Close-quarters battle is a delicate, deadly ballet: Operators must move in precise patterns but still be ready to improvise. Brian Bishop, an ex-Marine who co-runs Combative Concepts in San Diego, has trained SEAL teams, Secret Service agents, and others in close-quarters battle since 1990. He and a former SEAL turned contract-trainer who prefers to remain anonymous walked us through the basics. Here's how a crack team of commandos might free a group of two hostages held by armed men in a fortified desert compound. Don't try this at home.
Equipment
Today's operators carry gas-operated, air-cooled, selective-fire M4 carbine rifles. They're compact enough for indoor work, yet accurate up to 900 feet should the fight spill into the street. Several "breachers" also carry Remington 870 shotguns. Add to this M84 stun grenades, which kick out a pain-inducing 170 decibels of sound and a blinding 1 million candelas of light.
Infiltration
You want to approach the target as quietly as possible. In this case, operators parachute in at night and assemble into teams of four. Snipers (who set up days in advance) silently kill all exterior guards while members of the main assault team enter the compound from multiple points. Two groups follow a predetermined route to the hostage room (gleaned from intelligence).
Breach
The primary team silently lines up outside the target room. "Slow is smooth. Smooth is fast," goes the mantra. It's easy to accidentally kill friends and hostages if you rush. Operator 3 pulls an M84 off the back of operator 2, while the lead man uses his Remington 870 to blow open the door. Operator 3 pulls the pin on the flash grenade and tosses it into the room.
Entrance
In this case, Operator 1 enters the doorway from his strong side—the side that lets him go in gun-first. (Experienced operators can shoot either lefty or righty.) He enters from the left side of the door, crossing over to sweep the right side of the room. He shuffles forward one foot at a time, keeping his weight on his back foot and holding his torso still to create a steady firing platform.
All In
Operator 2 follows right on the tail of the lead shooter and works the left side of the room. As they start moving along the walls, operator 3 swiftly enters and sweeps the middle zone, taking care to stay at least a foot away from other team members. Number 4 enters next, covering the zone between operators 2 and 3. Bad guys get bullets in the high chest or head.
Exit
Operator 1 yells, "Clear right" when he's out of targets; operator 2 yells, "Clear left." Operators 3 and 4 yell, "All clear." The hostages are rounded up and the team moves them to a predetermined location on the compound, secures it, then calls in an extraction force, complete with armed vehicles and air support. Time from entrance to exit, if all goes smoothly: as little as 17 seconds.
Illustrations: Nathan Fox
Animating a Blockbuster
Making Cheetos
Launching a Shuttle
Building an Ice Hotel
Relocating Prisoners
Crafting a JokeInfecting a Snail
Recycling a Cell Phone
Rescuing Hostages
Having Sex
Constructing a Song
