Error creating thumbnail: File missing Join our Discord!
If you have been locked out of your account you can request a password reset here.

Apocalypse Now

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
Revision as of 09:24, 9 December 2011 by Commando552 (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Apocalypse Now (1979)
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Apocalypse Now Redux (2001)

Apocalypse Now is the 1979 epic Vietnam War film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The screenplay was co-written by Coppola and John Milius and was based on the Joseph Conrad novel Heart of Darkness. The film stars Martin Sheen as a Special Forces officer sent on a mission downriver to terminate a rogue American colonel (Marlon Brando). Coppola encounted several production problems while making the film, much of which was documented in the acclaimed 1991 documentary Hearts of Darkness. In 2001, Coppola would release an extended version of the film under the title Apocalypse Now Redux.


The following weapons were used in the film Apocalypse Now:



M16A1

M16A1 fitted with 30 round "curved" magazines are used by various characters throughout the film. While the 30 round magazine was not the norm for the M16 in Vietnam, it would technically be accurate (since the film takes place in 1969), but probably not as prevalent in the film.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M16A1 with 30-round magazine - 5.56x45mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Capt. Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen) and Gunner's Mate Tyrone 'Clean' Miller (Laurence Fishburne) with their M16A1's as a camera crew films.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Gunner's Mate Lance Johnson (Sam Bottoms) with his M16A1.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Clean (Laurence Fishburne) with his M16A1.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
One of the Air Cavalry soldiers sets the bullets in his magazine by tapping it against his helmet (note the crimp-nosed blank protruding from the magazine).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Soldier (left) with an M16A1, soldier (right) with an M16 on a Huey.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Kilgore: Smell that? You smell that?
Lance: What?
Kilgore: Napalm, son! Nothing else in the world smells like that. I love the smell of napalm in the morning. You know, one time we had a hill bombed, for 12 hours. When it was all over, I walked up. We didn't find one of 'em, not one stinkin' dink body! The smell, you know that gasoline smell, the whole hill! Smelled like...victory!
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Chief Phillips (Albert Hall) fires an M16A1.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Jay 'Chef' Hicks (Frederic Forrest) armed with his M16A1, while speaking French to the colonist.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Capt. Willard with his M16A1 before surrendering it to the colonists.

M16 (SP1)

Col. Kilgore (Robert Duvall) is seen briefly holding an M16 (SP1) rifle noted by its "slab-side" receiver after the battle at Vihn Din Drop. The gun notably has an A1-style lower receiver, as evident by the fencing around the magazine, meaning this is a "franken-gun". The use of the M16 is an error as the original M16 was never used by the US Army or any other branch of the US Military other than the Air Force. By the time the movie takes place (1969), all M16's that were being used by the entire US Military were already replaced by the M16A1 as seen above.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M16 (SP1) fitted with A1-style birdcage flashhider (to imitate M16A1) and 30-round magazine - 5.56x45mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Soldier on the right with an M16.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Kilgore talking to Lance about surfing while holding the M16 (SP1).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Kilgore looks over the battlefield while holding the M16 (SP1).

MGC M16

When the PBR boat is taking incoming tracer rounds, two MGC M16 replica's are shot up.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
MGC M16 replica
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Two MGC M16 replicas being shot up.

M60 machine gun

An M60 machine gun is seen carried by one of Col. Kilgore's (Robert Duvall) soldiers that rides in the helicopter with Chef and Clean. Clean (Laurence Fishburne) is the M60 gunner on the Navy PBR. Chef (Frederic Forrest) is seen firing the M60 briefly while taking incoming arrows from natives, but switches to the single mounted M2.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M60 machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A soldier with an M60 before the battle at Vinh Din Drop.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The OH-6 gunner fires his M60 at the VC "sapper" after a grenade was thrown into a Huey.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The gunner continues to pour fire down with his M60.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A clearer shot of the M60.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Clean fires the M60 at the fisherman.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
"I'm good." Clean looks in horror at what he just did.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Clean fires the M60 while taking incoming tracer rounds. As what was common in Vietnam, a "C-rat" can is attached to the machine gun in order to prevent the rounds from snagging.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Clean with the M60 while on patrol.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Chef with the M60 before switching to the M2.

M60D

M60D machine guns are mounted on Col. Kilgore's (Robert Duvall) choppers during the battle at Vinh Din Drop.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M60D machine gun - 7.62x51mm NATO.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Kilgore's doorgunner Jimmy (James Keane) prepares his M60D.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
As Kilgore's helicopter surveys the area, Jimmy (James Keane) is seen with an M60D.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Another doorgunner lays down fire with an M60D.

Browning M2HB

Browning M2HBs are single and double hand mounted on the Navy PBR. Jay 'Chef' Hicks (Frederic Forrest) is the rear gunner with the single mounted M2HB (nicknamed after the band "Canned Heat"). Lance Johnson (Sam Bottoms) is the front gunner with double hand mounted M2's. While traveling on the river through the Do Lung Bridge two soldiers are seen firing an M2 trying to kill a single VC under all the dead VC bodies.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Browning M2HB on pintle mount - .50 BMG.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Chef fires "Canned Heat" while taking incoming tracer rounds. Note Kilgore's surfboard.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Closer shot of Chef firing "Canned Heat".
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Lance with the double mounted M2HB's.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Lance shows us his war face.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
"Where'd the dog go?"
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Trench soldiers firing an M2HB.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Trench soldiers fire an M2HB in an attempt to kill a single VC hiding under dead bodies. Unable to do so, they get the "Roach".
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Chef fires "Canned Heat" while taking arrows from the natives.

M1911A1

An M1911A1 is seen on the nightstand of the Saigon hotel bedroom of Capt. Benjamin Willard (Martin Sheen). Lt. Col. Bill Kilgore (Robert Duvall) is seen carrying one with pearl grips that have a Air Cavalry symbol imprinted as his sidearm throughout the movie. In a deleted scene, Col. Walter E. Kurtz (Marlon Brando) aims Willard's 1911 at him when he's caged.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
WWII era Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
During the film's opening, the camera pans on Willard's M1911A1 resting on the bed.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
His M1911A1 rests next to Willard on the nightstand.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore of the 1st Cavalry Division carries an M1911A1 with pearl grips in his holster. Note the Cavalry symbols on the grips.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) finishes off a gravely wounded Vietnamese civilian with his M1911A1 after Chief's men accidentally open fire on them.

M79 grenade launcher

An M79 grenade launcher is used by The Roach (Herb Rice) to kill an NVA soldier hiding in the barbed wire during the scene at the Do Lung bridge. Roach had customized his with a tiger-stripe paint job.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
M79 grenade launcher - 40mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
"He's Close Man.. Real Close." Roach tips open his M79 grenade launcher. Note tiger-stripe paint scheme.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Roach loads a 40mm HE round into his M79 grenade launcher.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Roach fires his M79 grenade launcher. Note how in this scene he wraps the sling around his arm, a well known technique to steady aim.

GE M134 Minigun

A GE M134 Minigun is seen door-mounted on one of the UH-1 Huey choppers during the famous raid scene. Being that the movie was filmed in the Philippines, they also supplied the helicopters which were outfitted with real guns. Since the weapons require no blank adaption to fire, all they needed was lots of blank ammunition to get the guns running.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
GE M134 Minigun - 7.62x51mm NATO.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A door-mounted GE M134 Minigun protruding from the Huey UH-1 helicopter.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The door gunner unleashes the GE M134 Minigun on the NVA.

Fake DShK heavy machine gun (mock up)

NVA fire at the Huey helicopters with a DShK heavy machine gun, in reality a mocked up Browning M2HB machine gun.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
DShKM heavy machine gun - 12.7x109mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
NVA fire a mocked up DShK heavy machine gun in the AA position.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A farther shot of the mock DShK.

Smith & Wesson Model 10

Chief Phillips (Albert Hall) draws his Smith & Wesson Model 10 with a 3" barrel while the fisherman's boat is being searched.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Smith & Wesson Model 10 with 3" barrel - .38 Special.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Chief Phillips draws his Smith & Wesson Model 10.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Chief Phillips with his Smith & Wesson Model 10.

Norinco Type 56

NVA are seen using Norinco Type 56 assault rifles throughout the film, and they are also seen in the hands of Kurtz's men. It is noteworthy that this film was released in 1979 and took nearly three years to complete (thus photography started in 1976). During the 1970s, the Norinco Type 56 were not being imported into the U.S., and none were in U.S. Armorer inventories. The only reason Coppola's film had them was because they were supplied by Filipino armorers in Luzon.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Norinco Type 56 with folding "Pig Sticker" bayonet - 7.62x39mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A Norinco Type 56 lying next to a dead VC, while Kilgore hands out death cards.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
VC firing Norinco Type 56's during the battle at Vinh Din Drop.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
French Colonists armed with Norinco Type 56's.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
One of Kurtz's men armed with a Norinco Type 56. Note the jungle taped magazines.

Ithaca 37

Capt. Colby (Scott Glenn) carries an Ithaca 37 fitted with a heat shield and bayonet lug. In a deleted scene, he uses it to kill the photojournalist (Dennis Hopper) for taking Kurtz's picture only for Willard to throw his knife hitting him in the gut, killing him.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Ithaca 37 Trench Gun - 12 Gauge.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Far shot of Capt. Colby with his Ithaca 37 and Kurtz's "children."
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Close up shot of the Ithaca 37. Note the scalp.

M1 Carbine

In "Apocalypse Now Redux", most of the colonists are armed with M1 Carbines.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Korean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch. Most of the World War II variations of the M1 Carbine were sent back to the Military Arsenals and retrofitted with the Bayonet Lug and adjustable rear sight. This is the version seen after late 1945 and all the way until the 1960s. This version is seen most often in World War II movies, despite being anachronistic for most World War II battles
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
French Colonists with their M1 Carbines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Distant shot of the Colonist with their M1 Carbines.

MAT-49

In "Apocalypse Now Redux", a French Colonist is seen armed with a MAT-49 submachine gun.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
MAT-49 - 9mm.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A French Colonist armed with a MAT-49.

Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2

A Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 is seen resting on the shoulders of one of the French Colonists in "Apocalypse Now Redux".

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 - .30-06.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A French Colonist with an M1918A2 BAR rested on his shoulders.

M3 Aerial Rocket Artillery

M3 Aerial Rocket Artillery (ARA) launchers are mounted on the sides of the UH-1 Hueys in the film.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
A soldier pats an ARA launcher.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
The right side rockets fire.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Simultaneously, the left side fires.

M-6E3 Weapons System

Mounted on the UH-1 Huey helicopters are M-6E3 Weapon Systems, which are dual automated M60C machine guns controlled by the pilot.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
An M-6E3 Weapons System mounted on a UH-1 Huey.

Pontiac M39

During the raid scene, Kilgore calls in an airstrike which is conducted by Air Force F-5A & F-5B Freedom Fighters, complete with Pontiac M39 cannons, though the fighters do not fire their guns during the attack.

Error creating thumbnail: File missing
Pontiac M39 20mm