 |
 |

 |
Manufacturing Panji
Traps: Long nails or lengths of
thin steel rods, hammered flat at the ends,
filed into a barbed shape, then hammered
through blocks of wood. |
 |
 |
Side-Closing Panji Trap:
The most basic trap. Very
cheap to make and very common. Basically
a small hole covered with leaf litter,
the victim's foot is impaled when stood
on. |
Spike Board:
The spike board is used with a pit and
consists of a treadle board, one end of
which is spiked. When a man steps on the
treadle, the spiked end flies up
striking him in the face or chest. |
 |
 |
Side Closing Trap:
The side closing trap consists of two
wooden slats, each studded with spikes,
sliding along a pair of guide rods, and
controlled by heavy rubber bands. When
the prop holding the slats apart is
dislodged, the slats spring together
impaling the portion of the body passing
between them |
Door Trap:
Two lengths of bamboo with the cross
section heavily spiked and is suspended
above the door or opening via a trip
wire. When the wire is tripped the trap
swings down impaling the victim. |
 |
 |
Arrow Trap:
The arrow trap is constructed of a
length of bamboo fastened to a
board. An arrow, powered by a strong
rubber band passes through it. The
rubber band is held in the extended
position by a catch device triggered
by a trip wire. |
Mace Trap:
Mace traps take various forms, and
may consist of a spiked concrete
ball, drum, box or log suspended in
a tree on the end of a rope, or
cable. When the trip wire is pulled,
the mace swings down along the path
striking anyone in its way. |
 |
 |
Tiger Trap:
The
tiger trap or deadfall consists
of a weighted, spike-studded
board. The actuation is usually
by means of a trip wire
stretched across the path or
track underneath the trap. |
Whip Trap:
Bamboo whips are constructed of
a length of green bamboo with
spikes (normally bamboo)
attached to one end. The bamboo
pole is bent and held in an
arched position by a catch
device triggered by a trip wire
stretched across the track. When
released, the bamboo pole whips
back into the straight position
impaling the person triggering
the trap. |
 |
 |
Venus Fly Trap:
Consists of a rectangular
frame work with overlapping
barbs emplaced in a pit, on
trails or a rice padi. Can
be made from a metal
container which is sunk into
the ground until the top is
flush and then covered with
grass or leaf camouflage.
The barbs inflict injury
especially when the victim
attempts to withdraw his leg
out of the trap. |
Grenade Trap:
These are placed along
likely paths of travel with
a two stakes embedded on
both sides of the creek or
stream with the grenade tied
to one and the safety pin
partially removed from the
striker lever and tied by
trip wire to the other
stake. |
 |
 |
Grenade Trap:
Two cans are tied to
trees either side of the
track with the delay
train and safety pins
are removed and slide
into the cans holding
the striker levers in
position. A trip wire is
tied to both grenades.
when the victim's foot
pulls the trip wire the
grenades are pulled from
the cans causing instant
detonation. |
Cartridge Trap: A
section of pipe, bamboo barrel or hole in timber with a
tack nailed through the base upon which sits the
cartridge with the round slightly above ground level.
|
 |
Booby Trap Markers:
Types of markers
indicating the
location of a booby
trap. Often used as
pointers by the VC,
indicating direction
and distance to
booby trap. |

To see the
weapons and
specifications
used by the
Australian army
during the
Vietnam war, as
well as weapons
used by the VC
and NVA along
with a video of
the Battle of
Binh Ba and a
range of
articles written
by the soldiers
themselves in
'Once We Were
Soldiers', Click
on the 5RAR
Association
Logo. |
BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE
|
|