Tunnel rat
（重定向自Tunnel Rats）
![SGT Ronald A. Payne (Atlanta, GA), Squad Leader, Co A, 1st BN, 5th Mech Inf, 25th Inf Div, checks a tunnel entrance before entering it to search for Viet Cong and their equipment, during Operation](/Images/godic/202502/18/Sgt._Ronald_H._Payne_Tunnel_Rat_Vietnam_War_19675832.jpg")
![Operation](/Images/godic/202502/18/Vietnamtunnel5832.jpg")
![Part of the tunnel complex at Củ Chi.](/Images/godic/202502/18/VietnamCuChiTunnels5832.jpg")
![Tunnel rats preparing to place charges and make connections for detonation](/Images/godic/202502/18/Tunnel_rats5832.jpg")
The tunnel rats were American, Australian and New Zealander soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War.
Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet war in Afghanistan, and the Israel Defense Forces.