The Vietnam War had numerous events that we are still unaware of today. In fact, United States troops had a lot of ideas about tactics and strategies to survive.

During the Vietnam War, a dangerous obstacle was faced by a select few soldiers known as “tunnel rats.” These soldiers found themselves crouched before a tunnel entrance in the jungle, with a flashlight in one hand and a pistol in the other. Their mission was to crawl inside and hunt the enemy fighters, who might be only feet away.

This nightmare was real, and these tunnel rats were special troops who entered Vietnam’s underground tunnel networks during the war. Keep reading to learn more about why this strategy was an extreme risk for the troops.

How Did They Come Up with the Tunnel Rats?

So, how did the tunnel rats come to be? Well, it is simply because the Viet Cong had built networks of tunnels in South Vietnam during the mid-1960s, about 155 miles in total around the Saigon area, which is now called Ho Chi Minh City, the largest city in Vietnam.

There are small, camouflaged trapdoors that lead into tunnels. The tiny space made it hard for the U.S. troops to find, enter, and complete their mission, as it was barely big enough to fit a person.

With the use of the tunnel, the Viet Cong could ambush the American troops, and they could simply disappear into thin air. So, they had a huge advantage, since they knew how the tunnel worked.

The Viet Cong had booby traps in the tunnels, so just imagine being one of the tunnel rats who can already expect what they are about to find inside the tunnel. Grenades, poison gas, punji stake traps, and even venomous snakes.

There was a need to combat this tactic, so they came up with sending men down into the tunnels to hunt the Viet Cong in their own hideout.

You see, it was a job that wasn’t for the faint of heart. Yet, American, Australian, and New Zealand troops still volunteered for this duty that had an extreme risk.

A Tight Space That’s Not for the Weak

With the tactic they came up with, they now needed to take action. The smallest and bravest troop was sent down into the tunnel entrance. But they were not trained. So, they often fell into booby traps, or they simply got lost.

They needed a clear plan, so they formed a “tunnel clearance” team of volunteers. These tunnel rats came from the infantry of engineer units who had the strength to do the mission.

The thing is, because of the tunnel having such a small space, the tunnel rats can only be under about 5’6” tall for them to squeeze through tight openings. But then again, this is not the only factor they had to consider. You’re in a tight space, which means you need to have exceptional nerve, because crawling alone can be claustrophobic.

You also have to have quick reflexes, because when inside the tunnel, you don’t know what you are going to face. It’s either the light or an armed Viet Cong without a warning. In short, only a rare breed of soldier who has the right mix of physical and mental toughness can succeed in passing the tunnel.

What Is It Like Under the Tunnels

Before a troop is dropped under the tunnel, you have to find an entrance first. The entrance was secured by doors or grenades in trees to counter the troops trying to enter the tunnel systems.

Once a tunnel rat is dropped into a hidden hole and can’t see the daylight, they are already in a world of danger, armed only with a pistol, flashlight, and a knife.

The tunnels were so narrow that they were sometimes only a few feet wide, pitch black, and scorchingly hot, with just a little airflow.

You also have to wear a gas mask, because the tunnels also have poison gas. However, these gas masks make it hard for the troops, as they make their breathing louder and somehow affect their sight.

Later on, the troops were able to discover the best tactics while moving inside the tunnel. There would be a lead rat, who goes first, and occasionally a second rat would enter behind, assisting the lead rat.

What Happens Next After Being Underground?

After the rats retrieve the information they can find, they need to destroy the tunnel. They would collapse the tunnel entrance by igniting a mix of acetylene gas and oxygen with small charges and would fill the tunnels with a powdered form of tear gas.

The rats had vowed that no troops would ever be left behind underground, and they would go above and beyond to avenge or recover a fallen troop.

Today, the story of the tunnel rats is one of the most remarkable chapters of the Vietnam War. They carved out a unique legacy of heroism beneath the battlefield of Vietnam, and surely deserve the utmost respect and the highest honor.

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Sources:

• Tunnel Rats (The Vietnam War)
• Tunnel Rats of the Vietnam War
• A Day in the Life of a Vietnam ‘Tunnel Rat’