Tunnels used in War Zones :: essays research papers

TunnelsThe first characteristic of a turn over complex is normally superb camouflage. Entrances and exits are obscure, bunkers are camouflaged and hitherto inside the tunnel itself, side tunnels are concealed, hidden trapdoors, and dead-ends where used to confuse the attacker. Trapdoors were used extensively, both at entrances and exits and inside the tunnel complex itself. There where some(prenominal) different types of trapdoors, concrete covered by dirt, hard packed dirt reinforced by wire, or a basin type consisting of a hurtle filled with dirt. This latter type was particularly difficult to locate in that probing would not reveal the presence of the trapdoor unless the outer frame was actually smitten by the probe. Trapdoors covering entrances were primarily 100 meters apart. Booby traps were used both inside and outside entrance and exit trapdoors. Tunnels found in the War Zones were generally better constructed than those found in other areas. In some cases these complex es were multileveled, with storage and hiding rooms generally found on the lower levels. Entrance was often gained through concealed trapdoors and secondary tunnels. In the deeper complexes, foxholes were dug at intervals to provide water drainage. These were sometimes booby-trapped as well as containing punji-stakes for the unwary attacker. Average tunnel size was 2-feet wide and 2.5 to 3-feet high. They also used air or water locks that acted as firewalls, preventing blast, fragments or gas from passing from one section of the tunnel to another.A trained tunnel exploitation team was essential to the expeditions of VC tunnels since untrained people may have missed hidden tunnel entrances, taken unnecessary casualties from concealed mines and booby traps . To facilitate this, teams were trained, equipped and maintained in a ready status to provide immediate assistance when tunnels were discovered.HidingVC attempted to evade and forfend all contact with government forces for any on e of many reasons and this was the normal reaction for a VC unit when confronted with a superior government force.Frequently however, GVN simulated military operation or time/distance considerations made it necessary for the VC to evade by physically hiding in villages, or becoming one of the local population. This phrase is concerned with this one aspect of VC escape and evasion technique and is especially oriented to the situation presented when search operations were made more difficult because they were conducted in the presence of a friendly or passive populace.Protection of equipment was equally important, if not more so, than protection of personnel.