Practicals were conducted at a hotel that is due for renovation. The door’s lockset included a typical latch (which is unlocked through use of a magnetic key card) and a rectangular steel deadbolt. Both fall into a steel jamb. All doors were inward swinging. Firstly, it should be noted that several experienced breachers attended the course. Attempts were made to breach the doors through use of a ram (the most typical tool we use to conduct mechanical breaches), many of which failed. In instances where entry was gained with a ram, it took no less than five strikes. The number of strikes increased if the operator attempted to use the ram on their “non-dominate” side. Several operators (not with our team) were unable to open the door after 10 strikes. Primarily, the breaches failed because the walls of the hotel swayed and the steel lockset and jamb remained intact.

The tool weighs 10 pounds. On one end (where most of the weight resides), there is a hybrid claw and sledge (see photos). The claw has three forks. Opposite the forks, there is an oversized flat surface used for delivering strikes as a sledge or as the strike face for setting the tool. This is attached to a metal pole, either 24 or 30 inches. The tool is primarily used as a pry. However, when swung (like a baseball bat) it was effectively used as a sledge. This method allowed operators to destroy the jamb near the locks, “taco” the center of doors, and/or force a necessary gap between the door and the jamb, allowing a single operator to successfully set and pry the door.

When two Claws were used, one operator placed the claws above or below the lock. The second operator placed one hand opposite the “business end” of the tool and one just below the actual claw. A jabbing motion is used to set the Claw being used to pry (note: the head of the tool is heavy enough to easily set another tool). Once set, the first operator breaches the door.

John demonstrated how to defeat cable and pad locks using two Claws. He also used two Claws to shear exposed hinges on doors. Similar to breaching tools we currently use, the Claw is able to create gaps by setting the tool (either with ram or Claw) and using upward or downward leverage to create gaps. Operators were also exposed to the application of the Claw when prying inward swinging doors (breaching from inside hotel room).

Advantages of using the Claw:

Most interestingly, when the Claw is paired with one of the available slings, it can be carried across an operator’s back, leaving his/her hands free to manipulate their weapon systems. This allows the breacher to remain a gunfighter until their services are needed. In our current system, one operator must carry a large pack of tools and in most cases remains near the rear of the stack. When needed, the breacher must move to the operator carrying the pack to remove the appropriate tool, then the two must move to where they are needed. Or, the breacher walks through the structure with tools in hand, in lieu of a weapon. With two Claws deployed, when a breach is needed, the “tool carriers” need only move to the breach-point, saving time.

The Claw can act as several tools in one. Two claws remove the need for multiple pry bars, a halligan, sledge, and in many cases, the ram. The VAST majority of breach points this team will face will routinely (and most efficiently) be defeated by a ram. However, as was case during the hotel training, the ram was least effective. Our ability to employ shotgun breaching is also extremely effective, however, metal doors (often found in entrances to schools) would pose a significant obstacle.