“Knock…knock…..”
Today’s lesson is on something we in the trade call the “fatal funnel”. In close quarters combat (CQB) within structures an operator has to deal with entering rooms. Of course, the way to do that is limited to doors and windows unless you have the time, ability, equipment and/or tactical necessity to blow or ram a new opening into a room. Even then, when there are bad guys within that room the most dangerous area is near or “in” these openings.
There are behavioral and perceptional influences that cause people to fire into entryways. Logically, the defender knows that the only way in is the doorway so he is going to be focused on it. Secondly, these openings silhouette the attacker against the entry point from the defenders perspective making him an easier target to focus on. Even if the walls near these entry points are more “concealment” than”cover” you will find that more shots will be directed at the entry point vs. the walls next to it. The other thing that makes the doorway “fatal” is that you will be vulnerable from the corners closest to the entry point immediately after you enter the room. A bad guy in either of these corners will be able to attack you from behind if you enter the room and move to its center or if you turn into the corner he is not in.
The lesson here? DON’T STAND IN FRONT OF DOORS! When you have to enter a room do so quickly and get out of the doorway immediately. There are various techniques for “how” to do this and how to choreograph this dance when you have a bunch of friends with you. That will be covered after graduation.
August 30, 2009 at 10:07 pm
[...] Center Door rooms, the operators “stack” on a side of the door to avoid the Fatal Funnel. To make the entry the first man will enter quickly and either cross the doorway or “button [...]
September 1, 2009 at 1:17 am
I believe I’ve heard doorways called “Standing Coffins”. I’ve seen (never first hand) the experiences people have had (in paintball) getting absolutely wasted in doorways.
I hear when you enter a room you should move along the wall the door is on, not straight at the attackers or any other direction. Apparently this method of movement, however simple it sounds, is ‘unexpected’ or hard to track by opponents in a room.
This is simply what I’ve heard from various SWAT interviews and other things of that sort.
September 1, 2009 at 1:57 am
You are 110% correct…check out Lesson 11.
December 29, 2009 at 6:31 am
Armchair warriors.
January 21, 2010 at 3:12 am
[...] signal who will be moving first as the most common screw-up here is both trying to get through the “fatal funnel” at the same [...]
May 6, 2010 at 12:03 pm
It is a dangers job and there is no safe solution to it. But common sense, technology and training can improve the odds
June 19, 2010 at 4:07 pm
[...] One of the godsends in tactical development was the Noise Flash Diversionary Device, or NFDD. The NFDD, commonly referred to as a “Flash Bang”, is a grenade that generates a bright flash and a loud concussion. Used in tactical operation it can be used to distract a bad guy long enough to pass the fatal funnel [...]
August 16, 2011 at 3:30 pm
[...] The safety violations are too numerous to list, but the one that stuck out most in my mind was the “room clearing” segment where one person was firing directly in front of a team member as he was moving to enter the next room (not to mention the female standing directly in the “fatal funnel“). [...]