Principles Of Assault

Detailed Planning
Ideally, the leader of the assault team gathers all available intelligence about the crisis scene, targets, and innocents. He diagrams and discusses the proposed plan, outlining each team’s actions and responsibilities, location, fields of fire, and special tasks even to the point of a wall-by-wall and door-by-door layout of the objective, where available. Since the assault team usually already has specialized training, the operation is based on well-understood, pre-established standing operating procedure. When considerable preparation time is available, the team sometimes conducts step-by-step walk-through exercises on a mock-up that duplicates the target environment. Some units maintain permanent "shoot houses" or even airliner/ship mock-ups for practicing marksmanship and tactics more realistically.
In a prolonged standoff, the attackers can sometimes bring in specialized equipment for probing the inside of a well-defended area. Sensitive thermal cameras can help locate the occupants, and surveillance personnel can run microphones and fiber-optic cameras through walls, ceilings, and floors. If hostages escape or can communicate/signal the attackers, they can provide more information from inside.
However, the time and resources to carry out such luxurious preparations are not always there. Not every attacker can field an overwhelming force of specially trained and equipped men with reinforcements standing by. Information about the inside of an enemy-held building or vehicle may not be accessible beyond studying it through binoculars or a rifle scope. While some attackers can go to the lengths of wearing the enemy down by siege or even tunneling under them, others must get the current job done immediately with the force available in order to move on to the next.


Surprise
An assault should come at a time when least expected, taking into consideration fatigue, normal sleep periods, and other factors that detract from the target's alertness. Diversions are an essential element in achieving surprise. Staged emergencies, such as a mock auto accident, fire, or explosion near the crisis site, can divert the target's attention away from the assaulting elements. Explosive breaching and diversionary devices, such as flashbang, smoke, or gas grenades can be employed to distract and disorient the targets. Negotiators can try to manipulate the defenders into a more vulnerable position or convince them that their position will not be stormed.


Methods Of Entry
When law enforcement clears a building, they usually work in a slow and deliberate manner using ballistic shields and mirrors for searching. This affords the highest degree of safety and security for the police, as well as any uninvolved bystanders inside the search area, who can be identified and safely removed without subjecting them to the shock and danger of a sudden assault. When suspects are encountered, the police can confront them with an alert, armed force and try to take control without shooting. If the searchers meet heavy resistance, they can usually pull back without harm and prepare for a dynamic entry.
However, against determined, well-armed opponents who fight in concert to defend an area and keep it under their control, slow stop-and-go movement can cause the deaths of many attackers and hostages. That leads to dynamic entry used in military operations or hostage rescues. It is the popular image of CQC: a flood of gunmen who burst in without warning and attempt to seize the area. Dynamic entry tactics must be rapid and aggressive, ideally a continuous flow using overwhelming force that does not stop until the threat is eliminated.
In the vast majority of hostage rescue and other dynamic CQC operations, it is desirable to use multiple simultaneous attacks from different entry points to overload the target's ability to react effectively. The more entry points the attackers can choose from, the better their chances. The teams actually entering the objective usually have to synchronize with snipers, negotiators, power technicians, perimeter guards, and others who assist from the outside. Medical personnel, investigators, and bomb experts may be prepped to enter the scene as soon as the initial attackers get control.
It is important that a central commander coordinate all armed elements, not only to better complete a sweep of the target area, but especially to guard against friendly fire. When large areas must be searched, leaders will assign boundaries between elements and may track them by radio to ensure they do not interfere with each other. The goal is to establish overlapping fields of fire, so that multiple shooters can attack at once from different directions without danger of hitting one another.
Also, it is possible that a point of entry can be created by a precision explosive device to catch the adversary by surprise.


Speed
Once the assault begins, the team must gain control before the target understands what is happening and can prepare an effective defense or mount a counterattack. The defenders sometimes have a contingency plan that could cause the attack to fail instantly, such as killing hostages, detonating bombs, or destroying evidence. If they can execute an organized plan, such as falling back into a prepared stronghold, or breaking through the perimeter, the possibility of friendly casualties increases. Speed is achieved through well-designed tactics, such as gaining proximity with an undetected approach, the use of multiple entry points, and explosive breaching. Note that the need for speed does not necessarily translate to individual operators choosing to run in these situations.


Violence Of Action
For the dynamic entry team, gaining and maintaining physical and psychological momentum is essential. They smash down doors, blast holes in walls, come through windows, and drop from helicopters. Vehicle-mounted rams and platforms are used to create unexpected entry points. The sensory onslaught from tear gas, explosive breaching, flashbangs, and gunfire is complemented by the intimidating and aggressive actions of the assault team. Hostiles do sometimes hide among the hostages, so once the shooting has stopped, operators must maintain dominance over anyone still alive.
The defenders try to stop enemies close to the entry points. The "fatal funnel" is the dangerous area where the assaulter is silhouetted against his own entry point from the perspective of defenders inside the room. Once operators begin to enter, the defenders try to keep them from escaping the fatal funnel. The attackers are also vulnerable from the corners closest to the entry point, the first place from which they can be hit from behind as they enter the room. If the first attackers cannot clear the corners and get out of the fatal funnel, allowing those behind to move in and help, the attack can bog down.
Military uses of close quarters battle vary by unit type, branch and mission. Military operations other than war MOOTW may involve peacekeeping or riot control. Specialized forces such as the U.S. Marine Corps specialized units like: RTT, FAST, SRT and U.S. Marine Corps special operations teams such as Recon and MSOB platoons, U.S. Coast Guard VBST Vessel Board and Search Team, PSU Port Security UnitMSST Marine Safety and Security Team TACLET Tactical Law Enforcement Teamor U.S. Navy VBSS Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure teams may adapt CQC tactics to their specific needs, e.g. for the boarding of compliant and non-compliant vessels at sea. Hostage rescue or extraction by commando troops such as the British or Australian Special Air Service, Delta Force, U.S. Navy SEALs or Sayeret Matkal may involve even more esoteric adaptations or variations, depending on specialized environments, weapons technology, political considerations or a mixture of friendly, unfriendly or civilian personnel.
Armies that often engage in urban warfare operation may train most of their infantry in basic CQC doctrine as it relates to common tasks such as building entry, "clearing a room" and concussion and other grenades.

Special Police

Special Police does not have a consistent international meaning. In many cases it will describe a police force or a unit within a police force whose duties and responsibilities are significantly different from other forces in the same country or significantly different from other police in the same force as described in the following sections. The status of Special constable in many (if not most) cases does not indicate a member of a special police force; in countries in the Common wealth of Nations and often elsewhere it will usually describe a voluntary or part-time member of a national or local police force or a person involved in law enforcement who is not a police officer but has some of the powers of a police officer.

CQB(CLOSE QUARTER BATTLE)

Battles that occur at close quarters, such as within a room or hallway, must be planned and executed with care. Use room clearing techniques when the tactical situation calls for room to room clearing with enemy combatants and non-combatants. Units must train, practice, and rehearse the techniques until each team operates smoothly. Each operator must understand the principles room clearing, such as surprise, speed, and controlled violence of action.
Surprise
The key to a successful assault at close quarters. The entry team clearing the room must achieve surprise, if only for seconds, by deceiving, distracting, or startling the enemy. Sometimes stun grenades are used to achieve surprise. Surprise is when your entry is not compromised
Speed
This provides a measure of security to the clearing team. Speed allows the operators to use the first few vital seconds provided by surprise to their maximum advantage. Speed is moving only as fast as you can shoot.
Violence of Action
This eliminates or neutralizes the enemy while giving him the least chance of inflicting friendly casualties. Violence of action is not limited to the application of firepower only. It involves a operators mind-set of complete domination. Each of the principles of precision room-clearing has a synergistic relationship to the others.
If you don’t have speed and surprise you can’t have violence of action.

BASIC

Most missions will require using a combination of stealth and dynamic techniques. Stealth being a slow and quiet approach to the area to be cleared. When all are in place and if not compromised, you switch to dynamic techniques with speed, surprise and violence of action. Room clearing is generally accomplished using a four man team. Entry does not always require four operators. If a specific room is too small or there are less than four operators, the room may be cleared with less. However, never clear a room with less than two operators and 1 to provide backup. Choose the entry technique based on the mission, layout of the room and the teams ability. The term point of domination refers to the two corners of the room assigned to the numbers 1 and 2 operators. These points allow the team to gain control of the objective. Each team member is assigned a different, but interlocking field of fire / AOR (Area Of Responsibility). This ensures mutual supporting fires. CQB is dynamic in nature. When completed with precision, it overwhelms the enemy and allows the team to move on to the next objective very quickly. When a room is cleared, the exiting procedure for leaving the room varies depending on the location of the entry point

Read systems and no read systems
The two different types of entry options are read systems and no read systems. In no read systems the direction to move in the room is predetermined. In read systems you have to watch the operator in front of you and then go to the opposite direction:
Predetermined
Some teams use the technique of predesignating which way each man will move after entering a room. For example. First man always goes left, the second always goes right, or vice a versa.

The path of least resistance
When using a doorway as the point of entry, the path of least resistance is determined initially based on the way the door opens; if the door opens inward he plans to move away from the hinges. If the door opens outward, he plans to move toward the hinged side. Upon entering, the size of the room, enemy situation, and furniture or other obstacles that hinder or channel movement become factors that influence the number 1 man's direction of movement. The point of using this technique is to get the first man into the room as quickly as possible to allow him to clear the fatal funnel quickly and allow the rest of the team to make a smoother entry rather than keep them bogged up at the fatal funnel.
Immediate threat
Another method is to allow the first man to pick his direction based on immediate threat. The partner then takes the opposite side of the room. This can only be done once the assault has been initiated.
Buttonhook
First operator always make a turn around the doorframe, clearing a large portion of the room while entering. The second operator then moves across the doorway and clears the hard corner. If the first operator sees a threat when he enters he will move to it and the second operator will take the opposite AOR of the room.
The Stack up
Once the approach to the room or building is completed, the team stacks in a single file to ease the flow into the room, parallel to the outside wall. Muzzle discipline and awareness is vital. The first operator provides security on the entry point. This point is normally a door. The second operator provides security to the front of the team. The number 3 and 4 operator cover opposite threat areas in the stack, and if none exist the weapon is placed is in ready position. Operators shut get as close as possible to the operator in front of him. A support element shut cover the rear of the entry team.
When the situation allows, it is important to ensure that each team member is prepared to enter the entry point to the room before the assault. This is achieved while in the stack position.
When operator number 4 is ready, he squeezes the shoulder of operator number 3 with the non firing hand. This action continues up the line. When the signal reaches operator number 1, he knows that the rest of the team are ready to follow him into the room. If the team decides to use a flash grenade the number 2 man shows this grenade to number 1 man instead of squeezing the shoulder. (The grenade is shown to the front man, by holding it up in front of his eyes, while he continues to provide cover).
If someone inside opens the door before this sequence is completed, the team will immediately enter the room.
If the team uses the technique of predesignating, the operators shut stack tight with the weapon oriented in the direction he will move when he enters the room. If he is to clear to the left, his weapon will be on the left side of the operator in front of him. This ensures rapid target acquisition without sweeping his weapon across the body of the man in front.

BREACHING
A part of room clearing is the ability to gain access quickly to the rooms to be cleared. Breaching techniques vary based on the type of construction encountered and the types of munitions available to the breaching element. Techniques range from simple mechanical breaching to complex, specialized demolitions. A closed door is considered locked in all cases when a breacher is present, assuming the breacher has the means available to defeat the lock. Once the other team members are stacked, the breacher moves to the door and breaches it on the signal of operator number 1. The brecher then steps back in order to clear the path for operator number 4. If no breaching equipment is available, a quick attempt to open the door, from the side may be made. If the door is locked, kick it open. However, this should be the last choice for defeating a locked door. Kicking generally requires more than one attempt to defeat the lock. After the first attempt, the breacher's chances of drawing fire through the door are significantly increased.

Read more of this in BREACHING found on the menu on the top of this page.
ROOM ENTRY
The entire team enters the room as quickly and smoothly as possible and clears the doorway immediately. If possible the team moves from a covered or concealed position already in their entry order. Ideally, the team arrives and passes through the entry point without having to stop.
The door is the focal point of anyone in the room. It is known as the fatal funnel , because it focuses attention at the precise point where the individual team members are the most vulnerable. Moving into the room quickly reduces the chance anyone will be hit by enemy fire directed at the doorway. The team may choose to create a diversion (use a stun-hand grenade) to momentarily distract the defender while it enters and achieves domination of the room.
On the signal to go, the clearing team moves through the door quickly and takes up positions inside the room that allow it to completely dominate the room and eliminate the threat. Team members stop movement only after they have cleared the door and reached their designated point of domination. Each member of the team must know his sector of fire (AOR) and how his sector overlaps and links with the sectors of the other team members. Team members do not move to the point of domination and then engage their targets. They engage targets as they move to their designated point. However, engagements must not slow movement to their points of domination. Team members may shoot from as short a range as 1 to 2 inches. They engage the most immediate enemy threats first. Examples of immediate threats are enemy personnel who are:
-Armed and prepared to return fire immediately.
-Blocking movement to the position of domination.
-Within arm's reach of a clearing team member.
-Within 3 to 5 feet of the breach point.


CLEAR A CONNECTED ROOM
Open door:
If the door to the connected room is open, and a threat is identified in the room, it may be engaged from the cleared room. Once this firing has stopped, the SITREP will be restarted if necessary. The team stacks in preparation for entry into the next room. When the team leader declares the first room clear, the team will automatically stack on the entrance to the next room. If the team is spread out in the room, crossing the doorway would not only place a soldier in the fatal funnel unnecessarily, it could also mask the cover fire other team members. Therefore it might be necessary to stack up on both sides of the door.
Closed door:
Standard room clearing SOP.
CLEAR A FLOOR
When clearing a single floor complex, the principles discussed in room clearing and connecting room clearing are used. The only added features are the hallways and an additional teams
CLEAR A STAIRWAY
When multilevel structures are encountered, stairs become an added obstacle that will require manoeuvre. One of the more dangerous stair situations that a team is likely to encounter is a stairway with a turn between floors. Besides the blind spot at the turn, these stairways often have a loft that overlooks the bottom portion of the stairway. If the team is ascending, the number 1 soldier (as always) provides security to his direct front. Soldier number 2 secures the top row of stairs. Soldier number 3 secures the loft area. If a loft area does not exist, soldier number 3 secures the top of the second row of stairs. If the team is descending, each soldier has the same area of responsibility, except that the bottom of the stairway is secured, as opposed to the top.
Stairs with split level landings that have a space allowing one to see up through to the top from below should be cleared as follows:
The first operator stands on the first level looking up covering the space between the stairs as the second operator takes Point and clears ahead of the Train to the next landing, where he stops and also takes up an upward cover position. The train moves up the stairs past the first operator who falls in at the rear. He is now the last man. He will fall in walking backwards covering the rear. Once the train reaches the second operators position, the operator in front of the train takes over the point and moves to the next landing while the second operator now covers the space above the moving Train. During movement, the Train always moves close to the wall, under the staircase, to stay out of sight and enemy-fire. Those covering the movement must stand in view so that they can see through the spaces to the top and bottom of the stairs.
Internal Stairs with no gab between the stairs are normally cleared using a l man clearance. An operator will clear ahead of the Train.

External stairs primarily are located on a main superstructure. The best method for clearing stairs is with a four man clearance team. The standard operating procedure is as follows: Left, right. forward, and back. The number 1 man always clears left, number 2 man always clears right. Number 3 man in the stack clears forward. The number 4 man clears back. This way 360 degrees of security is maintained.
COMMUNICATION
When the room has been dominated, communication is required between the team members in order to clear the room quickly and move on to the next objective. Whether scanning the room or providing security on possible threats, the team members cannot shift their atention around the room to ascertain the current situation. To solve this problem, the team leader calls for a status when he determines that no immediate threat exists. This status or situation report consists of each clearing operators current condition and any possible threat in his sector. The number 1 operator states his situation to the rest of the team. The number 2 operator follows with his report and so on down the line. The team leader absorbs all this information and then gives directions based on the information. The conversation should be at a level that each team member may hear, but no louder. If operator number 1 fails to sound off, operator number 2 states his status. If operator number 1 is down, the team will know it. If soldier number 1 fails to sound off due to a mental lapse, he may give a SITREP once the other team members have given theirs.
Read more of this in SIGNALS found on the menu on the top of this page.
SECURE UNKNOWNS
The clearing team secures and identifies all personnel found in a room or building that is being cleared. Until identified, they approach non combatants in the same manner as combatants.

Read more of this in HAND 2 HAND found on the menu on the top of this page
GENERAL RULES

No matter what the room configuration, there are a few rules that should always be adhered to. These rules include the following:

Know that it does not matter if the person in front of you goes the wrong way when entering the room. Just go the opposite way of the operator in front of you and it will work out.
Enter the room as quickly and smoothly as possible and do not waste movements. Remember smooth is fast. The faster each team member picks up its initial point of aim, the more difficult it becomes for the defender. Even a prepared defender can be caught off guard.
Clear (do not stop) the fatal funnel. The number 3 and number 4 soldiers are especially prone to stopping in the funnel.
Ensure that the doorway is completely cleared before assuming a final position in the room.
Stay focused. Never stop scanning your sector for targets unless:
You identify a threat in your sector. This threat could be an open door leading to an uncleared room, a person in the room other than one of the team members, an obstacle that cannot be cleared visually from your position, or anything else that you may determine as a threat. If such a threat exists, provide security for the team by covering it with your weapon. You are ordered by the team leader to perform another task.
Ensure that if you fall down while entering the room, you stay down and do not move. Do not get up until a team member places his hands on you and lifts you up. If a team member arbitrarily gets up, he may become an impediment to the rest of the team's movements. Another possibility is that he would rise into the path of a team member's bullet.
Rehearse communication. As stated above, speed and momentum will make or break this type of action. Poor communication techniques will slow your building clearing to a crawl.
Ensure that each team member knows the procedures for each position. After the first room is cleared in a multi room objective, a team member may find that he is in a different position in the stack than when the assault started.
The team leader should always attempt to avoid being the number 1 soldier when entering a room. This can normally be accomplished, but in some situations it will be unavoidable.
Ensure that you never enter a room alone. Two personnel are the minimum room-clearing team. If two soldiers are entering a room (either due to the size of the room or attrition), they should assume the number 1 and number 2 soldiers' positions.
Ensure that you never flag a fellow team member. Flagging is defined as pointing your weapon at or sweeping your weapon across another team member. Muzzle awareness, at all times, is imperative.
Short Reminder:
-Move tactically and silently while securing the corridors to the room to be cleared. Carry only the minimum amount of equipment.
-Arrive undetected at the entry to the room in the correct order of entrance and be prepared to enter on a single command.
-Enter quickly and dominate the room. Move immediately to positions that allow complete control of the room and provide unobstructed fields of fire.
-Eliminate the enemy in the room by fast, accurate fire.
-Gain and maintain immediate control of the situation and all personnel in the room.
-Confirm whether enemy casualties are wounded or dead. Disarm and segregate the wounded. Search all enemy casualties. Handcuff everyone.
-Perform a cursory search of the room. Determine if a detailed search is required.
-Evacuate all wounded and any friendly dead.
-Mark the room as cleared using a simple, clearly identifiable marking according to the unit SOP.
-Maintain security and be prepared to react to more enemy contact at any moment. Do not neglect rear security

Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM)

Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) is responsible for all special forces operations that will be capable of responding to terrorism and threats to Canadians and Canadian interests around the world.

Composition
CANSOFCOM is composed of:
• Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), the Canadian Forces’ special operations and counterterrorism unit
• 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron
• Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Company
• Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR)
CANSOFCOM is capable of operating as an independent formation but its primary focus is to generate Special Operations Forces (SOF) elements to support Canada Command (CANCOM) and the Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM). Integrating special operations forces in this manner increases their impact in operations, as well as the range of options available to the government in the deployment of the Canadian Forces.
Commanding officers
Colonel David Barr, CD, was the Commander of CANSOFCOM from its formation to 2007. Colonel D. Michael Day, CD is the current Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command .
Uniform
All members of CANSOFCOM wear the Tan beret. This includes both members of the Navy and Air Force, who in turn trade in their respective peak cap and wedge. However, they do retain their original cap badge.
Other Elite
Canadian Forces members undergo rigorous training of a variety of types; these soldiers are not necessarily employed in "special forces" roles. Some of this specialized training includes Army snipers, parachutists, pathfinders, and combat divers, as well as foreign training such as Ranger training with the US Army Rangers. Many soldiers who have received such training utilize these skill sets in regular combat arms units, and are not considered "special forces".
Marine Commando Regiment
On January 30, 2007, the Ottawa Citizen reported on the forthcoming creation of a Marine Commando Regiment, to be based in Comox, B.C., and will initially consist of 250 members. The unit will be responsible for responding to seaborne terrorist incidents, as well as Non-combatant Evacuation Operations in countries accessible by water.[1]

bOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais, or Special Police Operations Battalion)

BOPE (Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais, or Special Police Operations Battalion), is the elite group of the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.


Urban Warfare
Due to the nature of crime in favelas, BOPE units have extensive experience in urban warfareas well as progression in confined and restricted environments. It also utilizes equipment deemed more powerful than traditional civilian law enforcement, such as weapons chambered in .50 BMG.
The armored vehicles - The "Caveirões"
The force has a fleet of armored vehicles, which are known as “Pacificador” (Peacemaker), or “Caveirão”[1] (Big Skull). These vehicles are used in operations in slums (favelas) where BOPE faces intense conflicts with drug dealers. They are equipped with heavy armament: firing portsfor IMBEL MD2 rifle variants of the FN FAL, or the H&K G3 rifle, and in the back and front, .50 caliber machine guns.
Missions
• Break barricades constructed by drug traffickers;
• Extract police officers or civilians injured in confrontations;
• Serve high-risk arrest warrants;
• Hostage rescues;
• Suppress prison rebellions;
• Special missions in swamps or mountainous terrains;

BOPE using the caveirão as a cover

BOPE policemen in training
Criticism
In 2004, the Project on Extrajudicial Executions (New York University School of Law) reported that BOPE had been implicated in the killing of four youths under the false pretense of their being drug traffickers who resisted arrest: "BOPE officers falsified the crime scene to incriminate the victims in an attempt to make them seem like members of a drug trafficking gang. No weapons were found with the victims and none of them had a history of criminal activity."[1] Amnesty International has stated that, "Brazil's police forces use violent and repressive methods that consistently violate the human rights of a large part of the population," and attribute a number of civilian deaths to BOPE in particular.[2] In March 2006, Amnesty specifically condemned the use of the Caveirão, stating that by deploying the vehicle aggressively, and indiscriminately targeting whole communities, it "has become a powerful symbol of the failings of public security policies in Rio de Janeiro. It typifies the police's confrontational and divisive approach to Rio's public security crisis." Amnesty highlighted civilian deaths directly resulting from Caveirão use, and noted that BOPE as a whole, "has been involved in a string of human rights abuses."[3]

"Elite da Tropa"
In 2006, a book by sociologist Luiz Eduardo Soares and one BOPE officer and a former policeman, Major André Batista and Captain Rodrigo Pimentel, provided a semi-fictional account of the daily routine of the BOPE as well as some historical events, based on the experiences of the latter two. The book was controversial at the time of release, and reportedly resulted in Batista being reprimanded and censured by the Military Police. The book was controversial in its description of the BOPE as a "killing machine", as well as detailing an alleged aborted assassination attempt by some police officers on then-governor Leonel Brizola.[2] The book has been made into a movie, Tropa de Elite, directed by José Padilha (the director of Bus 174), with a screenplay by Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Bráulio Mantovani