Jungle Warfare

Michael Ayala

Welcome to TEG’s “TRTC”Tropical Readiness Training Center

Overview

Climate and Weather

Jungle Types

Flora and Fauna

Disease

4 Basic needs

Survival Methods:

Tactical vs. Surviving

Climate & WeatherThe climate in jungles varies with location. Close to the equator, all seasons are nearly alike, with rains throughout the year; farther from the equator, especially in India and Southeast Asia, jungles have distinct wet (monsoon) and dry seasons. Both zones have high temperatures (averaging 78 to 95+ degrees Fahrenheit), heavy rainfall (as much as 1,000 centimeters [400+ inches] annually), and high humidity (90 percent) throughout the year. Severe weather also has an impact on tactical operations in the jungle

Jungle Types

There is no Standard for Jungle

Tropical/Temperate Rain Forest

Secondary Jungles

Semi-evergreen seasonal and monsoon forests

Savannas

Saltwater swamps

Freshwater swamps

Tropical Rainforest 28 Degrees North & South of equator: South East Asia; Central/South America;

Congo Region

5 Layers – Each layer is its own Eco-system

Emergert layer – Large trees above the Canopy; Eagles, bats and certain monkeys

Canopy – Primary layers of the forest; most of the animals live here since the food is abundant

Understory – Little light; Very large plant leaves for water; large concentration of insects

Shrub layer and Forest Floor – little to no light

*Note: observation from the air is nearly impossible. Ground observation is generally limited to about 50 meters (55 yards).

Secondary Jungle

These are found at the edge of the rain forest, and in areas where jungles have been cleared and abandoned. Secondary jungles appear when the ground has been repeatedly exposed to sunlight. These areas are typically overgrown with weeds, grasses, thorns, ferns, canes, and shrubs. Foot movement is extremely slow and difficult. Vegetation may reach to a height of 2 meters. This will limit observation to the front to only a few meters.

* Note: Foot movement is extremely slow and difficult. Vegetation may reach to a height of 2 meters. This will limit observation to the front to only a few meters.

Semi-evergreen Seasonal and

Deciduous Forests The characteristics of the American and African semi-evergreen seasonal forests

correspond with those of the Asian monsoon forests. These characteristics are —

- Their trees fall into two tree strata. The upper are 18 – 24 meter and the lower are 7 – 13 meter

- The Diameter of the trees averages 0.5 meters

- Their leaves Fall during a seasonal drought

* Note: Movement is more difficult than in the rain forest. In the dry season, however, both observation and trafficability improve.

Savannas General characteristics of the savanna are —    - It is found within the

tropical zones in South America and Africa.    - It looks like a broad, grassy meadow, with trees spaced at wide intervals.    - It frequently has red soil.    - It grows scattered trees that usually appear stunted and gnarled like apple trees. Palms also occur on savannas.

Puerto RicoFlora & Fauna

• Dangerous Animals -Mongeese – They Carry Rabies - Tarantulas, scorpions, and centipedes - Puerto Rico Boa

• Note – There are no poisons snakes in the Island

• The sap of some plants (e.g. Comocladia glabra) can cause a severe reaction similar to poison ivy

Central/South AmericaFlora

Flora: 1. Black Palm 2. Cat Claw 3. Black Poison Wood 4. Blinding Tree 5. Cashew Nut Tree 6. Toronjil 7. Custard Apple

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Central/South AmericaFauna

Fauna1. Bushmaster2. Fer-de-lance3. Eye-lash pit viper 4. Tropical Rattler5. Jumping Viper6. Poison Dart Frog7. .50 Cal Ant

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South East AsiaFlora

Flora: 1. Strychnine tree 2. Pangi Tree 3. Pitcher Plant 4. Rosary Pea 5. Fish Tail Palm 6. Sacred Lotus 7. Spider Flower 8. Rambutans

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South East AsiaFauna

Fauna1 Banded Krait2. Green Tree Pit Viper3. King Cobra 4. Malayan Pit Viper5. Jumping Viper6. Cambodian Poison frog7. Latrodectus elegans

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Disease & Insects

Malaria – MosquitoDengue Fever – Mosquito / Red Rash / heavy Fever / No VaccineJapanese Encephalitis – Mosquito / During Wet season / 5 -15 days incubationYellow Fever – Monkeys and MosquitoFilariasis – parasitic worms passed from mosquito / 5-15 monthsChikungunya – Female tiger mosuito/ South East Asia / Feaver and Joint PainLeishmaniasis – Sand Fly Central / South AmericaTyphus - Food and WaterLeptospirosis – Central America; Bot Fly; 95 outbreak / !0 days after infectedCholera – Food and WaterSchistosomiasis – Fresh Water swimming/wading/bathing

Botfly - 150 known species/ use mammals as host / Tape so they don’t get O2 then pull out with tweezers

*Soldiers should also take insect repellent with them to use on any exposed areas of the skin. The most effective repellent is DEET (N,N-diethyl meta-toluamide) an ingredient in most insect repellents. For greater protection clothing and bednets can be soaked in or sprayed with PERMETHRIN, which is an insect repellent licensed for use on clothing. If applied according to the directions, permethrin will repel insects from clothing for several weeks

4 Basic Needs

Fire: Friction ( Bamboo; Bow; Spindle)

Water: Procurement

Food: Traps and What the indigenous eat

Shelter: Hammocks and off ground shelter

Tactical vs. Surviving

Signature

Movement

Site placement

"To our men. . . the jungle was a strange, fearsome place; moving and fighting in it were a nightmare. We were too ready to classify jungle as 'impenetratable' . . . To us it appeared only as an obstacle to movement; to the Japanese it was a welcome means of concealed maneuver and surprise . . . The Japanese reaped the deserved reward . . . we paid the penalty."

Survival lanes

Day 2: Fire Survival Kits Shelter

Day 3 AM: Traps Food Procurement Land Nav Jungle Focus

Day 3 PM: Tracking Water Procurement

Questions