Latest revision as of 16:57, 29 July 2023

The Beast of War (1988)

The Beast of War, or widely known to American viewers under the US release title of The Beast, is a 1988 war film that followed a Russian tank crew during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan that finds itself separated from their fellow tankers and relentlessly pursued by Mujahideen fighters. The film was shot in Israel, using the Middle Eastern landscape, and more importantly, Israeli armorers. The very real Ti-67 tanks (Israeli-modified T-55 tanks featuring a larger 105mm gun vs. the original 100mm gun) as well as the authentic Soviet weaponry were all provided by Israel, with cooperation from the IDF. While the T-55 tank was well obsolete in the Soviet army by the time frame of this film, it was nice to see authentic Soviet armor in a Western film.

The following weapons were used in the film The Beast of War:

Handguns

Makarov PM

The Makarov PM makes a few appearances in the film. Commander Daskal (George Dzundza) carries one as his sidearm, and Moustafa (Chaim Girafi) carries one as well, using it to end the suffering of one of his comrades who is mortally wounded by a booby-trap left by the tank crew.

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-'''The following weapons were used in the movie ''The Beast of War'':'''
 [[Image:Thebeast.jpg|thumb|right|right|300px|''The Beast of War'' (1988)]]
-More widely known to American viewers under the U.S. release title of '''"The Beast"'''.  The film was shot in Israel, using the Middle Eastern landscape, and more importantly, Israeli armorers.  The very real Ti-67 tanks (Israeli-modified T55 tanks featuring a larger 105mm gun vs. the original 100mm gun) used as well as the authentic Soviet weaponry were all provided by Israel, with cooperation from the IDF.  The T55 tanks were well obsolete by the time frame of this film, however it was nice to see authentic Soviet armor in a Western movie. When the film was made in 1987 (released in 1988), the Russo-Afghan war was still ongoing, and thus a topic of debate, but the quaint perception of the mountain tribes of Afghanistan as 'victims of Soviet oppression' is now out of date. Views of Afghanistan, its peoples and the outer tribal areas have changed in recent years with the current U.S. involvement in the country and the radicalization of the mountain regions towards militant Islam. An attempt to paint the Russian invasion (1980-1988) as a mirror of the American action in Vietnam (1965-1973) seems awkward and glosses over the very real differences.
+'''''The Beast of War''''', or widely known to American viewers under the US release title of '''''The Beast''''', is a 1988 war film that followed a Russian tank crew during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan that finds itself separated from their fellow tankers and relentlessly pursued by Mujahideen fighters. The film was shot in Israel, using the Middle Eastern landscape, and more importantly, Israeli armorers. The very real Ti-67 tanks (Israeli-modified T-55 tanks featuring a larger 105mm gun vs. the original 100mm gun) as well as the authentic Soviet weaponry were all provided by Israel, with cooperation from the IDF. While the T-55 tank was well obsolete in the Soviet army by the time frame of this film, it was nice to see authentic Soviet armor in a Western film.
-== AK-47 ==
+{{Film Title|The Beast of War}}
-The [[AK-47]] is one of the more common weapons in the film, used by both the Soviets and the Afghan Mujahideen alike. The Soviets use mostly [[AK-47#AKS-47|AKS-47]] folding stock rifles, while the Afghans have both folding and fixed stock models.
+__TOC__<br clear=all>
-[[Image:Aks47e.jpg|thumb|none|350px|AKS-47 7.62x39mm]]
+=Handguns=
-[[Image:TB-AK47STankCrewsA.jpg‎ |thumb|none|600px|Soviet tankers dismount holding folding stock AKS-47s.  What initially confused viewers into thinking that these were AKMSs was the extended (Israeli style) blank adapters on the muzzle of the rifle.  From a distance they look like the slant compensators of the AKM series of rifles.  But these are milled receiver '''original''' AKS-47s, the only type of AK seen in the movie.]]
+== Makarov PM ==
-[[Image:TB-AK47SA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Golikov ([[Stephen Baldwin]]) and Kaminski ([[Don Harvey]]) each hold a folding stock AKS-47 as Samad ([[Erick Avari]]) interrogates an Afghan villager]]
+The [[Makarov PM]] makes a few appearances in the film. Commander Daskal ([[George Dzundza]]) carries one as his sidearm, and Moustafa ([[Chaim Girafi]]) carries one as well, using it to end the suffering of one of his comrades who is mortally wounded by a booby-trap left by the tank crew.
-[[Image:Ak_54.jpg|thumb|350px|none|AK-47 7.62x39mm]]
+[[Image:MakarovPM.jpg|thumb|none|300px|Makarov PM - 9x18mm Makarov]]
-[[Image:TB-AK47FullStockMilledA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Mujahideen fire on the tank with fixed-stock AK-47s]]
+[[Image:TB-MakarovAA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Moustafa ([[Chaim Girafi]]) chambers his Makarov PM before killing one of his comrades who is mortally wounded by a Soviet booby-trap.]]
+[[Image:TB-MakarovDZundaA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Cmdr. Daskal ([[George Dzundza]]) pulls his Makarov PM on Koverchenko when he defies Daskal.]]
-===Trivia: The Israeli Blank Adapters===
+== Tokarev TT-33 ==
-Note the extended muzzle nut on these AK-47s.  They are the BFAs (Blank Firing Adapters) used mostly by Israeli movie armorers.  American movie armorers use blank firing adapters that are either hidden in the barrel or look just like the existing compensators or flash hiders on the issued firearms.  Usually these '''obvious''' BFAs indicate that a film was shot in Israel.
+Following the raid on the village, several Afghans who weren't around during the raid return to find the devastation, including a group of scavengers led by Taj's cousin Moustafa ([[Chaim Girafi]]), who discards several weapons in a gesture of peace as he approaches Taj ([[Steven Bauer]]), though Taj still finds a [[Tokarev TT-33]] hidden on him, grabs it and points it at him.
-[[Image:TB-AK47MilledA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan fires his AK-47 at the fleeing tank - note the obvious Israeli BFA at the end.]]
+[[Image:TT-33.jpg|thumb|none|300px|Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev]]
-[[Image:TB-AK47BFA 02a.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Another villager lies in wait with his AK-47.  Again, a clear shot of the Israeli BFA is visible on his rifle.]]
+[[Image:TB-TokarevTT33A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Taj ([[Steven Bauer]]) points a Tokarev TT-33 at Moustafa after finding it hidden on him.]]
+[[Image:TB-Tokarev2A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Moustafa ([[Chaim Girafi]]) tries to convince Taj to join him against the Soviets while staring down the barrel of his own TT-33.]]
-== RPG-7 ==
+== Enfield No.2 Mk.I ==
+A boy who fights alongside the Mujahideen carries an [[Enfield No. 2|Enfield No.2 Mk.I]] revolver as his weapon.
+[[Image:White Enfield No2 Mk I.jpg|thumb|none|300px|Enfield No.2 Mk.I - .38 S&W]]
+[[Image:TB-Webley-PistolA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A boy fighting alongside the Mujahideen fires an Enfield No.2 Mk.I at the Soviets.]]
-The [[RPG-7]] plays a pivotal role in the film, first being used by Soviet soldiers during the raid on the village (including being used to blow up a mosque by Koverchenko at the beginning of the film) then is captured by the Mujahideen who intend to use it to take revenge ("badal") on a Soviet tank that is lost in the Afghan desert after the murderous raid. The Afghans initially have poor luck using the weapon, even damaging it to the point it won't fire, though a defector from the tank's crew, Konstantin Koverchenko ([[Jason Patric]]), is able to repair it using parts from a Lee-Enfield rifle sight spring, and is given the responsibility of firing the weapon at the tank, though ends up only blowing off the end of the tank's main gun barrel.
+=Rifles & Muskets=
+== AK-47 ==
+The [[AK-47]] is one of the more common weapons in the film, used by both the Soviets and the Afghan Mujahideen fighters. In the film, the Soviets use mostly [[AK-47#AKS-47|AKS-47]] folding-stock rifles, while the Afghans have both folding and fixed stock models. In the real war, the Soviet Forces almost exclusively used the 5.45mm [[AK-74]]/[[AK-74#AKS-74|AKS-74]] rifles, the 7.62x39mm AK variants relegated to the Communist Afghan Regime soldiers. So the use of the 7.62x39mm AKs for the Soviets is historically anachronistic.
+[[Image:AKS.JPG|thumb|none|450px|AKS-47 - 7.62x39mm]]
+[[Image:TB-AK47STankCrewsA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Soviet tankers Golikov ([[Stephen Baldwin]]) and Kaminski ([[Don Harvey]]) dismount while holding their folding-stock AKS-47s. What initially confused viewers into thinking that these were [[AK-47#AKMS|AKMS]]s with the extended (Israeli style) blank adapters on the muzzle of the rifle. From a distance they look like the slant compensators of the [[AK-47#AKM|AKM]] rifle series. But these are original milled receiver AKS-47s, the only type of AK seen in the film.]]
+[[Image:TB-AK47SA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Golikov ([[Stephen Baldwin]]) and Kaminski ([[Don Harvey]]) each hold a folding-stock AKS-47 as Samad (Erick Avari) interrogates an Afghan villager.]]
+[[Image:AK47-PolyTechLegend.jpg|thumb|450px|none|Poly Technologies AK-47 - 7.62x39mm. Though US productions would use the Poly Tech Legend rifles, most Israeli productions would probably use real milled receiver AK-47s from IDF inventory.]]
+[[Image:TB-AK47FullStockMilledA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Two Mujahideen fighters fire their fixed-stock AK-47s at the tank.]]
+[[Image:TB-MakarovAA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Moustafa carries an AK-47.]]
-[[Image:Rpg-7-1-.jpg‎ |thumb|none|350px|RPG-7 40mm]]
+===Trivia: The Israeli Blank Adapters===
-[[Image:TB-RPG 01a.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko ([[Jason Patric]]) takes aim at the minaret (tower) of a mosque with an RPG-7 during the village raid]]
+Note the extended muzzle nut on these AK-47s. They are the BFAs (Blank Firing Adapters) used mostly by Israeli film armorers. American film armorers use blank firing adapters that are either hidden in the barrel or look just like the existing compensators or flash-hiders on the issued firearms. Usually these obvious BFAs indicate that a film was shot in Israel.
-[[Image:TB-RPG 02a.jpg‎ |thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko ([[Jason Patric]]) walks away with his fired RPG-7 launcher.]]
+[[Image:TB-AK47MilledA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan villager fires his AK-47 at the fleeing tank. Note the obvious Israeli BFA at the end.]]
-[[Image:TB-RPG7WomanA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Sherina ([[Shoshi Marciano]]) presents her villagers with a gift - an RPG-7 Launcher]]
+[[Image:TB-AK47BFA 02a.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Another villager waiting with an AKS-47. Again, the Israeli BFA is visible.]]
-[[Image:TB-RPG7-MisfireA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Mustapha shows that he doesn't know how to properly use the RPG-7]]
-[[Image:TB-RPG7-FiresA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|'''OOOps!'''  A nice shot, showing that the RPG launcher is actually explosively propelling the fake rocket just like a real RPG (unlike films like ''[[Red Dawn]]'').  A fine example of what a real RPG looks like when it's fired.]]
-[[Image:TB-RPGFixA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko re-affixes the grip after fixing it in the cave.]]
-[[Image:TB-RPGGRipA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A nice closeup of the Grip of the RPG-7 launcher.  Compare this to another side show (see below) and it appears to be a different RPG-7 between scenes.]]
-[[Image:TB-RPGFixSightA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko looks through the sights of the newly-repaired RPG-7 launcher just before agreeing to aid the Mujahideen in destroying the tank]]
-[[Image:TB-RPGSideA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A nice side shot of the RPG-7.  Here (based on the grip) it appears to be a different RPG-7 launcher than seen before.]]
-[[Image:TB-RPGRocketRubberA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A detail shot of the RPG-7 Warhead.  It is an obvious rubber warhead (see the seam) and is the same type used in films like ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]''.]]
-[[Image:TB-RPGFinalFireA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko aims his  RPG-7 in the final shot.]]
-== LPO-50 Flamethrower ==
-An [[LPO-50 flamethrower]] is used by a Soviet soldier in the raid on the village, killing one of the inhabitants who was hiding in a building.
-[[Image:LPO main.jpg|thumb|none|300px|LPO-50 flamethrower]]
-[[Image:TB-Flamethrowera.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A Soviet soldier torches a building with an LPO-50 flamethrower during the village raid, killing a luckless civilian hiding inside]]
-== Short Magazine Lee-Enfield ==
-A [[Short Magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE)|Short Magazine Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*]] bolt-action rifle is among the collection of weapons used by the Afghan Mujahideen in the film. A Lee-Enfield is seen in the hands of Taj ([[Steven Bauer]]), the leader of the small Afghan Mujahideen group and it was his main weapon in the film. Taj is also seen holding his Lee-Enfield rifle when he swears ''badal'' (revenge) to Allah when he was standing at the crushed remains of his brother. The weapon's main role in the film is being cannibalized for parts by Koverchenko to repair the damaged RPG-7 launcher. Another Lee-Enfield can be seen being cleaned by one of the villagers just prior to the raid by the Soviets at the beginning of the film.
-[[Image:SMLE.jpg|thumb|none|350px|Lee-Enfield No.1 Mk III* .303 British]]
-[[Image:TB-LeeEnfieldLong02A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan villager cleans his Short Magazine Lee-Enfield prior to the Soviet raid]]
-[[Image:TB-SMLE2A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Taj (center) with his SMLE at the ready as Mustafah's group arrives]]
-[[Image:TB-SMLE-RidgeA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Taj takes aim at the tank with his SMLE]]
-[[Image:TB-SMLE CaveA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Taj unloads his SMLE before giving it to Koverchenko to repair the RPG launcher]]
-== B-10 Recoilless Rifle==
-During the raid on the village, one of the inhabitants mans a [[B-10 recoilless rifle]] mounted on a hill overlooking the village and attempts to engage the attacking tanks, nearly scoring a hit on one before the emplacement is destroyed when the tank returns fire, the gunner diving clear just in time to save himself.
-[[Image:TB-B10GunA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan villager takes aim at attacking Soviet tanks with a B-10 Recoilless rifle]]
-[[Image:TB-B10Gun2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The villiager looks through the B-10's sights at his target]]
-[[Image:TB-B10ReloadA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The villiager prepares to reload the B-10, but sees the tank about to return fire]]
-==Islamic percussion ''Jezzail'' musket==
-The Afghans are shown using traditional '''Afghan Jezzail muskets''', dating back to the 18th century.  These are traditional ornate and customized muskets with tribal decorations (and pretty much useless for accurate long range fire at modern distances or most instances of Close Quarters Battle).  During the raid on the village, one of the inhabitants catches Koverchenko off-guard with an Islamic percussion ''Jezzail'' musket and pulls the trigger point-blank, though the gun is unloaded, producing only a harmless click as the Afghan smirks and says something to him in ''Pashto'' before one of Koverchenko's comrades knocks him down and beats him with the butt of his AKS-47. Koverchenko can later be seen holding it at the end of the film when he's airlifted out by a Soviet helicopter, having had it given to him by Taj.
-[[Image:TB-MusketA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan villager aims his Islamic percussion ''Jezzail'' musket point-blank at Koverchenko]]
-[[Image:TB-LongMusketsGroupA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Mustafah's group watches the tank pass from a ledge, at least one of them with a Islamic percussion ''Jezzail'' musket slung on his back]]
-[[Image:TB-EldersMusketA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An elderly member of Taj's group lies prone with an traditional tribal musket]]
-== Israeli FAL ==
-Another weapon used by the Mujahideen is an Israeli [[FN FAL]]. The Mujahideen seen carrying it ends up drinking from a watering hole that had been filled with poison by the tank crew lying in wait nearby.
+== Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* ==
-[[Image:Fal13-1-.jpg‎|thumb|none|400px|Israeli FAL 7.62x51mm NATO]]
+A [[Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*]] bolt-action rifle is among the collection of weapons used by the Afghan Mujahideen in the film. A Lee-Enfield is seen in the hands of Taj ([[Steven Bauer]]), the leader of the small Afghan Mujahideen group and it was his main weapon in the film. Taj is also seen holding his Lee-Enfield rifle when he swears "badal" (revenge) to Allah when he was standing at the crushed remains of his brother. The weapon's main role in the film is being cannibalized for parts by Koverchenko ([[Jason Patric]]) to repair the damaged [[RPG-7]] launcher. Another Lee-Enfield can be seen being cleaned by one of the villagers just prior to the raid by the Soviets at the beginning of the film.
-[[Image:TB-IsraeliHBARA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|An Israeli FAL being carried by a Mujahideen moments before drinking from a poisoned watering hole]]
+[[Image:SMLE.jpg|thumb|none|450px|Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III* - .303 British]]
+[[Image:TB-LeeEnfieldLong02A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan villager cleans his Short Magazine Lee-Enfield prior to the raid by the Soviets.]]
+[[Image:TB-SMLE2A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Taj (center) with his SMLE at the ready as Moustafa's group arrives.]]
+[[Image:TB-SMLE-RidgeA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Taj ([[Steven Bauer]]) takes aim at the tank with his SMLE.]]
+[[Image:TB-SMLE CaveA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Taj unloads his SMLE before giving it to Koverchenko to repair the RPG launcher.]]
-== RPD Light Machine Gun ==
+== IMI Romat ==
+Another weapon used by the Mujahideen is an [[FN FAL#IMI Romat|IMI Romat]], an Israeli model of the [[FN FAL]]. A Mujahideen fighter is seen carrying it ends up drinking from a watering hole that had been filled with poison by the tank crew hiding in wait nearby.
+[[Image:Fal13-1-.jpg‎|thumb|none|450px|IMI Romat - 7.62x51mm NATO]]
+[[Image:TB-IsraeliHBARA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|An IMI Romat being carried by a Mujahideen fighter moments before drinking from a poisoned watering hole.]]
-Another weapon employed by the Mujahideen is an [[RPD Light Machine Gun|RPD light machine gun]].
+==Jezail Musket==
-[[Image:RPD-Light-Machine-Gun.jpg|thumb|none|350px|RPD light machine gun 7.62x39mm]]
+The Afghans are seen using traditional Afghan [[Jezail Musket|Jezail muskets]], dating back to the 18th century. These are traditional ornate and customized muskets with tribal decorations (and pretty much useless for accurate long range fire at modern distances or most instances of Close Quarters Battle). During the raid on the village, one of the inhabitants catches Koverchenko off-guard with an Islamic percussion Jezail musket and pulls the trigger point-blank, though the gun is unloaded, producing only a harmless click as the Afghan smirks and says something to him in Pashto before one of Koverchenko's comrades knocks him down and beats him with the stock of his AKS-47. Koverchenko is also seen holding a musket at the end of the film when he's airlifted out by a Soviet helicopter, having given to him by Taj.
-[[Image:TB-RPD-RIdgeA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Not clearly seen in most sequences, one of the Mujahideen pursuing the tank is carrying and firing an RPD light Machine gun.  A nice detail is the non-disintegrating belt flowing out of the side of the receiver.]]
+[[Image:jezail1.jpg|thumb|none|450px|Jezail musket]]
+[[Image:TB-MusketA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan villager aims his Islamic percussion Jezail musket point-blank at Koverchenko.]]
+[[Image:TB-LongMusketsGroupA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Moustafa's group watches the tank pass from a ledge, at least one of them has an Islamic percussion Jezail musket slung on his back.]]
+[[Image:TB-SMLE2A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Uncle Akbar ([[Kabir Bedi]]) points a traditional tribal musket while Taj ([[Steven Bauer]]) points a Lee-Enfield.]]
+[[Image:TB-EldersMusketA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Uncle Akbar ([[Kabir Bedi]]), an elderly member of Taj's group, lies prone with a traditional tribal musket.]]
 ==SVD Dragunov==
+A Soviet soldier accompanying the helicopter crew carries an [[SVD Dragunov]] as his weapon of choice, but is only seen after the helicopter crew is dead, having ingested the poisoned water left behind by their fellow Russians. Note: There is an obvious continuity error, the SVD rifleman's helmet is off in some shots and on in other shots. Note: This could be an SVD variant built locally (like the modern day [[Tabuk Sniper Rifle|'Tabuk']]) but the details are hard to verify.
+[[Image:SVD Rifle.jpg|thumb|none|450px|SVD Dragunov - 7.62x54mmR]]
+[[Image:TB-SVDA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The tank crew returns to the watering hole to find the helicopter crew dead, including a soldier with an SVD Dragunov.]]
+[[Image:TB-SVD3A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A Soviet soldier lies dead with an SVD Dragunov at his side. Continuity break: From this angle, his helmet is off his head and laying on the ground several feet away.]]
+[[Image:TB-SVD2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Another view of the dead soldier with the SVD Dragunov. Continuity break: His M56 Soviet helmet is back on his head.]]
-A soldier accompanying the helicopter crewmen carries an [[SVD Dragunov]] as his weapon of choice, but is only seen after the helicopter crew is dead, having ingested the poisoned water left behind by their fellow Russians.  Note: there is an obvious continuity error.  The SVD rifleman's helmet is off in some shots and on in other shots.  Note: This ''could'' be an SVD variant built locally (like the modern day 'Tabuk') but the details are hard to verify.
+=Machine Guns=
+==RPD==
-[[Image:SVD Rifle.jpg|thumb|none|350px|SVD Dragunov 7.62x54mm R]]
+Another weapon used by the Mujahideen is an [[RPD|RPD light machine gun]].
-[[Image:TB-SVDA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The tank crew returns to the watering hole to find the helicopter crew dead, including a soldier with an SVD Dragunov]]
+[[Image:RPD-Light-Machine-Gun.jpg|thumb|none|450px|RPD light machine gun - 7.62x39mm]]
-[[Image:TB-SVD3A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A soldier lies dead with an SVD Dragunov at his side.  '''''Continuity break:''' From this angle, the soldier's helmet is off his head and laying on the ground several feet away.'']]
+[[Image:TB-RPD-RIdgeA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|One of the Mujahideen fighters is firing an RPD light machine gun. A nice detail is the non-disintegrating belt flowing out of the side of the receiver.]]
-[[Image:TB-SVD2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Another view of the dead soldier with the SVD Dragunov.  '''''Continuity break:''' His M56 Soviet helmet is back on his head.'']]
-== SGMT Machine Gun ==
-One of the weapons on the Soviet tanks is the [[SG-43 Goryunov|SGMT machine gun]], the vehicle-mounted version of the SG-43 Goryunov machine gun. The weapon is mounted in a "coaxial" configuration parallel to the main gun, and is most notably seen being fired in the scene where the tank is trying to make it through a mountain pass to safety while being pursued by Koverchenko and the Mujahideen, as well as in the scene where all the tanks' weapons are fired at once when the crew believes themselves to be surrounded by the Mujahideen at night.
-[[Image:SG-43 AMW.jpg|thumb|none|300px|SG-43 Goryunov machine gun 7.62x54mm R with ammo box and carriage mount]]
+==SGMT==
-[[Image:TB-TurretGun2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The tank's SGMT machine gun being fired near the climax of the film]]
+One of the weapons on the Soviet tank is the [[Goryunov SG-43 Machine Gun|SGMT machine gun]], the tank-mounted model of the SGM Goryunov machine gun featuring an additional solenoid trigger. The weapon is mounted in a "coaxial" configuration parallel to the main gun, and is most notably seen being fired in the scene where the tank is trying to make it through a mountain pass to safety while being pursued by Koverchenko and the Mujahideen, as well as in the scene where all the tank's weapons are fired at once when the crew believes themselves to be surrounded by the Mujahideen at night.
+[[Image:SGMT.jpg|thumb|none|450px|Goryunov SGMT machine gun - 7.62x54mmR]]
+[[Image:TB-TurretGun2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The tank's SGMT machine gun being fired during the climax of the film.]]
-== Fake DShK Heavy Machine Gun ==
+At one point, the tank crew finds themselves trapped in a dead-end valley. As they're trying to decide their next move, a helicopter searching for water comes upon them, mounting an SGM or SGMT as the door machine gun.
+[[Image:TB-HeloGunA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A Soviet helicopter crew member mans an SGM machine gun.]]
+[[Image:TB-HeloGun3A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Golikov and Kaminski sit in the cabin of the helicopter with the SGM in the foreground.]]
+[[Image:TB-HeloGun2a.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The door gunner looks on from behind the SGM as Daskal orders his crew back to the tank.]]
-[[Browning M2|Browning M2HB heavy machine guns]] are seen impersonating [[DShK heavy machine gun|DShK heavy machine guns]] in the film.  One is mounted on the commander's hatch of the Soviet T55 tanks, and is used by the tyrannical Commander Daskal ([[George Dzundza]]) to impose his authority over his crew, as well as murder Afghan crewmember Samad ([[Erick Avari]]) when he is suspected of being a traitor. Daskal attempts to use it to fend off the Mujahideen when they are advancing on the tank while it's stranded due to an overheated engine, but runs out of ammo after firing only a few rounds, none of which hit their mark. '''The use of a Browning M2HB is curious, since Israeli Armorers have easy access to real DShK guns they have captured from the Arab armies over the years.'''
+== Fake DShK (Browning M2HB) ==
+[[Browning M2|Browning M2HB heavy machine guns]] are seen impersonating [[DShK heavy machine gun|DShK heavy machine guns]] in the film. One is mounted on the commander's hatch of the Soviet T-55 tank, and is used by the tyrannical Commander Daskal ([[George Dzundza]]) to impose his authority over his crew, as well as murder Afghan crew member Samad (Erick Avari) when he is suspected of being a traitor. Daskal attempts to use it to fend off the Mujahideen when they are advancing on the tank while it's stranded due to an overheated engine, but runs out of ammo after firing only a few rounds, none of which hit the Mujahideen. The use of a Browning M2HB is curious, since Israeli armorers have easy access to real DShK guns they have captured from the Arab armies over the years.
-[[Image:DSHK.jpg|thumb|none|275px|DShK heavy machine gun 12.7x109mm]]
+[[Image:DSHK.jpg|thumb|none|370px|DShK heavy machine gun - 12.7x108mm]]
-[[Image:TB-BrowningM2a.jpg‎ |thumb|none|600px|Commander Daskal ([[George Dzundza]]) mans his Browning M2HB, masquerading as a Soviet DShK heavy machine gun]]
+[[Image:BrowningM2HB.jpg|thumb|none|450px|Browning M2HB - .50 BMG]]
-[[Image:TB-BrowningM2Tanka.jpg‎ |thumb|none|600px|Another tank commander checks his map next to a Browning M2HB, masquerading as a Soviet DShK heavy machine gun]]
+[[Image:TB-BrowningM2Tanka.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Commander Daskal ([[George Dzundza]]) checks his map next to a mocked up Browning M2HB, masquerading as a Soviet DShK heavy machine gun. Note the flat feed tray cover and the absence of the charging handle under the spade grips at the rear of the weapon.]]
+[[Image:TB-BrowningM2a.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Commander Daskal ([[George Dzundza]]) mans a mocked up Browning M2HB, masquerading as a Soviet DShK heavy machine gun.]]
+[[Image:TB-Browning-50-on-TankA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A nice overhead shot of the .50 cal on the tank as the crew scrambles to escape the attack.]]
 [[Image:TB-BrowningM2FiringLateA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Daskal about to run out of ammo on the stranded tank.]]
-[[Image:TB-Browning-50-on-TankA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A nice overhead shot of the .50 cal on the tank as the crew scrambles to escape yet another ambush.]]
-== NSV Heavy Machine Gun ==
+=Launchers=
+== RPG-7 ==
+The [[RPG-7]], equipped with a PGO-7 scope, plays a pivotal role in the film, first being used by Soviet soldiers during the raid on the village (used by Koverchenko to blow up a mosque at the beginning of the film) then is captured by the Mujahideen who intend to use it to take revenge ("badal") on a Soviet tank that is lost in the Afghan desert after the murderous raid. The Afghans initially have poor luck when using the weapon, even damaging it to the point it won't fire, though a defector from the tank crew, Konstantin Koverchenko ([[Jason Patric]]), is able to repair it by using parts from a Lee-Enfield rifle sight spring, and is given the responsibility of firing the weapon at the tank, though ends up only blowing off the end of the tank's main gun barrel.
+[[Image:Rpg-7.jpg‎|thumb|none|450px|RPG-7 with PGO-7 scope and PG-7VM rocket - 40mm]]
+[[File:Beast88 09.jpg|thumb|none|600px|During the raid on the village, Konstantin Koverchenko ([[Jason Patric]]) loads a rocket propelled grenade into the RPG-7 launcher.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPG 01a.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko takes aim at the minaret (tower) of a mosque with an RPG-7 during the village raid. Vaguely seen is the guide wire connected to the rocket on the launcher.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPG 02a.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko walks away with the fired RPG-7 launcher.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPG7WomanA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Sherina (Shoshi Marciano) presents her villagers with a gift - an RPG-7 launcher carelessly left behind by the Soviets.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPG7-MisfireA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Moustafa ([[Chaim Girafi]]) shows that he doesn't know how to properly use the RPG-7.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPG7-FiresA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Oops! A nice shot, showing that the RPG launcher is actually explosively propelling the fake rocket just like a real RPG (unlike films like ''[[Red Dawn (1984)|Red Dawn]]''). A fine example of what a real RPG looks like when it's fired.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPGFixA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko re-affixes the trigger assembly after fixing it in the cave.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPGGRipA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A nice close-up of the grip of the RPG-7 launcher. Compare this to another side show (see below) and it appears to be a different RPG-7 between scenes.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPGFixSightA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko looks through the PGO-7 scope of the newly-repaired RPG-7 launcher just before agreeing to aid the Mujahideen in destroying the tank.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPGSideA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A nice side shot of the RPG-7. Here (based on the grip) it appears to be a different RPG-7 launcher than seen before.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPGRocketRubberA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A detail shot of the RPG-7 warhead. It is an obvious rubber warhead (see the seam) and is the same type used in films like ''[[Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull]]''.]]
+[[Image:TB-RPGFinalFireA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko aims the RPG-7.]]
-At one point, the tank crew finds themselves trapped in a dead-end valley. As they're trying to decide their next move, a helicopter scouting for water comes upon them, the helicopter equipped with a door-mounted [[NSV heavy machine gun]].
+==B-10 Recoilless Rifle==
+During the raid on the village, one of the inhabitants mans a [[B-10 recoilless rifle]] mounted on a hill overlooking the village and attempts to engage the attacking Soviet tanks, nearly scoring a hit on one before the emplacement is destroyed when the tank returns fire, the gunner diving clear just in time to save himself.
+[[Image:B-10-82mm-recoilles-rifle-batey-haosef-1-1.jpg|thumb|none|400px|B-10 recoilless rifle - 82mm]]
+[[Image:TB-B10GunA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|An Afghan villager takes aim at attacking Soviet tanks with a B-10 recoilless rifle.]]
+[[Image:TB-B10Gun2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The villager looks through the B-10's sight at his target.]]
+[[Image:TB-B10ReloadA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The villager prepares to reload the B-10, but sees the tank about to return fire.]]
-[[Image:6U6 NSV 02.jpg|thumb|none|300px|tripod-mounted NSV heavy machine gun 12.7x107mm]]
+=Others=
-[[Image:TB-HeloGunA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A Soviet helicopter crew member mans an NSV heavy machine gun]]
+== Prop Flamethrower ==
-[[Image:TB-HeloGun3A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Golikov and Kaminski sit in the cabin of the helicopter with the NSV in the foreground]]
+A prop gas-thrower most closely resembling an American [[M2 Flamethrower]] is used by Kaminski ([[Don Harvey]]) during the raid on the village, killing one of the inhabitants who was hiding in a building.
-[[Image:TB-HeloGun2a.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The door gunner looks on from behind his NSV as Daskal orders his crew back to the tank]]
+[[Image:M2-2FlameAth.jpg|thumb|none|350px|M2-2 Flamethrower]]
+[[Image:TB-Flamethrowera.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Kaminski ([[Don Harvey]]) torches a building with a flamethrower during the village raid, killing a luckless civilian hiding inside.]]
-== Makarov PM ==
+==Flamethrower (Vehicle Mounted)==
+In the scene where the tank crew thinks they're surrounded by the Mujahideen in the middle of the night, they open fire with all the weapons on the tank, including an integral flamethrower, though come morning they discover that they had actually wasted all the ammo on a herd of deer.
-The [[Makarov PM]] makes a few appearances in the film. Daskal carries one in a holster, and one of the Mujahideen carries one as well, using it to end the suffering of one of his comrades who is mortally wounded by a booby trap left by the crew of the tank.
+[[Image:TB-FlamethrowerONTankA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The tank firing its flamethrower when the crew thinks they're surrounded by the Mujahideen.]]
-[[Image:MakarovPM.jpg|thumb|none|300px|Makarov PM 9x18mm Makarov]]
-[[Image:TB-MakarovDZundaA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Cmdr. Daskal pulls his Makarov PM on Koverchenko when he defies Daskal]]
-[[Image:TB-MakarovAA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Mustafah chambers his Makarov PM before killing one of his comrades mortally wounded by a Soviet booby-trap]]
-== Tokarev TT-33 ==
-Following the raid on the village, several Afghans who weren't around during the raid return to find the devastation, including a group of scavengers led by Taj's cousin Mustafah, who discards several weapons in a gesture of peace as he approaches Taj, though Taj still finds him packing a
-[[Tokarev TT-33]], grabbing it and holding it on him.
-[[Image:TT-33.jpg|thumb|none|300px|Tokarev TT-33 7.62x25mm Tokarev]]
-[[Image:TB-TokarevTT33A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Taj holds a Tokarev TT-33 on Mustafah after finding it hidden on him]]
-[[Image:TB-Tokarev2A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Mustafah tries to convince Taj to join him against the Soviets while staring down the barrel of his own TT-33]]
-== Enfield No.2 Mk.I ==
-A boy who runs with the Mudjahideen carries an Enfield revolver as his weapon.
+==F-1 Hand Grenade==
+The [[F-1 hand grenade]] is the Soviet World War II fragmentation grenade that was still in use until the late 1980s. However the newer [[RGD-5 hand grenade]] would have been the most commonly issued grenade to Soviet Forces. This ordnance may have been captured from the Communist Puppet Regime of Afghanistan (who was supplied by the Soviets and may have received older ordnance). In the film, during a night attack, the Mujahideen shower the tank with F-1 grenades from a cliff above, wounding one of the crew before they're able to retreat to the safety of the tank and escape. A group of Afghan women also use F-1 grenades (attached to Plastic Explosives) to trigger a rock slide that disables the tank.
-[[Image:TB-Webley-PistolA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A boy fighting alongside the Mujahideen fires an Enfield No.2 Mk.I at the Soviets]]
+[[Image:deactivated f1.jpg|thumb|none|300px|F-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade]]
+[[Image:TB-RGD1GrenadeA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A WW2-era Soviet F-1 grenade falls to the ground as Afghans attack the tank at night.]]
-==RGD-1 Hand Grenade==
+[[Image:TB-RGD1Grenades&PlastiqueA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Sherina shows off her weapons, three F-1 grenades and a block of Plastic Explosive.]]
-The [[RGD-1 hand grenade]] is the Soviet World War II fragmentation grenade and is anachronistic for this conflict. Front line Soviet soldiers byt this time would have the RGD-5 or later. The Mujahideen would not have RGD-1 grenades unless they captured them from the Communist Puppet Regime of Afghanistan (who was supplied by the Soviets and may have received older ordnance). In the film, during a night ambush, the Mujahideen shower the tank with RGD-1's from a cliff above, wounding one of the crew before they're able to retreat to the safety of the tank and escape. A group of Afghan women also use RGD-1 grenades (attached to Plastic Explosives) to trigger a rock slide that disables the tank.
-[[Image:deactivated f1.jpg|thumb|none|300px|RGD-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade]]
-[[Image:TB-RGD1GrenadeA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A WW2 Vintage Soviet RGD-1 grenade falls to the ground as Afghans attack at night.]]
-[[Image:TB-RGD1Grenades&PlastiqueA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Shareena shows off her weapons, several Vintage RGD-1 grenades and a block of Plastic Explosive.]]
 == RGD-5 Hand Grenade ==
+In the film, [[RGD-5 hand grenade]]s are typically used by the Soviets to booby-trap objects for the pursuing Afghans. Koverchenko is also booby-trapped with a grenade when he defies Daskal. Finally, a deranged Daskal intends to use an RGD-5 grenade to commit suicide rather than face capture by the Afghans, but is stopped by the remaining crew as the act would take their lives as well.
+[[Image:RGD5.jpg|thumb|none|180px|none|RGD-5 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade]]
+[[Image:TB-RGD5Grenade01A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Kaminski preparing to booby-trap Koverchenko with an RGD-5 grenade.]]
+[[Image:TB-RGD5Grenade02A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko is booby-trapped with an RGD-5 grenade after defying Cmdr. Daskal.]]
+[[Image:TB-RGD5GrenadeRockReleaseA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko accidentally releases the spoon, realizes it and allows the grenade to fall below, eliminating some wild dogs that were attacking him while surprisingly leaving him unharmed by the blast.]]
-[[RGD-5 hand grenade]]s make several appearances in the film, typically used by the Soviets to booby trap objects (including Koverchenko when he defies Daskal) for the persuing Afghans. Finally, a deranged Daskal intends to use RGD-5's to commit suicide rather than face capture by the Afghans, but is stopped by the remaining crew as the act would take their lives as well.
+==SPSh Flare Pistol==
+When the helicopter comes upon the tank crew, Daskal uses a Russian [[SPSh Flare Pistol]] to signal the chopper.
-[[Image:Rdg5.jpg|thumb|none|300px|RGD-5 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade]]
+[[Image:Russian-Kovrov-Arsenal-flare-pistol.jpg|thumb|none|300px|SPSh flare pistol - 26.5mm]]
-[[Image:TB-RGD5Grenade01A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|Kaminski preparing to boobytrap Koverchenko with an RGD-5 grenade]]
+[[Image:TB-FlareGunA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Daskal fires an SPSh flare pistol to signal an approaching helicopter.]]
-[[Image:TB-RGD5Grenade02A.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko boobytrapped with an RGD-5 grenade after defying Cmdr. Daskal]]
-[[Image:TB-RGD5GrenadeRockReleaseA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Koverchenko accidentally releases the spoon, realizes it and allows the grenade to fall below, eliminating some marauding dogs that were attacking him while surprisingly leaving him unharmed by the blast]]
-::Actually it is not surprising that he is unharmed.  The rock was a perfect shield.  He was elevated away from the ground by at least three feet or more, shielded by solid rock.  The only part of him that would have been exposed to the blast would be the soles of his boots, and the grenade would have blown outward, away from him (several feet below him amongst the attacking dogs).
-==Flare Gun==
-When the helicopter happens upon the tank crew, Daskal uses a flare pistol of unknown make and model to signal the chopper.
-[[Image:TB-FlareGunA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Daskal fires a flare pistol to signal an approaching helicopter]]
-==Flamethrower (Vehicle Mounted)==
-In the scene where the crew of the tank think they're surrounded in the middle of the night, they open fire with all the weapons on the tank, including an integral flamethrower, though come morning they discover that they had actually wasted all the ammo on a herd of deer.
-[[Image:TB-FlamethrowerONTankA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The tank firing its flamethrower when the crew thinks they're surrounded by Mujahideen]]
-==Trivia Special==
-===Russian T55 Tank===
+=Trivia Special=
-A nice example of a real authentic Soviet armored vehicle in a Western movie.  Actually an Israeli Ti-67 Tank, standing in for a  T55 (the same tank except for a larger main gun) we see countless beautiful shots of the tank in action and get a real understanding of the mechanisms and functions of the vehicle.  An armored vehicle lover's dream.
+==Russian T-55 Tank==
-[[Image:TB-Soviet-T55M-TankA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A Ti-67 on the move]]
+The very real Ti-67 tanks (Israeli-modified T-55 tanks featuring a larger 105mm gun vs. the original 100mm gun) as well as the authentic Soviet weaponry were all provided by Israel, with cooperation from the IDF. The T-55 tanks were well obsolete by the time frame of this film, however it was nice to see authentic Soviet armor in a Western film. When the film was made in 1987 (released in 1988), the Russo-Afghan war was still ongoing, and thus a topic of debate. A nice example of a real authentic Soviet armored vehicle in a Western film. Actually an Israeli Ti-67 tank, standing in for a T-55 (the same tank except for a larger main gun), there are numerous beautiful shots of the tank in action and get a real understanding of the mechanisms and functions of the vehicle. An armored vehicle lover's dream. At one point, Koverchenko and Taj take advantage of the limited elevation range of the tank's main gun, a notorious weakness of Soviet tanks operating in the mountains of Afghanistan.
-[[Image:TB-TankTraversingA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A Ti-67 scanning for targets during the villiage raid]]
+[[Image:TB-Soviet-T55M-TankA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A Ti-67 tank on the move.]]
-[[Image:TB-TankMissingTrackA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The Ti-67 tank immobilized after losing a track to an avalanche of boulders]]
+[[Image:TB-TankTraversingA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A Ti-67 tank scanning for targets during the village raid.]]
+[[Image:TB-TankMissingTrackA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The Ti-67 tank immobilized after losing a track to an avalanche of boulders.]]
-===Fake Soviet Helicopter aka ''Aerospatiale SA.321 Super Frelon''===
+==Soviet Helicopter (aka Aerospatiale SA.321K Super Frelon)==
+The Russian helicopter that discovers the tank crew when they're trapped in the dead-end valley and is later seen at the poisoned watering hole is in fact a French-built Aerospatiale SA.321K ''Super Frelon'', most likely used due to its resemblance to the Russian-made Mil Mi-8 Hip or Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopters. Another helicopter also appears to airlift Koverchenko at the end of the film.
+[[Image:TB-Helicopter2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A nicely painted French-built Aerospatiale SA.321K ''Super Frelon'' flies in the Israeli landscape.]]
+[[Image:TB-HelicopterLandeda.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A nice angle of the paint job on a French-built Aerospatiale SA.321K ''Super Frelon''.]]
+[[Image:TB-HelicopterFlyingOffA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The French-built Aerospatiale SA.321K ''Super Frelon'', impersonating a Soviet helicopter, flies away from the stranded tank, just missing a hilltop full of hiding Mujahideen fighters.]]
-The helicopter that discovers the tank crew when they're trapped in the dead-end valley and is later seen at the poisoned watering hole is in fact a French-built '''Aerospatiale SA.321 ''Super Frelon''''' standing in for a Soviet helicopter, most likely it is supposed to impersonate either an Mi-8 Hip or Mi-6 Hook. One of these also appears airlifting Koverchenko at the end of the film.
+==Historical perspective==
+When ''The Beast of War'' was being filmed in 1987 (released in 1988), the Russo-Afghan war was still ongoing, and thus a topic of debate, but the quaint perception of the mountain tribes of Afghanistan as 'victims of Soviet oppression' is now out of date. Views of Afghanistan, its peoples and the outer tribal areas have changed in recent years with the current US involvement in the country and the radicalization of the mountain regions towards Islamic militants. An attempt to depict the Russian invasion (1980-1988) as a mirror of the American action in Vietnam (1965-1973) seems awkward and glosses over the very real differences.
-[[Image:TB-Helicopter2A.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|A nicely painted French-built '''Aerospatiale SA.321 ''Super Frelon''''' flies by in the Israeli Landscape.]]
+The Afghans have a long history of gunsmithing villages, especially since the British invasion of 1838. This was a time when smoothbore flintlocks were actually more common than rifled muskets and the percussion cap firearm was a relatively new invention. The Short Magazine Lee-Enfields in the country are obvious left overs from both World Wars, but the film takes place in 1981, in the third year of the Soviet invasion. Moustafa's group of scavengers are the best armed fighters in the area, because they steal all the weapons from fallen Soviet soldiers. In 1981, most of the Afghan tribesmen would have a mix of antique weapons and some captured Soviet weaponry. Things have changed a lot since then. The 1980s saw a huge influx of aid and help by Western powers (like the U.S.) and other countries that (at the time) were at odds with the USSR, like the People's Republic of China. After 2001, countries like Iran and Syria funneled tons of weapons to any anti-US proxy force (like Al-Qaeda and the Taliban). The Afghan tribesmen of today's conflicts are no longer the quaintly villagers armed with vintage rifles of past years. They are much more heavily armed with modern weapons, mostly supplied by Iran via the Taliban through Pakistan. Too many viewers have this antiquated view of Afghanistan.
-[[Image:TB-HelicopterLandeda.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A nice angle of the paint job on a French-built '''Aerospatiale SA.321 ''Super Frelon'''''.]]
+[[Image:TB-KiplingQuoteA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The opening screen of the film.]]
-[[Image:TB-HelicopterFlyingOffA.jpg‎|thumb|none|600px|The French-built '''Aerospatiale SA.321 ''Super Frelon''''', impersonating a Soviet helicopter, flies away from the stranded tank, just missing a hilltop full of hiding Mujahideen.]]
-===Historical perspective===
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Beast of War, The}}
-[[Image:TB-KiplingQuoteA.jpg|thumb|none|600px|The opening screen of the film]]
-The Afghans have has a long history of village gunsmithing, especially since the British invasion of 1838.  This was a time when smoothbore flintlocks were actually more common than rifled muskets and the percussion cap firearm was a relatively new invention.   The Short Magazine Lee Enfields in the country are obvious left overs from both World Wars, but the film takes place in 1981, in the first year of the Soviet invasion.  Mustafa's band of scavengers are the best armed fighters in the area, because they steal all their weapons from fallen Soviet soldiers.  In 1981 most of the Afghan tribesmen would have a mix of antique weapons and ''some'' capture Soviet weaponry.  Things have changed a lot since then.  The 1980s saw a huge influx of aid and help by western powers (like the U.S.) and other countries that (at the time) were at odds with the USSR, like Mainland China.   After 2001, countries like Iran and Syria funneled tons of weapons to any Anti-U.S. proxy force (like Al Qaeda and the Taliban).  The Afghan tribesmen of today's conflicts is no longer the ''quaintly armed with 'vintage rifles' villagers'' of past years.  They are much more heavily armed with modern weapons,  mostly supplied by Iran via the Taliban through Pakistan.   Too many viewers have this antiquated view of Afghanistan.
 [[Category:Movie]]
 [[Category:War]]
-[[Category:Israeli Produced/Filmed]]
+[[Category:Action]]
+[[Category:Action Movie]]
+[[Category:Drama]]
+[[Category:Thriller]]
+[[Category:Canadian Produced/Filmed]]

The Beast of War: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:57, 29 July 2023

Handguns

Makarov PM

Tokarev TT-33

Enfield No.2 Mk.I

Rifles & Muskets

AK-47

Trivia: The Israeli Blank Adapters

Lee-Enfield No. 1 Mk III*

IMI Romat

Jezail Musket

SVD Dragunov

Machine Guns

RPD

SGMT

Fake DShK (Browning M2HB)

Launchers

RPG-7

B-10 Recoilless Rifle

Others

Prop Flamethrower

Flamethrower (Vehicle Mounted)

F-1 Hand Grenade

RGD-5 Hand Grenade

SPSh Flare Pistol

Trivia Special

Russian T-55 Tank

Soviet Helicopter (aka Aerospatiale SA.321K Super Frelon)

Historical perspective

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