What did a tunnel rat do 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.

What types of dogs were used in the Vietnam War?

In Vietnam, American forces used dogs for everything from base security to detecting ambushes to hunting down fleeing enemy units. We used German shepherds like Smokey, mixes of shepherd types and Labrador retrievers that were well trained in detecting, attacking and tracking the enemy.

How many dogs were left behind in Vietnam?

4,000 dogs
Approximately 4,000 dogs served in the Vietnam War leading patrols with their handlers. These dogs are credited with saving more than 10,000 lives. U.S. Air Force A2C George M Bevich Jr. and his dog, Rex, were killed defending their base on December 4, 1966.

What was Tunnel Rat in Vietnam?

After the dog located the tunnel, a soldier (Tunnel Rat) would enter the tunnel to investigate. U.S. Marine dog handler, Corporal Michael Galloway and his Scout Dog, Stormy search a tunnel and find an enemy satchel of explosives ( Vietnam – 1970). Stormy’s first master was Ron Aiello, President of www.uswardogs.org

What kind of rats did the Viet Cong use in Vietnam?

Or perhaps, the Tunnel Rat would be met by a tripwire that would open a box filled with scorpions. The Viet Cong also used hornets, spiders, bats centipedes, and even plague-bearing rats. “ There weren’t many tunnels up North at Khe Sanh however in Danang and south there were many.

What did the Viet Cong do in the tunnels?

The Vietcong would also pump poisonous gases into tunnels in which they suspected a Tunnel Rat was skulking. A Viet Cong soldier crouches in a tunnel with an SKS rifle. Because the Tunnel Rats had to operate in such cramped conditions, they could only go in very lightly armed.

What was the casualty rate for Tunnel Rats?

This certainly wasn’t a job for the faint of heart. The casualty rate for Tunnel Rat units was around 33 percent – a high number even for the Vietnam War – but knowing what these soldiers had to do, it’s a surprise that the rate wasn’t even higher than that.