Run Silent Run Deep: The Insurgency Primer to Submerging Under Your Enemy, by GuerrillaLogistician

Part One – The RAZORBACK Submarine and the Guerilla Unit: Why are Guerrilla Units and Submarines Similar?

Part Two – Are Guerrilla Units like Submarines? My Creative Case to Spark Your Thinking, by GuerrillaLogistician

Part Three – Guerrilla Navigation – Learn the Basics because Murphy is Watching

Part Four – “Guerilla Unit Sonar” – The SIGINT Specialist

Reference 9B – Maneuvering

Facing overwhelming odds, your small unit deftly maneuvers in its home waters. Your team has objectives that should be accomplished, and part of that capability stems from its knowledge of the area. It slides through the black darkness of the wee hours of the night. It shows little to the enemy and is constantly vigil to ensure no stray sounds give its position away. It lies in wait; it ensures that when it attacks, it can win decisively and disappear as quickly as it appeared. Each time your unit leaves the safety of its home base, it knows that only limited help is available, which means it must be capable of picking the right time and target. It also must not attack things they could easily defeat or destroy any rescuers attempting to save it.  Your Guerrilla Unit is following a submarine’s core principles, but technology hasn’t allowed your unit to dive under the dirt like Scrouge McDuck in a vault full of money, so what can you do?

We will start with what we should protect and possible things to attack.  This will expose the subsurface world and allow you to maneuver undetected by those on the surface.  Any of your military folk or SCOUT alums have heard the acronym SWEAT; sometimes it is SWEATMC (my preferred), and other times it is SWEAT-IR.

I wrote down both acronyms for a specific reason. While the concepts are widely discussed, everybody has a different flavor on this subject. An LRS team using the SWEATMC concepts looks at things differently than an engineering battalion. This acronym is only a base layer of a more in-depth concept that needs to be understood from a fighting standpoint and a critical logistical and sustainment standpoint. While the concepts of a partisan break these things down to more of a localized, if not personal, issue, any partisan in any country should understand these concepts. Not only do they need to know how to defend against the same weaknesses that their enemies have. I will try to show you how you must expand your understanding of things and realize how intricate your environment is. Whether you live in a rural setting or an urbanized hellscape of concrete, there is a significant overlap.

Very few people think beyond one or two portions of the acronym. While I can’t show you every city, the concepts are universal. Like any reconnaissance operation, you must do your homework and observe what you can. Let’s start by doing a quick search for a town called Dodge City, Kansas. If you simply search “Dodge City drainage system” in Google, you will visit a website for Dodge City with a map section. This map has everything you want to know about the underground utilities of the city in question. You have a GIS map, printable maps, and historical data all at your fingertips, or so you would think. The map has every maintenance hole in the city and tells you how the sewer system runs. While the S in our acronym is sewer and can be important, there is a critical feature that is ignored by this mapping system and can be found somewhere else. Any local in town with the quad already knows about this transportation access and waterway. Contrary to what some websites say, the Arkansas River in this location almost doesn’t exist even when it rains. Yet when it rains, water must go somewhere. North of the train tracks, the ground slopes up to Boot Hill and continues as the city sprawls northward. As the quads, dirt bikes, and pedestrians walk and ride down the dry Arkansas River for fun, they pass storm drain runoff tunnels. Sometimes, these tunnels are too small to fit in, and other times, depending on the age of the city and its infrastructure, can still be a place where sewage runs into. Not only that, but the environment in these tunnels can also collect toxic fumes from time to time, depending on the length and what is being drained into these systems.

While this isn’t water as in something drinkable, it is an integral part of your city’s infrastructure and could be a key access point. Historically, Dodge City had a Hispanic population that lived outside of the town and passed under a bridge to come into the city; nowadays, that Hispanic village is all but a footnote in history, and everyone travels by vehicle or walking. But the concept in the 1800s still holds true to this day. Traversing under infrastructure is an easy, secluded way to travel. This may mean that logistics trains that you may need to facilitate, the movement of guerrillas, and even communications can all reside in this area. While ignored by the population, these areas can be frequented by everyone from teenagers to the homeless, so be aware of this. Regardless of how you find these access points, knowing if these locations are worth checking out can be very important. Even with a map in hand, sometimes the underground structures you see aren’t always what they appear, and others are outright skipped on maps. One city I visited had a simple, small drain that passes under a roadway in an L-shaped fashion.  It was built in the early 1800s with a timber floor and granite stones several feet thick. It was still in peak condition the last time I was there due to the cold water crossing those Timbers.  It wasn’t on any map of the drain system, as water was supposed to flow away from that area.  The funny thing is that the drain channeled a constant flow of water.  That drain went under a major roadway and would be a great bypass. Other drainage systems may look good on a map but have specialized grates that keep people or objects out.  Others are filled with so much debris it is impossible to travel through, and that area backs up with water.

Let’s begin with a guide to doing reconnaissance underground. Clothing can be essential for your protection, along with some deniability. As always, this isn’t a hard and fast rule, and you will have to observe the area you’re in, but my recommendation is always to wear some long pants such as jeans and waterproof footwear at least up to ankle deep. While I have often traversed through these areas in nothing more than shoes, I have also had to swim up to access points, which isn’t always advisable. Remember, all these locations are usually drain spots for your local communities; anyone can dump anything down these drains. Everything from humans to animals calls these places home, so leg protection is essential.

Never recon this stuff alone if possible; if you do, tell one of your friends/group/family members when you are going, when and when you should be back, just like a recon operation for the military.

The In and Out Tunnel System

Many people believe tunnel systems look like those from the Ninja Turtles. While some cities have major underground systems, many cities have open canals and underground networks. One of the most famous is in Los Angeles, where movies like The Fast and the Furious or Terminator 2 filmed chases. While your area may not have huge, sloped canals able to be driven on, you may encounter concrete canals or even dugout earthworks with rocks. Many smaller municipalities tend to use water runoff to old creeks, which are most commonly dry throughout the season. You may not even realize they’re around because of the tree line that grows up around these areas. Others may cut past buildings or homes. You also will commonly find these above-ground canals cutting through parks and green areas.  These are always good places to look for your underground network systems, and the deeper the trenches dug, the more likely you’ll find major underground tunnel systems, even if they are very short.

Recommended equipment

• Two non-tactical flashlights. I recommend a headlamp and a handlight.  Headlamps keep you hands-free, and having a backup waterproof handlight is excellent.  The lights should be long-lasting, and spare batteries for your lights are needed (trust me, the mil guys know why).
• A pocketknife at minimum. While you may think of the tunnel rats of Vietnam, the multitool or folding knife is most often all you need, just in case.
• Headwear like a ballcap or even a hard hat is almost a must.
• Gloves: You may need to climb ladders in drain boxes or move debris. If you fall, you will be happy; you won’t have open wounds on your hands in filthy water.
• Bottled water 2x. This is not only to drink but to clean yourself off.
• Pen/pencil and waterproof notepad
• Chalk, paint marker, or construction pencil
• If you bring your car keys, ensure they are attached to you by a cord.

Optional

• Compass – more for coming out and getting your bearings. The rebar in concrete makes a compass almost useless in tunnels, hence why the pen and paper method is better.
• Homemade or purchased manhole cover remover.
• Small pry bar between 2-3 feet
• Waterproof bag
• Ratchet straps 2x

Access points

There are four common types of access points: Manholes, doors, grates/grated covers, and spillways.  I will review them in order of least to most desirable for the initial entry.

Manhole Covers

I recommend not using these initially because you won’t be sure what you are getting into. Some manholes enter into sewage systems; others are access points for steam tunnels, especially on college campuses. While these are explorable, I suggest you make small steps into opening random manholes and do your due diligence while exploring these areas. The other issue with manhole covers is resetting them after you enter to hide your entrance into the system.  This can be especially dangerous if you are being overcome by noxious gases and must somehow force a 250+ pound manhole cover out of its position or, worse, a car parks over the manhole.

Unlike TV shows, manhole covers are a stone-cold bitch to move. Your average manhole cover weighs about 250 pounds and requires quite a bit of effort to move. If you aren’t in shape, you will be hard-pressed to move one of these when trying to get out. Most drainage systems have locations where they will have a grated box for access, and those are far easier to enter than the manhole cover. So, try to bypass manhole covers if at all possible. If using it as a logistical tunnel, signaling or timing your movements with other people to lift the manhole cover is your best option. That said, there are a few ways to lift a manhole cover that work; therefore, I recommend you take a pry bar with you just in case. Even a small pry bar will allow you to lift and slowly maneuver a manhole cover out of the way. Remember that these manhole covers, if circular, will not fall in on you.

A note on manhole cover tools. These can be purchased on Amazon cheap and are a tee-shaped bar with a hook on the end. You can also build your own with simple rebar and a bit of bending. If you need something that is very concealable, here is my build.  Take a short amount of rebar that fits in the hole of the manhole cover. Tie a 2-3 feet long rope to the center of this bar that is 3-5 inches long.  Create a loop that you can pull on or stick your prybar in.  Shove the rebar through the hole and let it dangle, then pull.  This will catch the rebar; you can lift the cover by leaning back with your weight.  If someone is coming, you can slide the rope off the prybar, and it will drop into the drain.

Prybars damaged from excessive force

Common Doors

Another common access point can be actual doors. Sometimes, the stairways leading down to steel doors don’t go underneath buildings specifically but enter chambers for runoff systems. Many of these doors are designed for rescue workers, and some are even set up with an alarm system, although this is extremely rare. This is another entry point that I highly recommend you ignore until you know the other side of the door.  I have only seen these a few times and in major cities, so they are scarce.

Grated Entrances

Grated entryways are common for drain systems and generally not secured for whatever reason. While some of these grated entry points may lead to other places in cities, I believe most are set up this way to allow runoff to go in and fresh air to move without the required air handling systems for maintenance.  Many of these are easily opened by one person, but sometimes you will find a few that are very heavy and require a bit of mechanical advantage to move.

Spillway

The last access point I will discuss will be the easiest for you to find, which is the spillway. These are generally outflows that go into rivers or large bodies of water. Many of these may have a concrete structure to prevent erosion from the tunnel. These tend to be around piles of granite and a few to hundreds of feet from the tunnel itself. Locals explore these access points to some extent; graffiti is typical, and you may sometimes see teenagers going in and out of them. These are fantastic access points because they are designed to handle the volume of water from a city or town, and most adults will be able to stand up and walk down them. I still recommend wearing a little bit of headgear to protect yourself, as the concrete tunnels and older systems may have things jutting out that can catch your head.

Marking Tunnels

Your best and safest Insertion point is always at the outflow. In general, this can be very dangerous, especially if you do not consider the region’s weather.  Also, some locations have dams that release water and can partially flood a system from the outflow. Exit points can be flooded quickly, but water flow usually comes from upstream. Starting at the base of the outflow and working your way up means you will progressively get into smaller tunnels, which helps prevent you from getting stuck later.  These may have grated enclosures to prevent debris from forming or may even be solid metal doors that are pushed open by the force and weight of the water.

If you enter one of these locations, ensure you have the proper Pry bars and strapping material to prevent yourself from being trapped. The other thing you should do is mark these tunnels as you progress. Always have your marker handy and mark it high on the wall.  You can set up any system you would like. Just make sure it makes sense to you and others in the party. Having street names written in spray paint with arrows is not unusual.

Wyatt Earp Drive

I prefer the caving method of arrows directing yourself out of the tunnel system and slash marks for each drainage box encountered until exit. This will give you a rough estimate of how far away you are. The other thing you should know is there is a lot of steel in these boxes and tunnels if they are concrete. This means compass work won’t help you, and GPS is out of the question unless you want to hold the GPS out of a box for several minutes. Therefore, I suggest you keep waterproof paper and a pen to draw and map out your tunnel system. With that in hand, you can usually find out where the boxes go by driving or walking.

Two boxes till exit.