The Deadly Traps of the Vietnam War

Summary

This script delves into the chilling tactics used during the Vietnam War, detailing the most horrific traps set by the Viet Cong and Northern Vietnamese Army. From the explosive motorcycles and rigged trophies to the deadly rubber band grenades and foot traps, the narrative paints a grim picture of warfare. It highlights the ingenuity and fear behind traps like the 'Toe Popper' cartridge trap, Punji stick pits, and the infamous snake pits. The script also covers the psychological terror of trip wires connected to grenades and the devastating impact of land mines. Finally, it chillingly describes the 'Rat Tunnels,' a labyrinthine network of tunnels used for both military strategy and terror, manned by the brave 'Tunnel Rats' who faced unimaginable horrors within.

Takeaways

• 💥 The Exploding Motorcycle: During the Vietnam War, motorcycles were rigged with explosives to harm U.S. soldiers who tried to ride them.
• 🏅 Rigged Trophies: Viet Cong and Northern Vietnamese Army rigged items of value, like flags, to explode when picked up by American soldiers.
• 🔥 Rubber Band Grenade: A simple yet deadly trap where a hand grenade was held in place by rubber bands, which would melt and cause the grenade to detonate when a structure was set on fire.
• 👣 Foot Traps: Various painful and potentially deadly foot traps were used, often involving poisoned or venom-coated nails and stakes.
• 🔫 Cartridge Trap: Known as 'The Toe Popper', this foot trap used a cartridge to fire ammunition into a soldier's foot when stepped on.
• 🐍 Punji Stick Traps: Spiked pits were a gruesome trap designed to puncture the entire human body and were sometimes combined with deadly snakes.
• 🕷 Snake Pit: Deadly vipers were added to spiked pits to increase the terror and lethality of the trap.
• 🪢 Trip Wires: Common traps using trip wires included the canned grenade, crossbows with feces-covered arrows, and swinging spiked maces or whips.
• 💣 Land Mines: Land mines were a major cause of casualties, inducing extreme paranoia and fear among soldiers with every step.
• 🐀 Rat Tunnels: The most terrifying trap, an extensive network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong for various purposes, and a nightmare for U.S. soldiers who had to clear them.

Q & A

What was the Exploding Motorcycle trap during the Vietnam War?

The Exploding Motorcycle was a trap where motorcycles were rigged with explosives in cities and villages predicted to be invaded by U.S. soldiers. When a person rode the bike, it would ignite the explosives, causing severe damage or death.

How did the Viet Cong and Northern Vietnamese Army use rigged trophies to harm American soldiers?

They discovered that American soldiers liked to collect enemy flags and other items as trophies. They began rigging these items, especially flags, with explosives so that they would explode when picked up.

What is the Rubber Band Grenade trap and how was it used?

The Rubber Band Grenade was a booby trap where a hand grenade's lever was held down by rubber bands. The grenade was hidden, and when a hut containing the grenade was set on fire, the rubber bands would melt, releasing the lever and causing the grenade to explode.

Can you explain the concept of the Mason jar grenade mentioned in the script?

The Mason jar grenade is a modern adaptation of the Rubber Band Grenade trap. A grenade has its safety pin removed and is placed inside a glass jar, with the lever held down by the jar's wall. It can be dropped from a drone to cause an explosion when the jar shatters.

What were the different types of foot traps used during the Vietnam War?

There were several types of foot traps, including those with nails and stakes covered in poison or venom, or coated with feces and urine if poison wasn't available. Traps also included mechanisms with two by fours with nails, holes with stakes, and downward-pointing spikes.

How did the Cartridge Trap, also known as 'The Toe Popper', work?

The Cartridge Trap was made with a wooden board, a nail, a piece of bamboo, and a 50 caliber cartridge. It was placed underground and covered. When stepped on, the cartridge would press down onto the nail, firing the ammunition into the soldier's foot.

What was the purpose of the Punji Stick Traps in the Vietnam War?

Punji Stick Traps were large, spiked pits designed to puncture the entire human body. They were placed in the dense jungle and at choke points for ambushes, causing severe injury when soldiers fell onto the stakes.

Can you describe the Snake Pit trap and its purpose?

The Snake Pit was an extension of the Punji Stick Trap, where deadly vipers like the yellow bellied bamboo pit viper, known as 'The Two Stepper', were added to the pits. This made the trap not only physically damaging but also potentially lethal due to snake bites.

What are Trip Wires and how were they used in traps during the Vietnam War?

Trip Wires were used to trigger various traps. Common traps included the canned grenade, where hitting the wire would release a grenade, crossbows shooting arrows covered in feces, and the mace, a heavy swinging ball with spikes that would hit the person who triggered the wire.

How did land mines impact the Vietnam War and what was a common type used by the Communist army?

Land mines were extremely deadly and caused a third of all Marine casualties. A common type used was the DH10 directional fragmentation mine, which was large, heavy, and unleashed fragments up to 200 meters when triggered.

What were the Rat Tunnels and why were they so feared by U.S. and allied soldiers?

The Rat Tunnels were an extensive network of underground tunnels used by the Viet Cong for various purposes, including resting and storing supplies. For U.S. and allied soldiers, navigating these dark, claustrophobic tunnels filled with potential traps and vipers was a horrific experience.

Who were the 'Tunnel Rats' and what was their role during the Vietnam War?

The 'Tunnel Rats' were a small group of soldiers, most under five foot five, who specialized in clearing out the Rat Tunnels. They were some of the bravest soldiers and earned great respect and admiration from their peers.