Are punji sticks banned in war?

Are punji sticks banned in war?

They were often incorporated into various types of traps; for example, a camouflaged pit into which a man might fall. The use of punji sticks in any act of conflict is banned from use under the 1980 Geneva Convention. The use of punji sticks in any act of conflict is banned from use under the 1980 Geneva Convention.

What were punji sticks in Vietnam?

Punji sticks were sharpened bamboo branches that were used by the Viet Cong as its toxic terror sticks. Sometimes the sticks were smeared with feces in order to spread infection throughout the wound.

Are booby traps still in Vietnam?

The Vietnamese did not put up well with the invasion, and did everything in their power to defend against the Americans. One strategy was booby traps, and there are still many tunnels and traps that have survived.

How many people died from booby traps in Vietnam?

Counting US forces alone, there were over 300,000 wounded in Vietnam. That means about 45,000 men were injured by booby traps. Of these wounds, 2% came from punji stakes, the most infamous of all the booby traps employed by the Vietnamese during the war.

How old would a Vietnam veteran be today?

“Of the 2,709,918 Americans who served in Vietnam, Less than 850,000 are estimated to be alive today, with the youngest American Vietnam veteran’s age approximated to be 60 years old.” So, if you’re alive and reading this, how does it feel to be among the last 1/3rd of all the U.S. Vets who served in Vietnam?

How many soldiers died from snake bite in Vietnam?

The United States Archives and other sources suggest that between 25 and 50 American soldiers a year were bitten by snakes during the war in Vietnam. Some 10,786 American soldiers died of non-combat causes, including 9,107 by accidents and 938 due to illness.

Why are spike pits banned in war?

Though these sound pretty medieval, spike pits were in use as late as the Vietnam War. However, Protocol II of the 1979 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons finally banned their use altogether. This clause prohibits the use of incendiary weapons on people. You can, however, use them to clear foliage.

Who invented punji sticks?

First to coin the term for the weapon were 19th century British Indian Army troops in the Punjab, in reference to native hunting traps. But it was the Viet Cong, the South Vietnamese communist guerrillas, who used punjis to their greatest notoriety a century later.

Did they use snake pits in Vietnam?

Snake Pits Snakes were commonly used in traps inside tunnels. Tripwires would trigger the release of snakes hidden inside bamboo sticks. Snakes were also hidden by the Viet Cong in soldier’s packs, and sometimes tied into the branches of trees by their tails at face height.

What booby traps did the Viet Cong use?

A cartridge trap is a type of booby trap devised by the Viet Cong and subsequently used against American and other anti-Communist forces supporting South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It derives its name from the fact that the wounding component of the trap is a small arms cartridge.

What were the odds of surviving Vietnam?

According to the book Dirty Little Secrets of the Vietnam War, approximately 2.7 million American men and women served in the Vietnam War. About 1.8% were killed in action (KIA) or 18 out of every 1000. About 5.6% were seriously wounded and survived or 56 out of every 1000.

Why did the Viet Cong use punji sticks in Vietnam?

In the Vietnam War, the Viet Cong would also use this method to force the wounded soldier to be transported by helicopter to a medical hospital for treatment, which was viewed as being more damaging to the enemy’s cause than death. Punji sticks were also used in Vietnam to complement various defenses, such as barbed wire.

What is a punji stick?

A punji stick was very easy to make. It could be cut, fashioned even by women and children. Therefore, punji sticks were produced in large quantities in the Vietnam War. As a kind of trap, punji sticks were perfectly fit in with the condition of South Vietnam.

What are the different types of punji stick traps?

Types of Punji Stick Traps. A bear trap was two spiked slats on a tracking board that when triggered would slap together with a huge rubber band. Between the spiked slats was placed a rod of bamboo that when removed would allow the rubber band to slap the slats together and impale its victim. Bunker construction on Hill 530, Vietnam War,…

How many US soldiers died from punji sticks?

Less than 1000 US soldiers died from Punji Sticks, but the soldiers who survived these traps were normally crippled for life. The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons was signed on April 10, 1981.