Tunnel rats in Vietnam War!
This was a name for soldiers who entered secret enemy tunnels that had to be destroyed.
Armed with nothing but a pistol, knife and a flashlight, these brave men entered pitch-black tunnels potentially filled with booby traps and enemy troops!
THREAD
This was a name for soldiers who entered secret enemy tunnels that had to be destroyed.
Armed with nothing but a pistol, knife and a flashlight, these brave men entered pitch-black tunnels potentially filled with booby traps and enemy troops!
THREAD
I rarely post about modern wars but I have to write about these guys because I never see them mentioned or talked about.
Subterranean warfare in general has been overlooked even though it has been a very important part of wars for a long time.
Subterranean warfare in general has been overlooked even though it has been a very important part of wars for a long time.
Subterranean warfare has always been one of the most darkest types of warfare, both literally and figuratively.
Entering a dark tight tunnel not knowing what is in there but knowing that you might never come out alive again took special type of men.
Entering a dark tight tunnel not knowing what is in there but knowing that you might never come out alive again took special type of men.
In the Vietman War the forces of the Viet Cong built many complex secret tunnels which allowed them to hide after conducting their operations to fight their guerrilla war. For their enemies Americans and the allied Free World Military Forces these tunnels became a big problem.
The problem was that even after the Free World forces had already cleared an area, the enemy could emerge from one of these tunnels and continue their activities.
The U.S. Army and allied forces had to locate and completely destroy these tunnels.
The U.S. Army and allied forces had to locate and completely destroy these tunnels.
But this was another problem because these tunnels couldn't just be bombed by placing explosives in discovered entrances.
The tunnels were very sophisticated and had hidden exits, air and water locks to dampen blast concussion, angular turns, and other protective measures.
The tunnels were very sophisticated and had hidden exits, air and water locks to dampen blast concussion, angular turns, and other protective measures.
So that's why the allied American and other Free World Forces (Australian and New Zealanders also took part in tunnel rat operations) had no choice but to send in soldiers to explore the tunnels, gathering intelligence within them and ultimately destroy them.
This was obviously very dangerous because there might be a bunch of enemy forces inside the tunnel.
But even when empty, the tunnels could still contain dangerous booby traps like hand grenades, mines, and the dreaded punji sticks smeared with feces to cause infection.
But even when empty, the tunnels could still contain dangerous booby traps like hand grenades, mines, and the dreaded punji sticks smeared with feces to cause infection.
There could also be other dangers and nuisances like poison gases, flooded parts of tunnels, actual rats, bats, or even deliberately placed poisonous snakes as living booby traps!
And who knows what else you could find in there.
And who knows what else you could find in there.
Entering a Viet Cong tunnel could be compared to opening a Kinder Surprise egg.
You never knew what kind of surprise was waiting for you!
You never knew what kind of surprise was waiting for you!
The men who entered the tunnels were obviously aware of the dangers. There was never an official unit of "tunnel rats", they were always ad hoc assembled volunteers.
No one was ever forced to do this and only those who were mentally ready for the task were sent to tunnels.
No one was ever forced to do this and only those who were mentally ready for the task were sent to tunnels.
The unofficial motto of tunnel rats was Non Gratus Anus Rodentum (Latin for "not worth a rat's ass"), alluding to how ungrateful their work was.
There was nothing rewarding about what they did, just a big chance of coming out of the tunnel dead or crippled for life.
There was nothing rewarding about what they did, just a big chance of coming out of the tunnel dead or crippled for life.
There were no official requirements for tunnel rats, but men over 5'6'' (167cm) were generally not accepted.
Tunnel rats hat to be of smaller stature. They weighed only 110-120lbs (50-55kg) on average.
Bigger men would have hard time navigating tunnels built for Vietnamese men.
Tunnel rats hat to be of smaller stature. They weighed only 110-120lbs (50-55kg) on average.
Bigger men would have hard time navigating tunnels built for Vietnamese men.
Tunnel rats used light weapons that could be used with one hand as they had to carry flashlight in the other.
Their weapon of choice seemed to have been standard issue M1911 pistol.
Knives were of vital importance both as weapons and tools.
Their weapon of choice seemed to have been standard issue M1911 pistol.
Knives were of vital importance both as weapons and tools.
But firing a .45-cal. pistol inside a tight-fitting tunnel was deafeningly painful and could cause permanent hearing damage. Some described it as feeling like nails being driven into your ears.
That's why some tunnel rats used .38-cal. Special and
.357-cal. Magnum revolvers.
That's why some tunnel rats used .38-cal. Special and
.357-cal. Magnum revolvers.
Tunnel rats could not use any ear protection as they had to listen for the slightest sounds in the tunnels.
Acute hearing was one of requirements for tunnel rats as many troops that had been in combat for even a short time had problems with hearing.
Acute hearing was one of requirements for tunnel rats as many troops that had been in combat for even a short time had problems with hearing.
Sometimes they would go in with a gas mask.
But apparently they were not popular because wearing them made it harder to see and hear.
But apparently they were not popular because wearing them made it harder to see and hear.
Helmets were sometimes worn during the initial entry but mostly discarded because of confined space.
Blast and fragmentation grenades were too dangerous be used underground as they would create far too much blast over-pressure in the confined space.
But they were thrown into tunnel entrances to clear a portion of the tunnel and to deter Viet Cong to be anywhere close entrances.
But they were thrown into tunnel entrances to clear a portion of the tunnel and to deter Viet Cong to be anywhere close entrances.
A full collection of weapons and tools a tunnel rat might use!
The mental aspect was the most important. Tunnel rats had to be prepared for the stress they would encounter and immune to claustrophobia.
They could cease being tunnel rats any time they wanted and un-volunteered.
Even during the mission they could just shout "Pull me out!"
They could cease being tunnel rats any time they wanted and un-volunteered.
Even during the mission they could just shout "Pull me out!"
Going into the "black echo" as they called entering the tunnel, there was always a chance of developing severe claustrophobia, which was something that could completely incapacitate a soldier underground.
Even experienced tunnel rats could start to panic without warning.
Even experienced tunnel rats could start to panic without warning.
But there were also cases that experienced tunnel rats who had already been in many tunnels became completely fearless and recklessly ignored all the risks.
Many of them were daring young men who lost sense of danger.
Many of them were daring young men who lost sense of danger.
An entrance to hell.
Another Viet Cong tunnel discovered.
Someone had to go in.
Only the bravest volunteered.
Another Viet Cong tunnel discovered.
Someone had to go in.
Only the bravest volunteered.
Many tunnels rats died in fights below ground, from suffocation, drowning, or became killed or maimed by booby traps.
Despite their heroic courage, very little attention has been paid to these men.
Despite their heroic courage, very little attention has been paid to these men.
There are no tunnel rat memorials. No museums dedicated to them.
Sadly it seems that their motto turned out to be true. It looks like what they did is indeed considered as "not worth a rat's ass" by society.
But some of us find them absolutely inspiring.
Sadly it seems that their motto turned out to be true. It looks like what they did is indeed considered as "not worth a rat's ass" by society.
But some of us find them absolutely inspiring.
If you want to know more about them there is this wonderful book Tunnel Rat in Vietnam by Gordon L Rottman with a lot of illustrations and pictures.
Interview with a tunnel rat!
memory.loc.gov
His story of fighting in the tunnels is incredible.
He also mentions another "pleasant surprise" found in the tunnels, the stench of dead bodies kept there by Viet Cong! That alone would scare away most people.
memory.loc.gov
His story of fighting in the tunnels is incredible.
He also mentions another "pleasant surprise" found in the tunnels, the stench of dead bodies kept there by Viet Cong! That alone would scare away most people.
And yet another surprise you could find in Viet Cong tunnels. Besides the snake pits placed there as booby traps there were also scorpions and red ants.
Apparently the latter were especially annoying.
This was some real Indiana Jones stuff!
Crazy guys.
Apparently the latter were especially annoying.
This was some real Indiana Jones stuff!
Crazy guys.
Loading suggestions...