Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
David Hambling

‘Make mud, not war’: how US used weather warfare in Vietnam

US military helicopters providing support for ground troops in Vietnam in 1966.
US military helicopters providing support for ground troops in Vietnam in 1966. Photograph: Henri Huet/AP

As every festivalgoer knows, deep mud can make movement difficult, if not impossible. During the Vietnam war the US military weaponised this effect in an attempt to halt traffic on the strategically vital Ho Chi Minh trail.

Under the catchy name of Commando Lava, the top-secret project had Hercules transport aircraft flying at low level to disperse powder engineered to turn mud into glutinous super-mud.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.