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Anti helicopter mines used
by the Viet Cong & NVA
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| The degree of success that the
employment of helicopters has had on restricting and containing VC/NVA activities is
evidenced by the enemy's efforts to destroy or neutralize these machines. In addition
to intense ground fire, the enemy has devised numerous helicopter landing zone
destruction systems. Such destruction systems range from the primitive planting
of long pointed stakes to imaginative explosive devices. Because of its design,
the helicopter is extremely vulnerable to these devices, particularly the rotors and
airframe. |
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Grenades, artillery/mortar rounds, or any other type of exploding ordnance are mounted in trees or on the surface of the
landing zone. The explosive devices are rigged for tripwire detonation and the
wire is strung to loosely emplaced poles. The rotor wash of landing helicopters will
blow the poles from their loose position, tripping the device.
A 13-year old Vietnamese boy recently claimed that the VC had forced him to
reconnoiter helicopter landing zones. The boy was instructed by the VC to place
hand grenades in the zones with strings wrapped around the levers, pieces of paper
attached to the free ends of the strings and the rings (pull rings) pulled.
Rotor wash from landing helicopters would then blow the paper, unwrap the string, and release the safety lever. |
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