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  1. #1
    German Enthusiast Member Alexanderofmacedon's Avatar
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    Default Vietcong vs. Tunnel Rats

    I'm sure plenty of you have seen the Modern Marvels on the History channel about the Tunnels in the Vietnam war? Well, I thought that was really neat. It seemed like the Vietcong used primative warfare (booby traps etc, used nails and sharp objects, which seemed primative), but they really were effective. The booby trap was usually to mame soldiers so that he was alive, but too hurt to move. It would usually occupy many men allowing attacks to take place.

    I thought the Vietcong were an excellent fighting force, but made even better by the way they used the tunnels. They were all battle hardend veterans, that the United States took too lightly in my opinion.

    Comments? Ideas?


  2. #2

    Default Re: Vietcong vs. Tunnel Rats

    I think 'Primitive' is a silly term. What works works. The Vietcong did use the tunnels to their great advantage, but it didn't help much the the US forces weren't properly equipped or trained for warfare in Vietnam, not to mention the differing views on the war at the top of the chain.

  3. #3
    Magister Vitae Senior Member Kraxis's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vietcong vs. Tunnel Rats

    'Primitive' as in opposed to 'sophisticated', not as in 'bad'.
    You may not care about war, but war cares about you!


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    Tree Killer Senior Member Beirut's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vietcong vs. Tunnel Rats

    Read The Tunnels of Cu Chi. Excellent book and it will tell you everything you want to know. (Some of it is nasty indeed.)
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    Enlightened Despot Member Vladimir's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vietcong vs. Tunnel Rats

    It's amazing how easily low tech can beat high tech. The US was able to dominate the battlefield militarily but wasn't able to maintain security. The old "Army Doctrine" of superior, massed firepower worked wonders in conventional warfare but not against a small, determined force. The Vietnamese were no strangers to combat. The fought a very successful campaign against the French colonial forces. Small unit tactics like tunnel rats and continuity operations (?) like what the Marines did during the harvest paid off big but didn't fit into the dominant paradigm and never received much support. As far as the tunnel rats go, didn't the Australians lead the way in that field?


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  6. #6
    German Enthusiast Member Alexanderofmacedon's Avatar
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    Default Re: Vietcong vs. Tunnel Rats

    Yes, they brought in some Australian engineers to find booby traps, and those engineers found the first tunnels and saw how intricate the tunnels were. Many Australian units also, we 'Tunnel rats', but there were more United States troops in Vietnam, so more United States 'tunnel rats'.

    Kraxis: Yes, that's what I meant. They were simple levers and such instead of high-tech booby traps.


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