Did Australia have tunnel rats in Vietnam?
The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War. Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet–Afghan War and by the Israel Defense Forces in campaigns in the Middle East.
How many Australian tunnel rats were there?
I would come to learn it was the latter. Our tunnel rat unit was small, with at most 120 men in the country at any time, and a total of around 700 who served from 1965 to 1972.
How many tunnel rats died in the Vietnam War?
Imagine been alone down there, a million miles from home during those crazy 10,000 days in Vietnam. That both sets of men had to endure this life is appalling. There were never more than 100 Tunnel Rats in country at any one time and around 700 in total. There were 36 killed and 200 wounded.
Why did tunnel rats use revolvers?
Because they weren’t as loud, didn’t produce as much flash, and were more resistant to being dragged through the muddy tunnels cut into the Vietnam jungle than M1911s, . 38 revolvers were most prized among tunnel rats, who also used cut-down M1 Carbines, if possible.
Were there tunnel rats in Afghanistan?
The tunnel rats were American, Australian and New Zealand soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War. Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
What is a military tunnel rat?
Tunnel rats were usually soldiers who were physically small—able to fit inside the tight spaces of the Viet Cong tunnels. They traveled light, carrying only a pistol, a knife and a flashlight.
What was a sapper in Vietnam?
The Naval Sapper was responsible for attacking shipping, bridges, and bases located near waterways. The Field Sapper conducted operations against deployed US and South Vietnamese troops, trained other communist troops as sappers, and gave the communist leadership an elite force for lightning raids.
What is a tunnel rat?
Originally called “Tunnel Runners” by the 25th Inf Div, and “Ferrets” by the Australian Army, the term “Tunnel Rat” soon became their official accepted name. The US Army soon realized that trying to destroy the tunnels was a short-sighted policy that wasn’t going to work.
Who used Tunnel Rats in the Vietnam War?
The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealander, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War. Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet–Afghan War and by the Israel Defense Forces in campaigns in the Middle East.
How did the Australian Army train its rats?
The rats were comprised of engineering soldiers some of whom were trained at the Australian Army’s School of Military Engineering. Most men were volunteers and tended to be of smaller stature, making it easier to maneuver through the cramped spaces.
How did Thornton get the rats out of the tunnels?
All of Thornton’s men were volunteers, most (not all) were small men of slight build who could squeeze through the tight trap doors and crawl along the narrow passages with relative ease. No dead tunnel rats were left in a tunnel, dead or wounded they were all dragged out with commo wire, ropes, or by a comrade using a fireman’s crawl.