FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams

The FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams are specialized teams of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents where the agents are specially trained to intervene in high-risk events like hostage and barricade situations [ http://www.fbi.gov/page2/sept05/orbitcomet091605.htm - Retrieved on February 9th 2008 - Info about the focus of FBI SWAT teams] . The FBI maintains SWAT teams at each of its 56 field offices throughout the country [ http://www.fbi.gov/page2/sept05/orbitcomet091605.htm - Retrieved on February 9th 2008 - Where the FBI's SWAT teams are based] . In the event of a large scale event if the local municipality does not have the resources to handle the event, FBI SWAT teams from outside the local region can be dispatched to aid the local authorities.

Mission Types

SWAT teams are considered very versatile and can be used in many different Mission Types. [ http://buffalo.fbi.gov/specialty_programs.htm - Retrieved on February 9th 2008 - Info about SWAT Versatile Mission capabilities]

Some examples of SWAT missions

*High risk arrests (armed and dangerous subjects)

*Hostage rescue

*Car stops

*Tubular assaults (aircraft, trains, buses, etc.)

*Stronghold assaults (structures requiring specialized breaching equipment that local law enforcement might not have access to.)

*Fugitive tracking (in rural environments)

*Operations in WMD environments

*Dignitary protection

*Coordinate multi-location warrant service

*Site surveys for high visibility events

*Specialized sniper operations [ http://buffalo.fbi.gov/specialty_programs.htm - Retrieved on February 9th 2008 - About Swats mission types]

Utilization

Several factors can determine SWAT's use. Some of those factors are:

*The potential of violence

*The potential risk to law enforcement and the public

*The location of the warrant service and case requirements [ http://buffalo.fbi.gov/specialty_programs.htm - Retrieved on February 9th 2008 - Factors determining SWAT's Usage ]

FBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams Equipment

Weapons Utilized

FBI SWAT Teams carry a variety of weapons that are generally found in most other law enforcement and counterterrorist tactical teams. The following are some of the primary weapons of FBI SWAT:

* The MP5/10 Submachine gun

* The M4 Carbine

* The M1911A1 Springfield Professional Custom Pistol (.45 cal)

* The Glock 22 Pistol (.40 cal)

* The Remington 870 Shotgun

* The Precision Arms Sniper Rifle (.308 cal) [ http://buffalo.fbi.gov/specialty_programs.htm - Retrieved on February 9th 2008 - Information about the weapons used by SWAT ]

Vehicles Utilized

The FBI SWAT teams use similar vehicles to those used by municipal SWAT teams. The following are some of the vehicles that are employed by FBI SWAT teams

* SWAT vans for insertion into tactical situations and for tactical maneuvering while in tricky situations.

* Helicopters for aerial reconnaissance and in some cases insertion "via" rappelling or fast-roping

* If the SWAT officers wish to avoid detection, they can also use a variety of modified buses, vans, trucks, or other seemingly normal vehicles to help to avoid detection.

See also

* Hostage Rescue Team, the FBI's primary tactical unit.
* FBI
* SWAT
* List of U.S. state and local law enforcement agencies

References