Approach and entry techniques can generally be divided in to covert and overt. A covert entry means getting in to the terrorist stronghold unseen and unheard. The Special Air Service use specialist equipment to facilitate a covert entry:

Thermal Lance
The Special Air Service can use this during a covert entry to cut through steel. The Special Air Service carry a backpack mounted version and it can be used underwater by Boat Troop.

Lock Picks
Troopers will carry a lock picking kit to pick locks.

Cutter/Separator
The cutter/separator can cut through or spread apart iron railings allowing an assault force to gain access to places the terrorists may have thought were sealed off.

Hydraulic Door Opener
The Special Air Service can pick locks to gain covert access through doors, but when wedged shut they can covertly breach with this device that is placed between the door frame and a ram batters open the door. Not ideal however as this isn't silent and the equipment is large and cumbersome.

When an overt entry is called for disorientation is the key to getting the Special Air Service in to a building. The Special Air Service will usually prepare explosives around the stronghold away from where the main insertion will be, this will hopefully draw enemy attention away from the main insertion point or give the entry team enough time to cross any open ground surrounding the stronghold.

Helicopters can be used to insert an entry team, the helo will fly other the objective and the troopers will fast rope down. They then gain entry through skylights or abseil down the face of a building and enter through the windows.
Another overt entry method used by the Special Air Service is the aggressive entry platform; this is a converted Land Rover which can be driven straight up to the stronghold. It has a ladder fixed to the front so a team can drive it to an upper floor window and enter whilst another team disembarks and enters through the ground floor.

Frame Charge
The Special Air Service use frame charges to breach walls, doors and windows. This come in all shapes and sizes depending on the requirement but the premise is the same regardless. Place the charge where you want the hole and let it rip.

Harvey Wall Banger
This is a wall-breaching canon. Usually used to breach exterior walls the system is set up by a two-man team and launches a water-filled plastic projectile to breach the wall. The advantage to this is that it uses no high explosives and so is safer to any hostages in the room.

All the above equipment just gets the assault team in to the stronghold, when in the assault teams rely more on training than gadgetry and use a small but proven arsenal of weapons.

Heckler and Koch MP5 Submachine Gun
The MP5 has been the weapon of choice for nearly every anti-terrorist force in the world, it's small, deadly accurate, light weight, has 3 trigger mechanisms and has many variants.

Remington 870
The most widely used pump action shotgun in the world, combined with the Hatton round (also made by Clucas-moe Ltd) the Special Air Service use this to breach doors, aiming at the hinges and lock a trained operator can breach a locked door in under 3 seconds.

Arwen
A 37mm gas, smoke and baton round launcher mainly used to deploy CS gas in to the stronghold.

Sig Sauer P226
The main secondary weapon of the Special Air Service, replacing the Browning HP, it is shorter and lighter than its predecessor. An operator will use this when there is a stoppage in their primary weapon (usually the MP5) or when operating in a confined space.

Concussion Grenades
Thrown in to a room before being breached by the assault team the 'flashbang', as it is often known, emits a loud noise and blinding light that disorientates anybody in the room, giving the entry team a few valuable seconds to get in to the room.

Accuracy International L96A1 PM Sniper Rifle
Used by the sniper teams this is the standard British bolt action sniper rifle and favoured by the Special Air Service. It can be fitted with different sights, is accurate to 600m, the head doesn't have to move during reloading so you don't lose sight of the target and is available in different versions including one for use in the arctic and a suppressed version.

Page 1 - Page 2