SWAT Brieft -Weapons

Primary

WeaponsPepper-ball GunThe Pepper-
ball gun is based on technology originally designed for recreational paintball. Compressed Carbon Dioxide ejects the ammunition at relatively high velocities. The Pepper-ball gun allows officers to quickly deploy OC at specific targets, in more easily controlled quantities, and at significantly longer ranges than a grenade or standard pepper spray. With the large ammunition hopper this weapon never needs to be reloaded under normal operating conditions.

Less Lethal Shotgun
The less lethal shotgun is a Benelli Nova, pump-action shotgun which is always loaded with less than lethal beanbag rounds. It is most often used on an uncooperative suspect or civilian. The specially designated less lethal shotgun is necessary to eliminate errors that can occur from individually loading lethal or less than lethal munitions into the same weapon. To remind the operators that this particular weapon is only to be loaded with less than lethal ammunition, it has been painted green. The beanbag ammunition provides a powerful blunt force impact on the target. This causes extreme pain and disorientation.

Secondary Weapons

Taser Stun Gun
The Taser stun gun works on the principal of Electro-Muscular Disruption (EMD). It fires small electrodes into the target and then sends a powerful electric charge down the thin wires. The EMD effect causes involuntary contraction of the target's muscle tissue regardless of an individual's pain tolerance or mental focus. The effect is painful and demoralizing to even the most aggressive suspects.The Taser has two key drawbacks. The first is that it has a relatively short range. The second is that new electrodes must be loaded after each shot.

Tactical Aids

Pepper Spray
While generally used for riot control, handheld pepper spray canisters can be an effective tool for subduing uncooperative targets. The active ingredient in pepper spray is Oleoresin Capsicum or OC. OC is an inflammatory agent that causes the eyes to swell up and close. It also causes a burning sensation on any exposed skin. Due to its limited range and area of effect it is best used in addition to other non-lethal devices to cause a suspect or hostage to comply.

Stinger Grenade
The sting grenade, or Stinger, is filled with many small rubber balls. Upon detonation these balls are ejected from the grenade, bombarding targets with blunt force projectiles. The rubber balls will not penetrate the skin but can cause dizziness, disorientation, and severe pain from the impact of the projectiles. While considered less lethal, the sting grenade can cause severe injury if it detonates in very close proximity to someone.

Flash bang
The flashbang is a diversionary device that stuns and disorients people with an explosive report and a brillant flash. People that are affected by the device can be temporarily blinded and deafened by the blast. During this time SWAT has a significant tactical advantage over the affected persons. Flashbangs are designed so that they will not fragment on detonation, but can still cause serious injury if detonation occurs in close proximity to a person. Caution is advised.

C2 Explosives
The C2 breaching charge is a powerful and devastating method of breaching a door. The compact and specially designed charge destroys the locking mechanism of the door and forcefully opens the door at the same time. The noise and shock of the detonation causes people on the opposite side of the door to react in a similar manner to a flashbang detonation, which can provide a tactical advantage for using it instead of the breaching shotgun. The C2 breaching charge is an explosive and can injure or kill anyone unlucky enough to be directly behind the door.