Did they use snake pits in Vietnam?

Snake Pits

Yes, this is exactly what it sounds like. Viet Cong guerrillas would often carried Bamboo Pit Vipers in their packs to (hopefully) kill anyone who searches through them. They would also tie the deadly snakes to bamboo and hide them throughout their tunnel complexes.

Did Vietnamese nails snake to trees?

Snake Pits

American “tunnel rats” had to be specially trained to navigate and disarm these traps. Snakes were also hidden by the Viet Cong in soldier's packs, and sometimes tied into the branches of trees by their tails at face height.

What traps did the Vietnamese use?

A cartridge trap is a type of booby trap devised by the Viet Cong and subsequently used against American and other anti-Communist forces supporting South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It derives its name from the fact that the wounding component of the trap is a small arms cartridge.

Are there still booby traps in Vietnam jungle?

The Vietnamese did not put up well with the invasion, and did everything in their power to defend against the Americans. One strategy was booby traps, and there are still many tunnels and traps that have survived. Interesting vid.

How did the Viet Cong avoid their own traps?

In order to avoid falling victim to their own simple but effective traps, they created a system to clandestinely mark the traps. So whether it's the “Grenade in a Can,” “the Mace,” or even a simple snake pit, they developed a way to warn themselves and other VC as well as show them a route to avoid the trap.

Most Insane Booby Traps Used During the Vietnam War

Who did the Viet Cong fear the most?

TIL That during the Vietnam War, the most feared soldiers by the Vietcong were not US Navy Seals but Australian SASR. The VC referred to SEAL's as "The men with Green faces" whereas SASR known as "The Phantoms of the Jungle. A much more dangerous arena.

How many soldiers died to booby traps in Vietnam?

Counting US forces alone, there were over 300,000 wounded in Vietnam. That means about 45,000 men were injured by booby traps. Of these wounds, 2% came from punji stakes, the most infamous of all the booby traps employed by the Vietnamese during the war.

When was the last POW found in Vietnam?

Greensburg, Indiana, U.S. Often cited as the last verified American POW from the Vietnam War, Garwood was taken to North Vietnam in 1969, and reportedly was released in 1973 along with the other U.S. POWs as part of the Paris Peace Accords.

What were spider holes in Vietnam?

"Spider hole," the phrase used to describe Hussein's hiding place, is a term from the Vietnam War. The Viet Cong created networks of tunnels with well-camouflaged holes. When fighting began, they could pop out of these holes or disappear into them.

What is the most venomous snake in Vietnam?

The Malayan krait is undoubtedly the deadliest snake in Vietnam. Not only is the Malayan krait one of the most venomous snakes in Vietnam, capable of killing large mammals, including fully grown human adults, the bite of a Malayan krait also possesses one of the lowest survival rates of all snakes on Earth.

Who were the Tunnel Rats in Vietnam?

Vietnam War. During the Vietnam War, "tunnel rat" became an unofficial specialty for volunteer combat engineers and infantrymen from the Australian Army and the U.S. Army who cleared and destroyed enemy tunnel complexes. Their motto was the tongue-in-cheek Latin phrase Non Gratus Anus Rodentum ("not worth a rat's ass") ...

Why did Viet Cong wear sandals?

Ho Chi Minh sandals are iconic for having been worn by the Vietcong during the Vietnam war. During the war they were considered by many more practical than army boots, because being open they allowed the foot to dry and thus prevented the onset of 'jungle rot'.

What were punji sticks in Vietnam?

The punji stick or punji stake is a type of booby trapped stake. It is a simple spike, made out of wood or bamboo, which is sharpened, heated, and usually set in a hole. Punji sticks are usually deployed in substantial numbers.

How many US soldiers were bitten by snakes in Vietnam?

The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness. Snake bites were not specified.

How gruesome was the Vietnam War?

An estimated 500 Vietnamese, mostly women, children, and the elderly, died in the massacre. The brutality has been well documented: American soldiers raped, mutilated, and tortured the villagers before killing them; families were dragged from their homes, thrown into ditches and executed.

Are there anacondas in Vietnam?

Vietnam has more than 200 species of snakes, but anacondas are not one of them. There are only about 50 types of snakes in the country that are venomous and threaten humans. Even though Vietnam has some of the highest numbers of reported snakebites in the world, it's still a moderately small number.

Are there still tunnels in Vietnam?

The Cu Chi Tunnels are a 155-mile network of tunnels known for the role they played in the Vietnam War. Today, the tunnels are a popular tourist destination outside of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Who was found in a spider hole?

A continued search between the two sites found Hussein hiding in a "spider hole" at 20:30 hrs local Iraqi time. Hussein did not resist capture.

Could there still be POWs in Vietnam?

While the Committee has some evidence suggesting the possibility a POW may have survived to the present, and while some information remains yet to be investigated, there is, at this time, no compelling evidence that proves that any American remains alive in captivity in Southeast Asia.

Are there any Vietnam POWs still alive?

As of 2015, more than 1,600 of those were still “unaccounted-for.” The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) of the U.S. Department of Defense lists 687 U.S. POWs as having returned alive from the Vietnam War.

How many US soldiers died from punji sticks?

Less than 1000 US soldiers died from Punji Sticks, but the soldiers who survived these traps were normally crippled for life.

Why are punji sticks banned?

To make the Punji sticks more dangerous and poisonous, the Vietnamese army laced sharpened tips of sticks with toxic plants, animal urine, frogs, or even human faeces, to cause infection.

What were punji sticks dipped in?

punji stake — /poon jee, pun / a sharp bamboo stake concealed in high grass at an angle so as to gash the feet and legs of enemy soldiers and often coated with excrement so as to cause an infected wound.