1% 2A ‘EBOOKS $ 300 TIS-2 VC/NVA MINE INDICATORS 13 OCT 70 COMBINED INTELLIGENCE CENTER, VIETNAM.aaa ‘1X8 PUBLICATION PROFIDES_A COLLECTION OF WINE suD BOOBY TRAP MARKERS USED BY TUE O/NVA THROUOHCUT REpUuDEEC GF VISTHAM, NONE THDECASORG OR MINE MARES WAY VARY FROM ARSA TO AREA: THOSE PRESENTED IN THIS ‘RANDBOON ORE ONLY Tosh AIICH HAVE BEEN REPORTED 0 DATE. 24s" MORE ARE SUSPECTED TO TXTST, SUT SO RAR HAVE tor SEEN REPORTED, "A HOVLSDGE OF THESE VARGAS BY FRIENOLY FORCES WELL ALD 30 TW REDUCEZON OF Yam [AND BOOBY TRAP. CASUALETES.be? 3 AA we 4\ anuasers Te Prue ure stanus wauTARY ASSISTANCE OLLOANO, YISTNAK 6 in aes matt aera coxa, remun7P ™ APO San Francisco 96222 ee Macse31-7 ACHE) SUBIBET: VO/HVA Mine Indicators ‘Sex DISTRIBUTLON 1s Forvarded for your information is TIS 2, Yo/MA kine Indicators. 2, This publication provides a collection of mine and booty trap markers used ty the VO/LVA throughout the Republic of Vietnam. Troop awareness of these markers will reduce mine and booby trap camalties. Tho enaay probably uses aany other as yet unreported types of markers. Request that now indicators, 125 woll as coments and recemondations, te forvarded to J2, ATTt MAGJ2I~7. ep ane G i Brigadier Generel, USA Aeeistane Ohiet of Sat, v2pistRaBuTION 323-2 (OL, 02, 09 plus &) 523-3 (ete 28, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21) 323-8 523-5 (ees OT, 09, 20, 21, 22, 20) 323-6 (Less 05, 09, 10, 20, 21! 02, 06, 16 plus 7) 323-1 (03 plus 5, less 08) 1323-8 (06 plus 3) 323-9 (a1 plus 1, 02 plus 2; 03, Ob, 05, 06 plus 1) 323-2, 523-16 3237 yesae Pia 1-8 Mung Sat special Zone, APO 96309 5-02 (PD) Library 3-135th MI Group, APO 96213 Bualgth MI Group, Box 105, APO 96307 S-2N6th FSYWAR Co, APO 96221 L'SINTH U.8. AWAY, Presidio of San Francisco, San Francisco, Calf. Looc-1ns" ave stoiEs, Ft Belvoir, Va. L-RROOKE MED CTR, Pt’san Houston, Texas LMBL IHTH. DIR, Redstone Arsenal, Ale. 35809 3-0 COD CIV AFF AGGY, Ft Gordon, Ca. "30905 L-RAVINSWRVO, Japan, Box 76, FPO 56669 L-NAVINGNVO, P.I. Box 48, FPO 96652 ACME Corps inter ctr, 5eSth Mii Intel Co (THTG), Pt Hood, Texas 61545 A-ANS, 6500 Hrooxs Lane, IN, Washington D.C. 20315 3S Army OD Cond, Aviation agency, Ft Rucker, Ala. 36362 L0US Army Combat Dev Comand, Combat Service Support Oroup, Ft Lee Va. 23802 AWS Army Conbat Der Command, lngineer Agency, Ft Belvoir, Ya. 22060 AUS Aray Combat Dev Comand, Transportation Agency, Fe Distis, Va. 2360h Commanding Officer, Kav Recon Tech Supp Ctr, 4301 Suitiand Rd, Washington D.C. 20390 1-00, aval Investigative Service Office, San Francisco Federal Office Building, 50 Fulton Street, San Francisco, Calif. 911021-00, Haval Investigative Service Office, Charleston Naval Base, Charleston, 3.C. 29108 LComander in Cater, Continental Air Defense Cond Snt Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado 60912 2i-Comander, WOTth Recon Tech Squdn DC, APO Nev York 09633 L-Coomnnder, ‘Fleet Air Mediterranean, FPO Nev York 09521 commander, Key West Force US Haval Sase, Key West, Plorida 33010 6507-UBARV 300-NAVFORY 500-Ten Ar Force 200-5th Air Force zovo-Macs231~7 (CMEC)Page Small Rock Markers-...e.eceseee sese20 Spaced Sticks or Stones Marker... s.l0/s000.21 1. INTRODUCTION. 11, MARKING PROCEDURES... Vehicle Track Markers .....scccscesseceees e122 Stakes with "X" Marker... lclccsussesessses28 TIT. EMPLACEMENT PROCEDURES. . Vine Markers ...... omen la Upright Stake Markers 211) Cas IV. CONCLUSION. coe Cloverleaf Device - Palm Leaves in a Patterns... Red "X" Marker og Marker... Perpendicular Branch Markers» Green Stick Marker ome Board Markers... Sign Markers..0. 1. a0 Banboo Tied in knots. st sess ‘Triangle "Rush Plant" Markers Stick in Tree Booby Trap Marker ‘Stray Markers. Drawn Markers Arrow Markers... Pointed Stake tine Marier Loose Lunber Markers. White Faced Board Marker Cloth Gate Marker. Bamboo Marker =... Bamboo Rectangle Marker Bamboo Tripod Marker . Broken Brush Marker. Broken Stick Mazker s.... Folded Leaf Marker. . Forked Stick Marker - Propaganda Leafiet Marker Growing Grass Marker. Vertical Stake Indicator. . Mine or Booby Trap Marking on Traiis ..-. 0.017 Shower Shoe Marker... =. Parallel Stick Marker... ae Flare Parachute Marker: Rock Markers on Trails. NTs Mackerel Can MarkerYo/IvA MINE THDICATORS 1. Eemonuorton. ‘mis handbook provides information on YC/SYA"procedures in the emplacement and marking, of mines. ‘mee enemy employe mines in any aren and during every type of tactical situation. In addition to the obvious benefits to be gained by a knowledge of VC/IVA nurking nethods, other safeguards cen be developed throvgn the study of explacenent. and camouflage techniques used by the enemy. When new NYA marking nettods, mine emplacements, and camouflage techniques are found, they should be rerorted ‘through the chain of edmmand. TT, MARKING PROCEDURTS. A. ‘the markers described in th{s publication have been discovered throughout the Nenublic of Yéetnan (FVM). Mo pattern or standard of enemy mine and boohy trap markings has been detersined. Intelligence sources confirm a lack of conmon doctrine of enemy mine markings. The only pattern that appears is the requirenent that a VC/KUA unit knov the locations of mines vithin its operating area, tnd that it coordinate with the local forces on mine and booby trap locations while operating 4m strange areas. Femy mine doctrine generally pute the responsibility for renovel on the unte that emplaces the nine. The reported VC/IVA wine markers are only a minor indteation of eneny locations since current information indfeates that many mines are not marked in any manner. The mine markers mentioned in thie report can be disoriented ty rain and wind, or anival and human movenents through ‘the area. 2. The generally accepted YC/NVA booby trap marking is a small spot of red or yellov paint somewhere on the booby trap. Any grenade, mine, or harmless appearing device which 1s marked with thie spot of red or yellov paint should de suspected as being a bocby trap. The absence of this spot does not indieate the absence of a booty trap.IIT, BELACBENT proceDUREE. As Mines can be emplaced on any type rond, trail, or along road shoulders. Close inspection of the road ig necessary to detect mines. Probes should always be used in conjunction with wine detectors to insure the most complete investigation possible of a suspected ares. Many nine detectors are not eftective because of weak batteries, improper maintenance, or incorrect adjustment. In mine fetect ion continual attention mist be paid to all puddles on the rota, or areas nevly refilled vith soil, stray, buffalo dung, rice, or grasa. he best preventive measure ie to develop an effective intelligence systen vith the local povulace to discover eneny plans for mining. This will enable friendly forces to counter C/A mine laying attempts. 1B, Baplacenent On Uninproved Roads. 2. Te VO/IA will attempt to deceive mine detecting teas by Ageing many holes in the rosd and refilling then, placing mines in only fev of the holes. After carefully examining many of he holes, © mine detector tean nay find nothing and becane careless, overlocking the holes vith mines. Mine detecting toana murt examine these sane holes aay after day, even thoveh nothing ie found. Ae con as the VE/MVA discover that the mine detecting tea 1e careiese, they vill explace ninet 2. A variation of this YO/IWA tactic 1s to aig a trench or series of trenches across a road to create a roa obstacle, After the trenches have been refilled by friendly forces the VC/MNA vill return and emplace mines in the fresh fill. 3. Buffalo dung, stray mate, or grass vill often be used to cover an emplaced mine. These stone are used to camouflage the neviy explaced mine ani are positioned to appear as dfscarded {tens on the roadway. C. Rplacenent On Asphalt Ponds. 1. Mines emlaced on amphalt roads are Aifficult to conceal because the surface of the road ie generally smooth and uniform. Often the VC/TVA vill aig up sections of the road and valt for it to ‘be repaired. Once repaired the VC/NVA vill return and emplace mines under the nev $112.2, In another technique, the YC/"VA anear the rond at night with md. This condition forces mine detecting teans to check the area carefully. The smearing may go on for several days until one Gay the VO/NVA emplace mines in the mddied sections. Heving checket the area before vith no results, tthe mine detecting tean may Vecone careless and mies these mines. teain, this carelessness 48 what the VC/IVA expect. evly smeared areas mst be checked carefully each time before troops cross over then. 3. The VO/WA wil also aig up the road, lay the mines, and refill the hole with asphalt. To avoldtdetection, @ spare tire le rolled seross the patch in an attenct to blent ft with the road A, the YO/"VA win occasionally tunnel under the road from the shoulder and plant a comand Aetonated mine under the rosdvay. This leaves no traces on the surface of the road. These holes are generally dug ina section of a road near a bridge or az a curve where vehicles must slov down. D, Buplacement On Poad Shoulders. The V0/SVA lay mines on the shoulders of a naved road st any Location vhere mines are not difficult to lay and camouflage. Such places are asphalted and the surface covering the sine blends with the surrounding aren. IY, coNctton, Friendly troops are constantly being ensced by YC/A mine explacenents. Tmoroved and unimroved roads, road shoulders, trails, and any probable avenues of approach are mubject to mining. The only doctrine that has arpeared concerning the emplacement of mines requires YC/MWA unite to knov the location of mines vithin their operating area, and thet they coordinate with the loeal forces for guldance on mine fand booby trap locations vhen operating in unfamiliar areas. ovever, sone mine markers have been Aiscovered throughout RYN that may often serve as varning devices. Mine inaieators or mine markers nay vary from area to area; those presented in this handbook are only those which have teen reporte! to date. ary nore are suspected to exist, but 90 far have not deen reported. A knovledge of these markers WY friendly forees vill aid in the reduction of mine and booby tran casualtiesARROW MARKERS A, Taree sticks are placed on the trail, The Airection of the arrow does uot alvays indicate the Airection of the mine or booby trep. B. Tour sticks are placed on the trail; three are laid to form an arrov; the fourth atick 4e Inié cross the arrov sten. ‘The relationship between the arrovhead and the danger area is unknown. ©. The "Y" arrangement 1s sonetines found farther dova the trall from the arrovhead indicating the Limit of the danger ares. The distance from these uarkers to the danger area {¢ unknown. EPORTID IN: Mistery Regton 1POINTED STAKE MINE MARKER A banboo stake, sharpened at one end, 1s placed approximstely 200 meters fron the mine, vith the pointed at facing tovird the mine, She undareide of the pointed end in shaved Seen ‘e* ¥ ye vi ry! v owLOOSE LUMBER MARKERS ‘Teree loot boards are placed to form en arrow pointing at a booby trap. the beards say be sry length fa marker Sg urually used to point out booby traps above ground Level. The Gistance from the marker $5 the ocky trap fe eaknown REPORDID IM: Minteary Reston 2WHITE FACED BOARD MARKER A toned ts riven into the grsna neat road or trail. oe aide of the Dour tt painted vite, with fhie side fecing the sine or booby trap. The Giatance frou the marker to the mine oF Doody tre REPORTED TM: MLaStary Region 2 ye virwy t Yru¥y y Vvy y Vout YvyCLOTH GATE MARKERBAMBOO MARKER A plece of banboo stick 15 to 21 centimeters long is covered on one end by a larger joint of Banoo. The bamboo stick {9 stuck nto the ground at about a WS angle, vith the large end of the device pointing tovard a mine or booby traps REPORT IN: uiiitary Region 2BAMBOO RECTANGLE MARKER A hand grenade enployed as en antipersonnel mine vas @iscovered inside a rectangle consisting of four lengths of basboo. The rectangle measured 1/2 neters by 1-1/3 meters. REPORTED Ti: Mi2itery Peeton 2 2 METER 73 METERBAMBOO TRIPOD MARKER ‘the basboo tripod marker consists of thfee pleces of basboo, ususlly about M7 centimeters long, tied together at one end and set up in @ tripod ehape, Wire or other material is vrapped arcund the device hear the botton of the three leas. This device is placed over pungi pits, booby trans, ani mines. REPORTED IN; wititary Region 2BROKEN BRUSH MARKER ‘he Yo/HVA wlan wreak the top S108 2eflce te spate potiog ove De fot Grip aot of tee arene, on bape wi be 7 ‘eine of booby teap fo Located $0 orIN STICK MARKER ight angle and ying crore the road or trail may wean &FOLDED LEAF MARKER A banana leaf or other sintlar type leaf is folded in balf, with « thin stick approxinately the Uieknese of @ tooth pick woven through the leaf in tvo places. In addition to marking mines, thie may falzo indicate an ambush area, ‘The location of and distance to the mines or axbugh site from this aerker ie anknom. REPORTED TM: MAStary Region 1FORKED STICK MARKER A forked stick {s ariven vertically into the ground and nother stick {e then Iafd into the fork with the elevated end pointing to the danger aren. The Aistance to the daner area is unknom. "his sien ray a180 be used by the YC/IVA to ind fe direction of movensht. REPORTED I: M2itary Ragion 2 1sGROWING GRASS MARKER Groving grass 16 sonetines tied to form four growing sheaves of grass. ‘The tied sheaves form « square approxinately twa netera wide, ‘The mine 1g Durie? oF concealed in the center of the square, orm 1 nuttny twin 2MINE OR BOOBY TRAP MARKINGS ON TRAILSPARALLEL STICK MARKERROCK MARKERS ON TRAILS Yertooe formations of eal soska see reported to Rave Deen placed oo trae to serve 6 cuts ‘beby rape ahead. These pooh foractions have been placed dn circular, nyrenid, ant ‘SEeatent Line patterner” fhe Giatance from there harkers to the Deeetion ef the nanan fe enksown RIPORTED 1H: WSIStAry Fegton 2SMALL ROCK MARKERSSPACED STICK OR STONE MARKERVEHICLE TRACK MARKERS The VO/NVA have capitalized on our habit of folloving old vehicle tracks by placing mines in thote tracks. ‘ese mines ere sonetines market with croseed aticks or an arrangenent of amall rocks on the track in front of the wine. The location of the mine in relation to these markers in unknom. The nine may be under the marker or up to 00 seters farther alone the track. REPORTED It: Military Region 1 2——UPRIGHT STAKE MARKERSBAMBOO CLOVER LEAF DEVICE A cloverteat shaped device constructed from banboo was found on a trail leading to a mined road intersection. The ens of the banboo stens vere pointing in the general airection of the mine Locations, which vere approximately 10 meters in front of the mine narker, REPORTED TN: liitary Region 3PALM LEAVES IN PATTERN A series of bent palm leaves forming a aniform pattern has been used to mark ooby trans, ‘This pattern te forsed gurroumding the booty-tragped area. REPORTED Ti: “i2itery Region 3RED "x" MARKER Red "X" sigs are placed on roads and trails lending to mined areas. This sien indicates a pfohtbited farea and personnel must proceed with cnutfon or bypass this area. These signs are used in VC/MVA controtied areas. RPORTID It: MLAtary Region 3LOG MARKERPERPENDICULAR BRANCH MARKERS AYPORTED MH Mary Region 3large poe. me sharrene ond potate ok {8 nailed or thet to ance frou the narter to the wine oF Dechy trap {8 unkow.BOARD MARKERSTUNG CAM DIA ig! I ! i Xin Ding Di] [Ving Cos Baty Vang Cam Dia][Te Dia] (RESTRICTED AREA KEEP AWAY) KILL ZONE,TRIANGLE "RUSH PLANT" MARKER ‘Taree markers of this type vere found in the vicinity of a mine, ‘This marker 12 made fron the hollow steas of the rush plant. The markers have the shape of an equilateral triangle, each side measuring T ceatineters. 38 REPORTED Til: MELitery Region 2STICK IN TREE BOOBY TRAP MARKERSTRAW MARKER {ited of three strarr, with an overhand hnot bolétee the stravs toesther " ~ REPORTED 18: MAitary Reeton 3DRAWN MARKERSPROPAGANDA LEAFLET MARKER UosoatStaen prongania laziets dn» configuration of three (in ine even spect), ylacet on or long # trail or rice paddy dike, indicate’ the presence of @ mine or tooby ti meeen mts maser trio?VERTICAL STAKE INDICATOR A staxe, vertically tmplanted, with an "x" notched in the top indicates the présence of dud ordnance in the area to be picked up later. The ordnance may be booby-trapped. REPORTED IN: Mi2itery Region 2SHOWER SHOE MARKER [A single shower shoe or a pair placed on or deride a road or trail indicates a nine or booby trap dn the direction the toes of the shoes are pointing. REPORTED IN: MUlitary Region 1MACKEREL CAN MARKER ‘A mackerel can marker vas found along the tide of a road (sinter small cant my also be used). The faskorel can had three short pleces of baxbeo through the diameter. The marker pointed to's Nonemade REPORTED IN: MLLitany Regton 3 45purchased 20 March 2011 at Half-Price Books on Roosevelt Avenue in the U District, Seattle scanned 30 May 2011 The booklet was printed on half-sheets, 8 x 5 inches, stapled For each page, I scanned the whole page including the staple holes. The first two pages are the cover and the other side, printed on index stock. ‘The "Headquarters" page to page 28 make up the first signature, pages 29 to 43 and the following blank page make up the second signature. The back cover, again index stock, is blank on both sides. This page takes the place of the inside back cover. I scanned the pages using 7.84" for the width, 4.91" for the height.