Vietnam War Booby Traps

During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong used booby traps, land, and water mines to overcome US and allied forces' superior strength, firepower, mobility, and logistics. These traps were made in village workshops and jungle camps using locally available materials and modern munitions and could be simple or complex and ingenious. Booby traps caused 11% of US troop deaths and 17% of injuries between 1965 and 1970.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 64 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2020
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

During the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong faced significant challenges in engaging US and allied forces in direct stand-up fights. Their forces were vastly outnumbered, lacked strength, firepower, mobility, and logistics. As a result, they resorted to traditional guerrilla warfare tactics, including small-scale hit-and-run attacks, ambushes, terrorist actions, and precision attacks against bases. One of the oldest and most effective guerrilla weapons employed by the Viet Cong was the booby trap. Booby traps were versatile and could be made in large numbers using locally available materials as well as modern munitions. The Viet Cong were skilled at concealing booby traps in the diverse terrain of Vietnam, often placing them in unexpected locations and surroundings. These traps could range from simple pointed sticks to complex and ingenious devices, such as command-detonated submerged floating river mines. In addition to booby traps, the Viet Cong also employed land and water mines, both contact/pressure-detonated and command-detonated. Between January 1965 and June 1970, booby traps and mines caused 11 percent of US troop deaths in action and 17 percent of injuries. This alarming statistic highlights the significant threat posed by these devices to the US military.

The Viet Cong used booby traps for various purposes, including halting, stalling, or locating an enemy. They employed these traps to inflict casualties, disrupt supply lines, and create confusion among enemy forces. Booby traps were also used to protect Viet Cong positions and resources, as they could deter or delay enemy advances. Over time, the Viet Cong evolved their booby trap techniques to maintain the element of surprise. They experimented with different materials, designs, and activation methods to make their traps more difficult to detect and neutralize. They also incorporated new technologies, such as radio-controlled detonators and remote-controlled mines, to enhance their effectiveness.

The use of booby traps by the Viet Cong was a terrifying aspect of guerrilla warfare. They demonstrated the adaptability and ingenuity of the Viet Cong forces and their willingness to use unconventional tactics to achieve their goals. The Viet Cong's use of booby traps also highlighted the limitations of traditional military tactics and the importance of countering guerrilla warfare strategies. The Vietnam War was a complex and multifaceted conflict, and the use of booby traps was just one of the many weapons and tactics employed by the Viet Cong and US forces. However, the impact of booby traps on the war was significant, and they continue to be studied and analyzed by military historians and experts to better understand the complexities of guerrilla warfare.

Weight: 218g
Dimension: 185 x 247 x 6 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472842459