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Author Topic: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!  (Read 205555 times)

Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1590 on: March 13, 2024, 12:47:30 PM »

Carlos
rather you then me matey...i heard they made the tunnels
bigger for westerners post Nam............see  below.was this
your experience?.

Exploring Cu Chi Tunnels: A Unique Visitor Experience
Today, the Cu Chi Tunnels stand as a historical site and popular tourist destination, offering visitors a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the underground life of the Viet Cong soldiers. Exploring the tunnels provides an immersive encounter with the harsh realities of war and the ingenious ways in which the soldiers survived.

Visitors can crawl through sections of the tunnels, gaining a firsthand understanding of the cramped and claustrophobic conditions in which the soldiers lived and fought. Knowledgeable guides narrate the historical significance of each tunnel section, recounting the stories of heroism and sacrifice.




Offline carlos marighela

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1591 on: March 13, 2024, 07:34:09 PM »
Yes, they did.  I'm 5'10" tall and still found it cramped, I can only imagine what the original was like.

TBH the Cu Chi thing is a bit Disney but I suppose that's to be expected. The tour guide I went with was a nice lad, very bright and like the on site staff, well versed in the spiel but it's, unsurprisingly, heavily flavoured with the victor's viewpoint and pitched on the expectation that you know nothing of the history of Cu Chi or the 'American War' in general. My guide was a surprised to learn that the first Allied troops to discover and enter the Cu Chi tunnel complex were actually Australians from 1 RAR during Operation Crimp in 1965.

All said and done it's still a worthwhile trip and quite interesting. There are quite a few old craters in the area from B-52 raids and you get a good appreciation of the terrain. The trip out there gives you a good idea of how just how close Cu Chi is not only to Saigon/ HCMC but to the Cambodian border as well.

Last year I found myself on the same road going out to Hoc Mon to visit some local friends, maybe 10km short of Cu Chi. Hoc Mon was a rural village on the very outskirts of Saigon and the scene of some heavy fighting in 1968. Today it's suburbia, Vietnam style and very much part of the HCMC greater conurbation.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2024, 07:36:13 PM by carlos marighela »
Em dezembro de '81
Botou os ingleses na roda
3 a 0 no Liverpool
Ficou marcado na história
E no Rio não tem outro igual
Só o Flamengo é campeão mundial
E agora seu povo
Pede o mundo de novo

Offline bluewillow

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1592 on: March 14, 2024, 08:09:56 AM »
Our Engineer training school in Sydney had tunnels built for 1 Feild Engineer training during Vietnam. On our Engineer school tour they asked for a volunteer to step into a spider hole, our smallest officer could not fit.

Big respect for anyone who entered these things to chase Vietcong. I was later posted to 1 Feild and one of the seargents in one troop was a fine built man and had fought in Vietnam as part of the tunnel rats platoon.

Cheers
Matt

Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1593 on: March 16, 2024, 12:58:58 AM »


Carlos and Bluewillow fascinating stuff
the experience even for veteran troops
must have been overwhelming :o :-* :o :-*

found this interesting overview on the
dangers encountered...

The life of a tunnel rat during the Vietnam War was a harrowing and perilous existence. Let me paint a vivid picture of their experiences:

The Decision to Become a Tunnel Rat:
Tunnel rats were volunteers, often motivated by a sense of duty, bravery, or a desire to make a difference.
They knew that their mission was incredibly dangerous, yet they stepped forward willingly.
Training and Preparation:
Tunnel rats underwent specialized training, learning techniques for navigating tight spaces, detecting traps, and surviving underground.
They practiced crawling through confined tunnels, handling explosives, and dealing with the psychological strain.
The Dark and Claustrophobic World:
Imagine descending into a pitch-black, damp, and suffocating tunnel.
The air was thick with the smell of earth, sweat, and fear.
The tunnel rats carried minimal gear: a flashlight, a knife, and a pistol.
Crawling Through the Unknown:
They entered tunnels alone, inching forward on their bellies.
The narrow passages restricted movement, making it impossible to stand or turn around.
The walls sometimes pressed so tightly that they scraped against the soldier’s back.
Facing Danger at Every Turn:
Booby traps awaited them: punji stakes, tripwires connected to grenades, and hidden pits.
The Viet Cong often lay in ambush, waiting for the tunnel rats.
The rats had to be vigilant, checking every crevice for signs of danger.
Psychological Toll:
The darkness, isolation, and constant threat took a toll on their minds.
Fear gnawed at them as they wondered what awaited around each bend.
Some tunnel rats suffered from claustrophobia, nightmares, and anxiety.
Moments of Triumph and Despair:
When they discovered enemy supplies, documents, or weapons, it was a victory.
But sometimes, the tunnels led to dead ends, leaving them trapped.
The rats faced the paradox of wanting to find something while dreading what they might find.
Comradeship and Support:
Tunnel rats relied on each other. They formed a tight-knit brotherhood.
They shared stories, fears, and survival tips.
Their bond helped them endure the darkness and uncertainty.
Legacy and Recognition:
Tunnel rats rarely received recognition during the war.
Today, their bravery is acknowledged, and they are remembered as unsung heroes.
In those dim tunnels, the tunnel rats grappled with fear, courage, and the weight of their mission. Their legacy remains etched in the annals of history, a testament to human resilience in the face of unimaginable challenges.

gulp!! o_o
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com




Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1594 on: March 17, 2024, 08:36:54 PM »


Another obe of our recently released
US Army Tunnel Rats crouching with
an M1911 pistol and flashlight ready
to venture into the darkness below..
top paintwork from Andy Singleton
 ;) :D ;) :D
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com

Offline Ultravanillasmurf

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1595 on: March 17, 2024, 10:28:06 PM »
Useful for "When Nightmares come".

Offline Tom Dulski

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1596 on: March 18, 2024, 11:15:40 AM »

 Fantastic painting work.

Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1597 on: March 18, 2024, 11:27:14 AM »


Ultravanillasmurf
many thanks ;)
regards Ged
www.gringo40s.com

Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1598 on: March 18, 2024, 11:28:11 AM »


Tom
many thanks indeed ;) :D ;) :D
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com

Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1599 on: March 20, 2024, 04:47:52 PM »


staying with the theme of getting down and dirty :D
28mm US Army sandbag filling detail with bored Guard ..figures available as a set or individually.top paintwork from Andy Singleton. Recent additions to our expanding 28mm Vietnam War range . www.gringo40s.com

regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com

Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1600 on: March 23, 2024, 02:08:30 PM »



NVA pictorial  update........ :D
28mm Bush Hatted NVA Hue City 1968 on of Gringo40s from our growing range of 28mm Vietnam War metal miniatures ... top paintjob Andy Singleton www.gringo40s.com :D 8) :D 8)

Offline gringo

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Re: (COMMERCIAL) Hue 1968 from Gringo40s. New!!
« Reply #1601 on: March 25, 2024, 10:09:02 AM »




28mm Gringo40s US Marines in action..somewhere in Nam! www.gringo40s.com  :D 8) :D 8)
regards
Ged
www.gringo40s.com