Tunnel rat

This article is about the team of soldiers involved in underground missions. For other uses, see Tunnel rat (disambiguation).
An Australian tunnel rat looking into a Viet Cong tunnel discovered during Operation Crimp, Vietnam.
Sgt. Ronald H. Payne entering a tunnel in search of Viet Cong with a flashlight and M1911 pistol.
Sgt. Ronald H. Payne moves through a tunnel in search of Viet Cong with a flashlight and M1911 pistol.

The tunnel rats were American, Australian, New Zealand, and South Vietnamese soldiers who performed underground search and destroy missions during the Vietnam War.

Later, similar teams were used by the Soviet Army during the Soviet–Afghan War and by the Israel Defense Forces in campaigns in the Middle East.