as to the concepts of the explosive breaching as well as the procedures and capabilities of the team.
C) Aggressively build load data and maintain contemporary standards.
D) Train additional personnel to become explosive breachers. *****
E) All of the above.
D) Train additional personnel to become explosive breachers. *******
Define what an explosive is…
A substance that, through chemical reaction, rapidly and violently changes to gas, accompanied by high temperatures, extreme over-pressure, shock and loud noise.
List two categories in which explosives are classified…
- High
2. Low
According to the manual, what speed distinguishes between “burning” and “detonation” ?
Speed of sound through the material. Sub Sonic (Low) Super Sonic (High)
What are the three rates of combustion?
- Ordinary
- Deflagration
- Detonation
Of the the three types of explosions, which applies to explosive breaching?
Chemical
What three physical effects are produced as a result of the combustion process?
- Heat
- Light
- Release of Gas
Define an oxidizer and it’s relationship with explosive compounds…
- Chemical that decompose during the chemical reaction creating oxygen.
(A Chemical explosion requires enough oxygen to initiate and maintain instantaneous combustion. Adequate supply cannot be drawn from air, so a source must be incorporated into the chemical makeup.)
Draw an illustration of a “detonation” and include / label the following:
- Expanded Gases
- Blast pressure
- Shock front of explosion
- Direction of detonation
- Undisrupted Explosion
Look At Sheet
What is generally required for a low explosive to detonate?
Confinement of the explosion and initiation.
What is generally required for a high explosive to detonate?
Shockwave of considerable force.
What type of work effect is associated with low explosives?
They have pushing or heaving power.
What type of work effect is associated with high explosives?
They have shattering power.
List three work effects achieved when utilizing explosives for breaching operations…
- Blast
- Cut
- Push
What is high order detonation?
A complete detonation of the explosive at it’s highest possible velocity.
What is low order detonation?
It is either an incomplete detonation of the explosive or a complete detonation of the explosive at a lower than maximum velocity.
What five factors can cause low order detonation?
- Detonator of inadequate power
- Deterioration of the explosive.
- Poor Contact between the detonator and explosive.
- Lack of continuity in the explosives (airspace).
- Critical diameter less than required.
Define “Tamping” (as it applies to explosives) and explain its application to tactical explosive breaching…
A method of increasing efficiency of a charge by focusing the pressure in the direction of the breach point without increasing the N.E.W.
Explain what is meant by “Reflective Pressure” and how it relates to explosive breaching…
Created when incident overpressure waves are reflected off solid surfaces. The incident overpressure wave bounces off these surfaces and creates reflective overpressure waves. The pressure behind the incident overpressure wave by minimum of double the pressure wave.
Give an example of how the “Diffracted Loading” process may affect the entry team stack…
As a leading edge of the pressure wave strikes the object, a portion is reflected from the front of the surface as the remainder diffracts around the object.
Explain the definition of an Explosive Train…
A series of chemical reactions arranged to achieve a desired end result.
