Life Inside the Vietcong Tunnels (Cross Section)

Vietcong tunnel cross section during the Vietnam war the Communist NVA in their Viet Cong allies soon learned that they couldn't compete in the field against the superior Firepower of the United States and the other Allied Forces in response they adopted a guerrilla strategy striking out at their more ponderous foes before melting back into the dense undergrowth of the Vietnamese jungle the intense vegetation wasn't enough for concealment though as the Americans utilized some of the most advanced surveillance and reconnaissance methods available at the time in order to avoid detection the VC and NVA constructed an elaborate network of underground tunnels giving them a refuge from the overwhelming might of their enemies the tunnels utilized by the Viet Cong were first dug by the vietmen Vietnamese nationalists fighting against French colonial rule in the aftermath of World War II a decade later during the American involvement the tunnel Network expanded covering hundreds of miles and multiple districts some even stretched into neighboring Cambodia for example the kuchi tunnel system north of Saigon had 130 miles of passages some of the tunnels were simple Burrows dug into the soil While others were complex multi-layered constructions with specialized compartments for various purposes as the main purpose of the tunnels was concealment emphasis was placed on hiding the tunnel entrances these access points could be located at seemingly random locations in the jungle but were often located in villages placed under cooking pots and homes buried under sacks of rice or other out of the way locations when the Americans started using dogs to sniff out the entrances the openings would be placed in pig Corrals and covered in manure the scent throwing off the search these entrances were tiny further limiting access sometimes being less than two feet in diameter entry points could also be located under water requiring a swim to access something heavily Laden Americans would 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long-term stays underground there were sleeping quarters often consisting of multi-layered hammocks to save space there were also medical facilities for patching up wounded soldiers these would be lined with salvaged American parachutes in an attempt to keep out bacteria that was ever present in The Damp soil small-scale weapon production facilities would manufacture everything from improvised landmines to punji steaks other areas served as armories for weapons Supply caches kitchens and other storage and living areas in the more established tunnels there were also dedicated Cinemas where propaganda films and theatrical performances would be shown to bolster morale and reinforce the message of the Vietnamese cause an entire culture developed underground which included weddings births and other aspects of day-to-day life Lighting in the tunnels was limited and any illumination was provided by candles or flashlights carried by individuals occasionally bicycle powered generators could be utilized to provide electricity these would be in specialist locations such as the weapons manufacturing sections or medical wards Wells would also be dug to underground aquifers since Water Supplies could be contaminated by chemicals such as agent orange adding a degree of self-sufficiency to the complexes and allowing the denizens to remain underground avoiding detection from their enemies in spite of the attempts to make life in the network livable conditions were still miserable as lighting was scarce the ambience was always dim and depressing the air was foul in spite of the ventilation shafts and organic matter such as food or clothing would rot quickly in The Damp air various animal species also made themselves at home among the Viet Cong including rats spiders scorpions centipedes and a plethora of venomous snakes among the most Insidious was a small parasite called a a species of Mite that burrows into the skin causing itching red welts to appear to make matters worse the tunnels would be used as makeshift cemeteries as the Vietnam War was not about seizing territory American planners relied on a body count of enemy combatants to determine the effectiveness of their campaigns to frustrate their enemy the Vietcong would drag their deceased into the tunnels there the bodies would rock quickly in The Damp soil the rancid smell permeating the surrounding area in spite of all their efforts tunnel entrances were often discovered the tunnel Network had a series of defenses to defeat any enemy infiltration the tunnels would not be in a straight path but make random and often sharp turns perfect spots for an ambush the elevation could also change rapidly making navigation difficult under the best of circumstances those unfamiliar with the layout could easily become lost in the underground Labyrinth kunji pits were among the most common traps false floors that would give way dropping the victim on a series of sharpened bamboo Stakes trip wires were also used which would be attached to a grenade or other explosive device the tunnels already claustrophobic under the best of circumstances would narrow at arbitrary points forcing The Traveler to crawl on their bellies Viet Cong would wait at these checkpoints shooting or stabbing hapless enemy tunnel rats as they crawled through the tiny opening small niches were dug into the side of the tunnel allowing the Defenders to Ambush on weary trespassers as they passed by these niches could be covered with a thin layer of clay the only opening a small slit at eye level making it virtually undetectable until a spear-wielding VC burst through a sudden sharp vertical climb would have a waiting VC armed with a grenade who would toss the explosive before sealing the passage with a door and a sandbag even the wildlife that inhabited the tunnel Network could be used as a trap against unwanted visitors trap doors could open releasing swarms of venomous scorpions onto the unwitting tunnel rat venomous bamboo vipers could be used as a warning system suspended from the ceiling at a narrow choke point these deadly reptiles would lash out at passing infiltrators if they were shot the sound of the gunfire would alert the VC to their presence if not it would lash out and venomating The Unlucky victim when encountered the Americans had few options to deal with the tunnels they were dug deep enough that strikes from B-52 heavy bombers would have limited effect likewise the use of explosives were inefficient as there could be multiple access points miles apart so demolition charges would have limited effect they were also designed to withstand gas so smoke grenades and CS tear gas would rise to the surface through carefully placed ventilation shafts attempts at flooding the tunnels would prove equally ineffective each tunnel would have to be cleared manually a task that was considered one of the most dangerous and downright unpleasant jobs of a war the tunnel rats would descend into the Subterranean Labyrinth armed with a flashlight a 45 pistol a knife and incredible courage seizing documents sabotaging supplies and capturing prisoners in spite of their efforts however the tunnels remained in use throughout the war the tunnels could be used on a tactical level the Vietcong would Ambush American patrols then fall back to their underground lair leaving their enemies baffled as they seem to disappear Into Thin Air decoys would appear to flee from pursuing Americans only for hidden VC to Spring out in Ambush before hiding again they could also be used on a strategic level in 1968 the Ted offensive saw massive strikes across Vietnam hitting hundreds of installations in a coordinated effort to destabilize the South Vietnamese and their allies planned for months in secret the operation made extensive use of the tunnel Network thousands of troops were moved underground undetected emerging on mass to lash out against their targets the Americans and their allies were caught by surprise and would never fully recover from the shock of the offensive the underground network of tunnels was vital to the success of the Communist war effort they allowed the lightly armed and equipped Viet Cong in NBA to stand up against one of the most powerful militaries in the world and Prevail in spite of the odds stacked against them

Channel: Simple History

Views: 2,497,701

Keywords: simple history, animated history, educational, education, vietnam war tunnels, cities of the underworld clips, cities of the underworld, cu chi tunnels, history channel shows, history cities of the underworld, tunnels, viet cong, oliver stone, charlie sheen, history channel, discovery, true story, vietnam war, history shows, vietnam, history, vietnam war history, season 2, animation, full episodes, ho chi minh city, cross section, life inside vietcong tunnel

Id: 8uZZ9Nru9C4

Length: 9min 55sec (595 seconds)

Published: Tue May 09 2023