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Mine & booby trap
indicators used by the Viet Cong
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Figure 7.--Note the row of rocks on top of bridge beam at the foot of the bridge. This is typical of the warning signs used by the VC/NVA to warn of their mining activities. |
| If the enemy emplaces mines or
booby traps in the vicinity of villages or in areas where he moves or expects to move, he often indicates the location or direction of the explosive devices in some manner. The VC/NVA may not always follow the examples in this publication in absolute detail, but as a general rule, the indicators are usually found in a regular pattern such as sticks or stones in a line or sticks placed on or in the ground. This
regularity of pattern is the danger signal (above). Any arrangement of sticks and stones which appears unnatural indicates a strong possibility of the presence of
mines and booby traps. The illustrations which follow are examples of marking patterns indicating the presence of mines and
booby traps which have been encountered thus far in SVN. |
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ARROW MARKERS |
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A. Three sticks are placed on the trail in the form of an arrowhead. The important thing to remember is that the point of the arrow does not always point in the
direction of the booby trap. The symbol can only be considered as a means to identify an area as being
booby trapped.
B. A variation of the three-stick arrowhead shows a fourth stick. Again, no definite pattern has been established as to direction or the reason for the fourth stick (usually broken). But it does mean
booby traps in the area.
C. The "Y" arrangement is sometimes found farther down the trail from the arrowhead
indicating the limit of the danger area. No pattern or specific distance has been
established. |
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| As shown, this marker usually indicates a
booby trap within the square. Most of these symbols found have been laid out with bamboo 18 to 42 inches in length. |
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| A piece of bamboo 6 to 8 inches long is stuck in the ground at an angle of 45 degrees. Generally,
booby traps can be expected along the axis of the bamboo in either direction. |
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| The bamboo tripod consists of bamboo, usually about 18 inches long, tied together to form a tripod. Wire, vines, cord or string is wrapped around the legs near the bottom to hold the tripod in place. This device has been found directly over punji pits,
booby traps, and mines. |
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A. The enemy has been known to break the tops of small saplings and bushes pointing the broken part in the direction of the
booby trapped area. Usually mines and booby traps are planted 50 to 100 meters from this marker.
B. A stick or length of bamboo broken at a right angle and lying across the road or trail may mean an enemy mine or
booby trap 200 to 400 meters ahead. |
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| A banana leaf or other similar leaf is folded down the center with a thin stick approximately the thickness of a toothpick woven through in two places. In addition to marking mines, this may indicate an ambush area. There is no pattern as to location or distance of mines or ambushes from this marker. |
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| Short sticks or lengths of bamboo laid parallel to a road or trail usually mean the road or trail is free of mines or
booby traps. |
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| Growing grass is sometimes tied to form four growing sheaves of grass. The tied sheaves form a square of about 6 feet. The mine is buried or concealed in the center of the square. |
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| These devices have been used
extensively together. The mine or booby trap is placed (buried) under two large leaves.
In front and to the rear, at no special distance, stakes are driven. The markers have also been used independently of each other at times. |
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| A forked stick is driven vertically into the ground and another stick is laid into the fork with the elevated end pointing to the danger area. Distance to explosive device is unknown. This sign may also indicate enemy direction of movement. |
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| Various formations of rocks and small stones are used to mark
booby trapped areas. No pattern of distance or location has been established. |
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| Three sticks, one on each side
of a road or trail and one in the middle, usually mean the road is not to be used. A mine or
booby trap is usually 200 to 400 meters from the marker. Stones have been used in the same manner. |
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| The enemy has capitalized on our habit of following old vehicle tracks by placing mines in these tracks. Mines are sometimes marked with crossed sticks or
an arrangement of stones. The location of the mine in relation to these markers is unknown. The mine may be under the marker or up to 400 meters farther on. |
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| An
M1A1 antitank mine with approximately 25 pounds of TNT was discovered under this
marker. The mine had been marked with stakes at each corner and three sticks
forming an "X" over the mine. |
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