Breaching Doctrine

VALIDATION: 12 November 1998 by 9th TSBn (Engineer) and changes are bolded.

*+1. The platoon leader advises the breaching force leader on the location, size, and number of lanes to be created (01-1920.00-0012).

a. Determines the lane location based on terrain, cover and concealment for the breaching force, time, and equipment available for the breach and the maneuver scheme.

b. Determines the lane size based on the time allowed for the unit and the equipment which must pass through the lanes. The minimum desired widths are 1 meter for a footpath (dismounted troops) and 4.5 meters for an initial lane to pass vehicles/equipment conducting the attack.

c. Determines the number of lanes based on the size of the unit to pass through the minefield. A minimum of one lane is required for a maneuver company and a minimum of two lanes for a task force.

*+2. The platoon leader, in coordination with the breaching force leader, selects the means for reducing the minefield.

a. Uses explosive line charges.

(1) The M58A4 mine clearing line charge (MICLIC) clears a lane 14 meters by 100 meters. The MICLIC is normally employed in pairs, unless the limits of the minefield (for example, front edge) are well known and the minefield depth is less than 100 meters.

(2) The Antipersonnel Obstacle Breaching System (APOBS) clears a lane 0.6 meters by 45 meters. The APOBS is a dismounted two soldier-team carry. It has a 25 meter standoff for antipersonnel mines and wire entanglements.

b. Uses manual means with/without explosives.

(1) Destroys mines with hand-emplaced explosives.

(2) Destroys mines with a bangalore torpedo. The bangalore torpedo is placed directly next to a mine to detonate it. Bangalore torpedoes are effective in creating a footpath but limited in creating a vehicle path. To create a vehicle lane, bangalore torpedoes must be placed over the top of the furrow created by mechanical minelayers, in order to detonate the mines underneath. Use this method as a last resort when breaching antitank minefields.

c. Uses mechanical reduction techniques (if available).

(1) Creates lane with a mine clearing blade (MCB) mine plow.

(2) As a last resort, uses the combat engineer vehicle (CEV) (if available) or M9 armored combat earthmover (ACE) to create a lane by the skimming technique.

3. The platoon creates the required lane(s) using the selected reduction technique.

+a. Creates a lane within 10 minutes if the obstacle is covered by direct and/or observed indirect fire. No time standard is established if the obstacle is not covered by fire or if the platoon is conducting stealth breaching and is not detected by the enemy.

b. Creates a lane using an explosive line charge.

(1) Employs line charges in pairs, unless the limits of the minefield are well known, since most enemy minefields will be deep enough to counter the length of the line charge. If minefield is less than 100 meters and edge is known, the standoff is 62 meters.

(2) Positions the line charge to allow sufficient standoff to compensate for the length of the inert cable to ensure the line charge covers the suspected forward edge of the minefield. If minefield is greater than 100 meters and edge is unknown or there is a disabled vehicle, the standoff is 100 meters.

(3) Positions the second line charge moving 25 meters into the burn mark of the first charge for appropriate overlap. Aligns it with the first line charge.

c. Creates a lane manually by using explosives (surface laid minefield).

(1) Places M1A2 bangalore torpedoes directly next to the mines. Uses this method as a last resort when breaching antitank minefields.

(2) Places one pound hand-emplaced charges directly next to the mines. May prime the demolitions and detonate the mines in place as they are detected, or may connect individual charges into a ring main or line main and simultaneously detonate to save time.

(3) If members detect or suspect trip wires, they clear them using grapnels or clearly mark them so personnel placing explosives do not activate them.

(a) Requires all personnel to take cover or lie in a prone position at least 60 meters from the mine. Throws the grapnel or, if removing a mine, attaches a rope, wire, or grapnel to the mine. Pulls the rope or wire from the covered position after moving rearward until rope is at 60 meters.

d. Manually creates a lane by using explosives (buried minefield).

(1) If the mines were buried by a mechanical minelayer and the furrow is visible, places M1A2 bangalore torpedoes directly over the mine furrow for each row of mines in the minefield. The length of bangalore sections is equal to the desired width of the lane. The minimum number of sections for a 4-meter lane is three.

(2) Detects the mines by the visual method, probing, or electronic detectors. Marks mines and destroys in place using explosives. If personnel encounter trip wires, they are cleared with grapnel hooks.

e. Manually creates a lane without explosives.

(1) For surface laid minefields, uses the grapnel to remove mines/trip wires. Requires all personnel to take cover or lie in a prone position at least 60 meters from the mine. Throws the grapnel or, if removing a mine, attaches a rope, wire, or grapnel to the mine. Pulls the rope or wire from the covered position after moving rearward until rope is at 60 meters.

(2) Does not use this technique for creating a lane in a buried minefield.

g. Creates a lane using the skimming technique (surface-laid minefields only).

(1) Uses engineer equipment such as earth moving blades of the CEV (if available) or the ACE to create vehicle lanes.

(2) Uses the skimming techniques as a last resort due to probable loss of valuable engineer assets.

(3) Uses the skimming process. Pushes the top 21,25, or 31 centimeters of soil. Does not let the build up go over or under the blade; alternates strikes to the left and right sides of the desired lane. This is a dangerous and time-consuming method.

h. Uses special procedures when chemical mines are known or suspected to be present.

(1) Ensures all personnel operating within the downwind area have implemented mission oriented protective posture (MOPP) level 4.

(2) Equips breaching teams with a chemical agent detector kit or automatic chemical alarm. Ensures each team has trained and proficient operators.

(3) Ensures the teams do not detonate chemical mines in place.

Live demolitions may be used for tactical operations (OC/Ts must be present) and be used in approved areas.