Medieval and Modern Use of Soil Tunnels in Warfare
Earthen tunnels have been used to cross country borders, in military conflicts and to smuggle supplies, people, weapons and drugs. Tunneling is a battle military tactic that goes back more than 2500 years. Earthen tunnels have been dug between Lebanon and Israel, Syria and Israel, Gaza and Israel, Egypt and Gaza, North Korea and South Korea, Cambodia and Vietnam and Mexico and the United States to permit the movement of soldiers, supplies, weapons and drugs under the borders. North Korea, Iraq and Iran used tunnels to hide weapons, including nuclear, and other military equipment and supplies. In the early 2000s, ISIS created many earthen tunnels under Iraqi and Syrian cities for military use. Soil tunnels have often been successfully used by an inferior military force to surprise attack a superior military force.
Sample Chapter(s)
Preface (76 KB)
Components of the Book:
  • Authors
  • Foreword
  • Preface
  • Title Page
  • Chapter 1 Successful Use of Soil Tunnels in Medieval and Modern Warfare and Smuggling
  • Chapter 2 Why Were the Soil Tunnels of Iron Triangle and Cu Chi in Vietnam So Resilient?
  • Chapter 3 How Were Vinh Moc Villagers Protected from US Air Force Bunker Buster Bombing during the Vietnam War?
  • Chapter 4 Israel Border Security Threats: Soil Tunnels
  • Postscript
  • Acknowledgements
Readership: Students, academics, teachers, and other people attending or interested in soil tunnels.
1
Authors
Kenneth R. Olson, Sergey S. Chernyanskii
PDF (70 KB)

Foreword
Kenneth R. Olson, Sergey S. Chernyanskii
PDF (69 KB)

Preface
Kenneth R. Olson, Sergey S. Chernyanskii
PDF (76 KB)

Title Page
Kenneth R. Olson, Sergey S. Chernyanskii
PDF (77 KB)
1
Chapter 1 Successful Use of Soil Tunnels in Medieval and Modern Warfare and Smuggling
Kenneth R. Olson, David R. Speidel
PDF (1137 KB)
21
Chapter 2 Why Were the Soil Tunnels of Iron Triangle and Cu Chi in Vietnam So Resilient?
Kenneth R. Olson, Lois Wright Morton
PDF (1719 KB)
49
Chapter 3 How Were Vinh Moc Villagers Protected from US Air Force Bunker Buster Bombing during the Vietnam War?
Kenneth R. Olson
PDF (7538 KB)
85
Chapter 4 Israel Border Security Threats: Soil Tunnels
Kenneth R. Olson, Pam Olson, Elaine Wagner
PDF (2025 KB)

Postscript
Kenneth R. Olson, Sergey S. Chernyanskii
PDF (69 KB)

Acknowledgements
Kenneth R. Olson, Sergey S. Chernyanskii
PDF (71 KB)
Kenneth R. Olson (Biography)
He is a professor emeritus of soil science in the Department of Natural Re-sources and Environmental Science, College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois.

Sergey S. Chernyanskii (Biography)
He is an independent environmental professional involved in applied research and consultancy in many countries and regions of the world. The major part of his research has focused on soils—their genesis, evolution and dynamics, classification, spatial patterns, erosion and contamination.

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