V.C.+tunnel+system

//__V.C. Tunnel System__//
====The Vietcong were a guerilla tactic fighting force against the United States in the Vietnam war. They had constructed a vast tunnel system in South Vietnam that they used for transporting troops and supplies. The tunnels were actually constructed before the Vietnam war. The Vietnamese built these in the 1940's to help with their fight for liberation from the French. These tunnels were more than just that. Some descended many stories underground. The tunnels all had kitchens, rest areas (dorms), HQ centers, medical areas/ hospitals, food and weapon supply storage, and even theatres. Vents were installed to help ventilate the tunnel, keep the tempeture down, and so that they could hear approaching helicopters. In some areas towns would live undergound only coming to surface at night to tend to crops. These tunnels were also able to host whole companies of Vietcong for long periods of time.====

====The tunnels were not just holes dug in the ground that were connected to each other. There was a tactical approach in creating these tunnels. At every door way the tunnel extended a few feet and the door was hidden. This gave the illusion that the tunnel came to a dead end when the door continuing the tunnel was underfoot. These tunnels were also filled with booby-traps. Boxes of scorpians were placed in certain areas so that when a soldier crawled by it would release the scorpians onto them or in their general area. Certain areas would be gaurded by a V.C. soldier or the floor would fall into a steak trap. The tunnels were built so that the corners were between 120 degrees and 60 degrees. This made it impossible to shoot through the tunnels in a strait line and cut down on the damage==== area of grenades.

//__**TUNNEL RATS**__//
====Captain Herbert Thorton set up the first tunnel team. These men had to volunteer and then be hand picked. These men had to be most brave of all the soldiers and also have a lot of common sense (to know what and what not to touch). The men picked could also not be clasterphobic and have nerves of steel. Sometime under the high stress level a soldier would crack, break down and cry in fear and have to be pulled out of the tunnel. There was no second chance for these soldiers. They would never return to a tunnel after having such a break down. There was also a physical criteria they had to meet. The tunnels were very small and cramped making it hard for larger people to enter so the tunnel rats had to be of a small stature. To cut down on weight and inhance maneuverability in the tunnels the tunnel rats carried less weaponry than normal soldiers. All they carried was a standerd flashlight, a knife, and a Colt .45 or a Smith and Wesson .38.====

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