The following guns were used in the movie We Were Soldiers
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XM16E1 The XM16E1 assault rifle are used by the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division including Lt. Colonel Hal Moore(Mel Gibson ), First Lieutenent Charlie Hastings (Robert Bagnell ),Second Lieutenent Jack Geoghegan (Chris Klein ), Sergeant Ernie Savage(Ryan Hurst ) and most United States Army soldiers. Later on the film during the Ia Drang battle Joe Galloway (Barry Pepper ) uses one as well. These were actual XM16E1's used on the film for the heroes.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing XM16E1 with 20 round magazine - 5.56x45mm File:HeroXM16E1.jpg The Actual XM16E1 used by Mel Gibson in the movie. Picture taken from Long Mountain Outfitters website. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lt.Colonel Hal Moore (Mel Gibson ) Lands on the Ia Drang Valey. File:Vlcsnap-83078.jpg A soldier holds his XM16E1. Note the forward assist. He has pretty crappy stance too. Maybe all the "training" they did that Moore loved so much didn't help. File:Vlcsnap-90584.jpg A specialist holds a XM16E1. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lt.Col. Hal Moore and another soldier can be seen carryng XM16E1s during the Battle of Ia Drang. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Sergeant Savage aims his XM16E1 during a ambush. File:Vlcsnap-92633.jpg A soldier fires his XM16E1 rifle at NVA soldiers, horrendous stance, sights are above eyeline and his hand is all the way at the front of the rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Specialist Robert Ouellette holds a XM16E1. File:Vlcsnap-92336.jpg Soldiers run from enemy fire while holding their XM16E1s. File:Vlcsnap-97294.jpg Specialist Bungum fires back at NVA soldiers with his XM16E1. File:Vlcsnap-107213.jpg A wounded private with his XM16E1. File:Vlcsnap-91319.jpg A soldier holds a XM16E1 while receiving orders. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A United States Army Private fires his XM16E1 from a UH-1 Iroquois . File:Vlcsnap-101337.jpg Lieutenent Colonel Hal Moore(Mel Gibson ) with his XM16E1 at the ready. File:Vlcsnap-154249.jpg Hal Moore(Mel Gibson ) fires his XM16E1 at the jungle to make NVA and Vietcong soldiers come out of cover. File:Vlcsnap-106714.jpg Hal Moore(Mel Gibson ) reloads his XM16E1. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pile of XM16E1s. File:Vlcsnap-96165.jpg Specialist Robert Ouellette with his XM16E1 at the ready behind Mel Gibson and another soldier. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Joe Galloway(Barry Pepper ) with his XM16E1 at the ready. He has a pretty good grip for someone that is not a soldier. File:Vlcsnap-135100.jpg Mel Gibson fires his XM16E1.File:Vlcsnap-161618.jpg Mel Gibson fires his XM16E1 and the impressive triangular muzzle flash is seen.File:Vlcsnap-161898.jpg Hal Moore(Mel Gibson ) fires the XM16E1. Note the flash suppressor. File:Vlcsnap-162489.jpg A soldier part of Moore's unit fires his XM16E1 at the charlie. File:Vlcsnap-99262.jpg A soldier to left of the screencap with his XM16E1 at the ready. File:Vlcsnap-98975.jpg A soldier with his XM16E1. File:Vlcsnap-94579.jpg Lieutenent Colonel Hal Moore(Mel Gibson ) fires back at the charlie with his XM16E1 after a enemy bullet hits his flashlight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two wounded US Army specialists with their XM16E1s at the ready. M1 Carbine A Korean war era M1 Carbine is carried by the South Vietnamese (ARVN) advisor dressed in Tigerstripe fatigues. He appears in the scene in which the NVA scout is caught and interrogated. Viet Minh soldiers also use them against the french during the intro.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1 Carbine with Bayonet Lug and Adjustable rear sight - .30 Carbine File:Vlcsnap-33726.jpg A Viet Minh soldier holds a M1 Carbine to a french soldier. File:Vlcsnap-82336.jpg The South Vietnamese advisor lands on the Ia Drang Valley with his M1 Carbine . File:Vlcsnap-91624.jpg The South Vietnamese advisor wielding a M1 Carbine and a very cool mustache, interrogates the NVA soldier. File:Vlcsnap-91714.jpg The South Vietnamese advisor points his M1 Carbine at the captured NVA soldier. Note the Bayonet Lug. M60 machine gun The M60 machine gun is are used by US soldiers. Various Door gunners use them as well.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M60 in 7.62x51mm NATO File:M60 WWS.JPG U.S. soldiers open up with an M60 in We Were Soldiers File:Vlcsnap-39931.jpg Variuous soldiers fire their M60s in training before the Battle of Ia Drang. File:Vlcsnap-82893.jpg A door gunner fires a M60 during the Battle of Ia Drang. File:Vlcsnap-40045.jpg A close-up of a M60 during training. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A FPS view of a M60 firing in training. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier can be seen holding a M60 on the left. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A M60 can be seen behind the soldier on the left-centre of the screencap. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A door gunner gets plastered against his helicopter while holding a M60 machine gun . Error creating thumbnail: File missing A door gunner fires his M60. Colt M1911 pistol A Colt M1911 is fired by Command Sergeant Major Basil Plumley (Sam Elliott ) during a close combat sequence and is also seen in the holsters of his fellow soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Model 1911 .45 ACP I read somewhere (I think LMO) that Sam Elliot used an older M1911 not an A1. Gibson on the other hand did use an A1. I'm sure Steve would know something about it, since he worked on the film. - Gunmaster45 Sam Elliot did indeed used a Colt 1911 rebuilt for World War II and Mel Gibson used a Colt 1911A1 pre-war commercial issued to the military during World War II. -Steve
Colt M1911A1 pistol A Colt M1911A1 is seen in the holster of Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Mel Gibson ) during a close combat sequence, shooting an NVA soldier attempting to bayonet him while he's on the radio.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Colt Model 1911A1 .45 ACP M26 Hand Grenades In several scenes, U.S. soldiers can be seen with M26 hand grenades strapped to their pouches.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M26 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing Captain Nadal and another soldier patrol the battlefield with M16's in hand and M26 hand grenades strapped to their pouches PPSh-41 The NVA and the Vietcong use PPSh-41s submachine guns during the intro sequence and the rest of the movie.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A PPSh-41 submachine gun. File:Vlcsnap-30728.jpg A Viet Minh soldier gets shot while holding a PPSh-41. File:Vlcsnap-31305.jpg A Viet Minh soldier holds a PPSh-41 with a 35 round stick magazine. Genuine AK-47s During the movie the North Vietnamise Army (NVA) use Genuine AK-47s with Milled Receivers.
The AK-47s used in the movie were build by the Movie's Armourer Mike Papac .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing AK-47 with a milled receiver. File:Vlcsnap-103898.jpg NVA soldiers fire their AK-47s. File:Vlcsnap-123086.jpg A NVA soldier moves in the dark with a AK-47. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A charlie gets shoot and drops his AK-47 . Note bayonet attached. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A scared PAVN soldier reloads his AK-47 . File:Vlcsnap-129123.jpg The same scared PAVN soldier rushes through the jungle and trys to bayonet Mel Gibson . File:Vlcsnap-130516.jpg The same PAVN soldier gets hit in the head by a single round from Mel Gibson 's XM16E1. Note the Milled Receiver. Error creating thumbnail: File missing NVA soldiers armed with AK-47s. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pile of AK-47s . M79 grenade launcher Various US soldiers can be seen carrying M79 grenade launchers in a few scenes. Specialist Galen Bungum(Blake Heron ) uses one since he is the grenadier of Seargent Savage's squad.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M79 grenade launcher - 40mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A soldier jumps from a chopper during training while carryng a M79 grenade launcher . Error creating thumbnail: File missing A american soldier fires his M79 grenade launcher . Error creating thumbnail: File missing A american grenadier gets shot while holding his M79. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Bungum's M79 slung over his back. MAS-36 Rifle In the opening scene where the french soldiers are ambushed during the Indochina War, various french soldiers use MAS-36 rifles .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing French MAS-36 Rifle. File:Vlcsnap-23252.jpg The French convoy gets ambushed. File:Vlcsnap-23792.jpg Two french soldiers armed with MAS-36 rifles . File:Vlcsnap-25677.jpg Two french soldiers fire their MAS-36 rifles . File:Vlcsnap-31354.jpg A french soldier gets shot while holding a MAS-36 rifle . Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman The .38 caliber revolver pulled out by Maj. Bruce "Snake S!@#" Crandall (Greg Kinnear ) is most likely a Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman, an unsuccessful lightweight aluminium-cylindered revolver designed for US military flyers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Maj. Crandall pulls a revolver during an arguement in Vietnam File:Skt239.jpg A S&W M-13, demonstarting WHY the aluminium cylinder was unsuccessful. GE M134 Minigun A pair each of GE M134 Miniguns are seen mounted on the gunship Hueys that rip apart PAVN soldiers at the climax of the film, and one is also on display on a table in the beginning of the movie.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing General Electric M134 - 7.62x51mm File:GE 134 WWS.JPG Soldiers inspect an M134 Minigun on display. M1928A1 Thompson As the American soldiers are heading off for battle you can see a South Vietnamese soldier holding up an M1928A1 Thompson with a 20-round magazine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing M1928A1 Thompson .45 ACP with 30-round box magazine. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A ARVN soldier with an M1928A1 Thompson. Browning M1919A4 Two Browning M1919A4s can be seen mounted on French jeeps on the intro sequence.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A variant of the Browning M1919 developed during World War 2, this model is designated the M37, with the ability to feed from either the left or the right of the weapon - 30-06. This example is shown without a tripod, only the pintle mount. This the MOST likely .30 cal machine gun to be seen firing from armored vehicles. File:Vlcsnap-30185.jpg A french soldier fires the Browning M1919A4 at Viet Minh forces. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Browning M1919A4 can be seen mounted on the jeep on the left. MAT-49 Various French Soldiers use MAT-49 submachine guns during the opening Scene. Various North Vietnam soldiers and Vietcong soldiers use them during the rest of the movie, probably scavenged from French and South Vietnamise troops during the Indochina war.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A MAT-49 submachine gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A french soldier can be seen with a MAT-49 in the center of the screencap. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A MAT-49 sits on the top of the pile of guns while US soldiers pile up dead NVA soldiers in the background. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Vietcong fighter gets shot while holding his MAT-49. RPG-2 An NVA soldier wearing a gas mask uses an RPG-2 (Vietnamese made version was known as the B-40) to kill American soldiers.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing RPG-2 40mm with PG-2 rocket File:Vlcsnap-126730.jpg A PAVN soldier with his RPG-2 . SKS rifle Several Viet Minh soldiers and NVA soldiers use SKS rifles during intro sequence and during the Battle of Ia Drang.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A russian SKS rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Viet Minh soldiers rush the french in the intro of the movie. Note how you can see a Kar98k in the backround. File:Vlcsnap-33261.jpg A Viet Minh soldier holds his SKS to a french soldier. File:Vlcsnap-34495.jpg "Do we take prisoners?". File:Vlcsnap-34672.jpg A Viet Minh soldier executes a french soldier. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Viet Minh soldier rushes the french with his SKS rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Viet Minh soldier with his SKS. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Viet Minh soldier before being blown up by a french grenade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Viet Minh to the left-centre of the screencap is armed with a SKS rifle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A NVA soldier comes out of a underground base armed with a SKS rifle . Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Viet Minh soldier rushes the french during the intro. File:Vlcsnap-75037.jpg A NVA or Vietcong soldier runs around with his SKS while the Ia Drang valley burns in the background by the napalm bombs dropped by United States Air Force planes. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A NVA soldier armded with a SKS creeps throught the dark. Mosin Nagant M44 Carbine During the Intro sequence a Viet Minh soldier can be seen with a Mosin Nagant M44 carbine.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing A M44 Carbine Chambered to the 7.62x54R caliber round. File:Vlcsnap-34173.jpg The Viet minh soldier in the center of the screencap has a M44 carbine while the other Viet Minh soldier has a Kar98k. Karabiner 98k A Viet Minh soldier during the intro sequence and a Vietcong soldier during the rest of the movie can be seen using Karabiner 98k rifles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser File:Vlcsnap-34173.jpg The Viet minh soldier to the right of the screencap has a Karabiner 98k. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Victor Charlie with a Kar98k. 
