The Bangalore Torpedo was designed as a minefield clearing charge, but has been applied as a breaching charge to create passes through fences, walls, tanglefoot and concertina wire. The Bangalore was employed at many locations on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, most memorably depicted in the movie "Saving Private Ryan". The Bangalore Torpedo proved to be somewhat unwieldly, however, as each system is comprised of ten 5-foot sections, each section weighing 13 pounds.

The current favored technique by Rangers serving today is to combine C-4 Explosive, flex cuffs, electrical tape and picket fence lengths into individual breaching sections. So long as the raw materials can be transported, the charge can be built closer to the objective if necessary, or built in advance for a quick and violent assault.

Rangers readying for an assault. The Ranger in the foreground holds his prepared breaching charge that will be used to breach a section through a wire obstacle which blocks the force's access to their objective area.