What were the Viet Cong tunnels called?

Củ Chi tunnels
The Củ Chi tunnels were the location of several military campaigns during the Vietnam War, and were the Viet Cong’s base of operations for the Tết Offensive in 1968.

Did the Viet Cong have tunnels?

In order to combat better-supplied American and South Vietnamese forces during the Vietnam War, Communist guerrilla troops known as Viet Cong (VC) dug tens of thousands of miles of tunnels, including an extensive network running underneath the Cu Chi district northwest of Saigon.

How did the US expose Vietcong tunnels during the war?

To expose Vietcong tunnels and hideouts, the U.S. planes dropped this gasoline-based bomb that set fire to the jungles of Vietnam. The U.S. military used planes to spray this leaf-killing toxic chemical, which devastated the landscape of Vietnam.

How many tunnel rats were killed in Vietnam?

Imagine been alone down there, a million miles from home during those crazy 10,000 days in Vietnam. That both sets of men had to endure this life is appalling. There were never more than 100 Tunnel Rats in country at any one time and around 700 in total. There were 36 killed and 200 wounded.

What was a tunnel rat in Vietnam?

Tunnel rats were usually soldiers who were physically small—able to fit inside the tight spaces of the Viet Cong tunnels. They traveled light, carrying only a pistol, a knife and a flashlight.

What advantage did they give the Viet Cong?

What military advantages did the Vietcong have over the Americans? They had many useful advantages such as effective hit and run tactics, a better knowledge of the land and the juggle, and they had the advantage of secrecy because they cold disguise themselves as civilians and attack troops.

How big were the Viet Cong tunnels?

Some complexes ranged up to 40 miles long; the Cu Chi tunnel complex contained 130 miles of passageways. Having begun construction during their fight for independence against the French, the Vietnamese had incorporated a number of unique, battle-tested design features in their tunnels.

What was the life expectancy of a tunnel rat in Vietnam?

about two seconds
The life expectancy of a tunnel rat is about two seconds.” Garza described the underground tunnels as treacherous. “You would go into a hole and come out 10 or 15 miles away.

What would Tunnel Rats do before going into a tunnel?

Tunnels were often booby trapped with hand grenades, anti-personnel mines, and punji sticks. The VC would even use venomous snakes (placed as living booby traps). A tunnel rat might therefore choose to enter the tunnels wearing a gas mask (donning one within was frequently impossible in such a confined space).

Who had the advantage in the Vietnam War?

The US had the most advanced war technology and was economically very powerful so they could invest heavily in the war. They also had South Vietnamese soldiers on their side. The US had a powerful air force and could use it to deploy troop support, bombing and raids.

Where are the underground tunnels in Vietnam located?

The Underground Tunnels of Cu Chi, Vietnam. During the war in Vietnam, thousands of people in the Vietnamese province of Cu Chi lived in an elaborate network of underground tunnels.

What did the Viet Cong use the tunnels for?

Some like those in the Cu Chi district, 30 miles north of Saigon, were used by the VC to spring surprise attacks on the Yanks. Others, including the ones in Vinh Moc, were mainly used by families to escape the daily barrage from the American bombers. Not only were they small inside, they were also loaded with booby traps.

Where did the Viet Cong live in Vinh Moc?

Giu and her mother spent two years living 15 metres (49 feet) below ground in Vinh Moc , alongside up to 600 people. Thousands of other villagers were evacuated from the area. The tunnels are among thousands of underground passageways built across Vietnam throughout the war, including the massive Cu Chi tunnels.

What was the purpose of the Cu Chi tunnels?

The Cu Chi tunnels were built over a period of 25 years that began sometime in the late 1940s during the war against the French. The excavations were used mostly for communication between villages and to evade French army sweeps of the area.