Tunnel rat

:"This article is about the team of soldiers involved in underground missions. For the G.I. Joe character, see Tunnel Rat (G.I. Joe)."

The tunnel rats were American, Australian and New Zealand soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War. According to R. Lee Ermey of Mail Call, "Tunnel rats were the smallest guys with the biggest Kahunas."

Operation

In the course of the war, the Viet Cong created very extensive underground complexes. Whenever troops would uncover a tunnel, Tunnel Rats were sent in to kill any buried enemy and to plant explosives to destroy the tunnels. A Tunnel Rat was equipped with only a semiautomatic M1911 (.45 caliber) pistol and a flashlight, although most tunnel rats were allowed to choose another pistol to arm themselves with. The tunnels were very dangerous, with numerous booby traps and enemies lying in wait. Often there were flooded U-bends in the tunnels to trap gas. Guards manned holes on the sides of tunnels through which spears could be thrust impaling a crawling intruder. Not only were there human enemies to deal with, but also different creatures such as snakes, spiders, scorpions, ants, and bats.

Due to the confined space, the tunnel rats disliked the massive muzzle blast of the M1911 pistol, which would often leave them temporarily deaf, and it was not uncommon that they used whatever alternative handgun they could come across. The Soviet-made pistols the enemy carried were particular favorites, but they were extremely rare, and the soldiers would often have someone at home send them a civilian pistol or revolver. Among the favorites were the German Luger and Walther pistols, many of which were brought home by American troops returning from WW2. Others would trade their pistols for revolvers used by other personnel. Many used improvised suppressors on their pistols to further reduce the noise.

Tunnel Rats were generally men of smaller stature and, almost exclusively White or Hispanic soldiers, and the majority (of Americans) were Puerto Rican and Mexican.Mangold, Tom & Penycate, John. "The Tunnels of Cu Chi" Presidio Press. (2005) ISBN 0-89141-869-5.]

ee also

*Củ Chi tunnels

References

Notes

Bibliography

*"The Tunnels of Cu Chi", Tom Mangold and John Penycate, Presidio Press (2005), ISBN 0-89141-869-5

External links

* [http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-conflicts-periods/vietnam/tunnel-rats.htm Australian Tunnel Rats]