Digging tactical tunnels?

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Run&Shoot

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I am watching the History Channel episode about the tunnel rats in Vietnam (right after a great 2-hour segment of Mail Call in Vietnam with the Gunny).

It got me to thinking about the "worst case scenario", along the lines of Fred's rifleman fighting the UN invasion and the second American revolution. Those pesky Belgians in their baby blue helmets!

Anyway, it seems some the best and cheapest home land defenses from Vietnam to Afghanistan (barring a direct hit from a bunker buster) is the Mk 1 Mod 0 dirt cave/tunnel.

Of course it would be handy if I lived where there were lots of natural caves to start with, but I don't (that I know of). So does anyone know of any instructional manuals on how to dig and fortify tactical defensive tunnels?

Does any one have experience digging tunnels like this? I know the biggest danger is cave-ins, so how do you dig them to avoid that, or use natrual materials to reinforce?

How long does it take to dig tunnels and what type of soild do you look for? I believe most of the West Coast is clay based soils. Do you just use a D-handle shovel and a pick?

How long should a basic defensive tunnel be and how long would it take to dig?

Obviously, if you had a retreat location you could build a nice covert tunnel with concrete or steel sewer pipes, but what if you had to relocate and start new?

Bottom line, is it practical to try to do this on your own? Maybe you start with a concealed fox hole that you keep lengthening and elaborating into a tunnel?

Does anyone in Oregon know of any natural cave system in the Coast Range or Cascades?

Would it be worth trying to dig one of these out in the state or national forest as a test or even last ditch retreat while we have lots of time? Is this a good reason for me to buy a back-hoe (just kidding!)?
 
Interesting, but not exactly gun related. You might ask a mod if it's appropriate for Strategy and Tactics or move it to Armed Polite.
 
Oh hell yeah, Husker. Better to be shot down in the fresh air than...ugh.

Biker
 
Yes, tunnels are a tool used in guerrilla warfare. But this is the wrong forum to discuss such issues. My suggestion is to become a member here, and post the same question.
 
I've got three going. Tom, Dick and Harry. That way, if the goons find one, we still have two more. Now I just have to figure out how to make UN uniforms from mattress ticking and shoe polish.
 
Tunnels? Ever hear the phrase "fire in the hole"? How'd you feel in that tunnel when a couple of WP's come bouncing in?
 
You need to read the book "The Tunnels of Cu Chi" from the Vietnam war. They had rat warrens in the iron triangle area that had their own gas proof doors. We'd pump the tunnels full of acetylene and light it off and we'd only collapse the first layer. The airtight hatches protected the lower layers. They had multiple entrances so they'd just pop out somewhere else.

These tunnels were huge, they had their own wells and operating theatres where wounded were treated. A really remarkable achievement. But the success relied on the local geology. The earth in that region would be soft as brown sugar during the rainy season and hard as brick during dry periods. One prevented explosions from propogating and the other was very resistant to damage.

I believe a portion of the tunnels are still preserved today as a museum.
 
Funny you should mention this

And, while a bit OT, I think the thread should stay open.

I've actually though about this a bit, as the way my property is laid out, I could have a tunnel complex that ran from my basement, to the "basement" of my barn. It would be under the driveway/parking area, and if I made that all concrete, that would form the "ceiling" of the tunnels/bunkers. Because of the distance/size I could have several hundred square feet underground. But, the cost would be quite high, and I'm not sure it would accomplish much, beyond any security I already have installed.

P.S. have read the "The Tunnels of Cu Chi", pretty fascinating stuff. Maybe that's where I got the idea.
 
Much easier than digging a tunnel. For this one you'll just need to cover the top with a layer of dirt.

tornadoshelter.gif
 
For some reason this reminds me of Hogan's Heros.
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SCHULTZ!!!!!!!!

I see nothing ...

As per the topic at hand, seems a mite excessive to me. You might want to consider the liability issues of digging deep, camoflagued holes on public land before you do so, though. :eek:
 
3 words:

Ground
Penetrating
Radar

If you manage to make enough of a nuisance of yourself, even the best tunnels you can dig on your own won't make any difference.
 
I have actually thought about this topic before in conjuntion with an indoor shooting range.
This is all just fantasy since I don't even have a basement, but.........
I always thought that if I had the money (lotto ?) I would buy some of that big corrogated pipe that is big enough to almost stand up in. I would build an enclosed room in my basement or off of my basement to contain the sound and smoke. Off of this enclosed room would run this big pipe, out through the yard as far as I could afford to make it. This would be the indoor shooting range. Obviously you would have to have ventilaton, a backstop, lights, and a system to run targets up and down range....................
I then thought, why not put a shed at the other end of the pipe with a ladder going up into the shed. Why not ?
 
I've got three going. Tom, Dick and Harry. That way, if the goons find one, we still have two more. Now I just have to figure out how to make UN uniforms from mattress ticking and shoe polish.
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I got it Trapper Ready.;)
 
My tunnel

A while back, I found an old cave below my home...It was full of bats, so I set up a whole bunch of computer equipment, a really cool car on a rotating platform and a crime lab second to none.

I then went out and had a great costume made. It looks all tactical black, has armored nipples and comes with a great cape. It is truly tacticool. I then got this cool belt. It has all kinds of gadgets and stuff, including armor peircing bat shaped boomerangs....

ummmmmmm, never mind, I dont really have these things, yeah, forget about this post......

Im Bat... errr Dravur

Go about your business, nothing to see here.
 
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