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Hamburger Hill: Difference between revisions
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'''Hamburger Hill''' refers to the infamous ''''Hill 937'''' in the ''A Shau Valley , Thua Thien province'', which was a major point of supply by the enemy from the north. At the north end of the ''A Shau Valley'' was a major North Vietnamese Army (NVA) staging area known as ''Base Area 611''. Hill 937 is so named because the number lists the number of meters 'above sea level'. (Hills with identical heights are given additional name identifiers, but there were few hills that had the exact same height in Vietnam. ) | '''Hamburger Hill''' refers to the infamous ''''Hill 937'''' in the ''A Shau Valley , Thua Thien province'', which was a major point of supply by the enemy from the north. At the north end of the ''A Shau Valley'' was a major North Vietnamese Army (NVA) staging area known as ''Base Area 611''. Hill 937 is so named because the number lists the number of meters 'above sea level'. (Hills with identical heights are given additional name identifiers, but there were few hills that had the exact same height in Vietnam. ) | ||
Though the film shows a majority of the platoon being killed in the ascent to the summit, the 101st airborne actually suffered 4% KIA during the 10 day assault. It is interesting to note that many motion pictures depict much greater casualties than actually occurred during an historical battle (''[[ | Though the film shows a majority of the platoon being killed in the ascent to the summit, the 101st airborne actually suffered 4% KIA during the 10 day assault. It is interesting to note that many motion pictures depict much greater casualties than actually occurred during an historical battle (''[[Gallipoli]]'' is a stark example). | ||
Revision as of 08:14, 27 September 2009
Since Hollywood does everything in groups, we saw a slew of Vietnam War themed movies in the mid-1980s. Uncommon Valor was one of the early successes of these strings of movies. They were either critically acclaimed "A-list" movies, like Platoon (1986) or low budget "B action films" like Missing in Action (1984).
Hamburger Hill (1987) was a competing Nam movie to Platoon and was released several months after Platoon had won the Academy Award for Best Picture. As a result of this, there were invariably many comparisons to Platoon, however these are two completely different movies. Hamburger Hill did not achieve the same success as Platoon, however it did respectably at the box office.
Hamburger Hill refers to the infamous 'Hill 937' in the A Shau Valley , Thua Thien province, which was a major point of supply by the enemy from the north. At the north end of the A Shau Valley was a major North Vietnamese Army (NVA) staging area known as Base Area 611. Hill 937 is so named because the number lists the number of meters 'above sea level'. (Hills with identical heights are given additional name identifiers, but there were few hills that had the exact same height in Vietnam. )
Though the film shows a majority of the platoon being killed in the ascent to the summit, the 101st airborne actually suffered 4% KIA during the 10 day assault. It is interesting to note that many motion pictures depict much greater casualties than actually occurred during an historical battle (Gallipoli is a stark example).
The following guns were used in this movie:
XM16-E1
- All of the 101st Airborne soldiers in the film carry XM16-E1 rifles, the interim variant of the M16 rifle which combined the 3 prong flash hider with the A1 style upper receiver. In reality, the 101st AB, at this stage of the war, did NOT carry the XM16-E1, but had the M16A1 with birdcage flash hider, a fact pointed out by Hamburger Hill Veterans when the film was released.
MGC Replica M16
- Soldiers in the beginning of the film have ModelGun Corp replica MGC M16s slung to their backs as they load wounded onto helicopters. One of the giveaways is the 'blued' 20 round magazine (the real 20 round magazine is anodyzed aluminum), the shape of the pistol grip and the rear sling swivel. The most obvious detail is not seen here, the fake forward assist of the replica rifle.
AK-47
Chinese Type 56 Assault Rifle
- Other than the milled receiver AK-47s (which are probably Poly-Technology Legend series rifles), there are obvious stamped receiver Type 56 style AK rifles with underfolder spike bayonets (aka "PigSticker". This variant has a stamped receiver, the version in the film has a milled receiver.)
M60
M60D
- The D Model of the M60 is seen on all helicopters in the film.
SKS/Type 56 Carbine
- The Chinese variant of the Russian SKS, the Type 56 Carbine with spike bayonet, is used by the NVA combatants in the film.
M79 grenade launcher
M26 grenade
- A variety of 'lemon grenades' are seen on soldier's web gear throughout the film. They are often seen from a distance on webbing or in men's hands as they are thrown. In real life they are supposed to be M61 Grenades (virtually identical to the M26A1 lemon grenades most associated with Vietnam), however, these have a slightly unusual shape, implying that they are some sort of 'trainer' grenade that is not often used to impersonate the M26/M61 series of grenades.
M18 Smoke Grenade
- Seen on soldier's gear, primarily NCOS and RTOs.
Fake RPG Training Aid
- When Sgt. Frantz (Dylan McDermott) is lecturing the new members of the platoon, he uses a former NVA crossover (a participant in the Chieu_Hoi program [1]) named "Han" to demonstrate how 'not paying attention' will get them killed. Han is 'armed' with a long empty tube made to resemble an RPG launcher of sorts. It has a dud Warhead on it. "Han" demonstrates his skill and ability by avoiding the noisemakers, trip wire and barbed wire of the perimeter to get within striking distance of the G.I.s
Chinese Type 58 Stick Grenade
- Throughout the film, the enemy uses the Chinese Type 56 (aka Type I) stick grenade. It is an oval pineapple style grenade on a short wooden stick and noticeably shorter than the famous German Stielhandgranate of WW2 fame.
Browning M2HB Machine gun
- Seen in the distance on some of the perimeter shots of the base camps and mounted on M113 APCs.
M1911A1
- Standard issue in the Black leather holster of officers and NCOs, however, the handgun is only seen holstered and not seen fired. (Note: I am not 100% sure but I caught no instance of the M1911 used in combat in the film MPM)
M72A1 LAW Rocket
- Carried by some soldiers, but not seen used. Since the enemy at this stage had no armor to defeat, the M72 LAW rockets were used primarily as 'bunker busters', though they are not effective against soft earth targets like the tunnel entrances on Hill 937.
Gun Platforms
M41 Walker Bulldog Tank
- An M41 Walker Bulldog tank can be seen parked in a field during a visit to a rear area, away from the fighting. The fact that this tank has U.S. Armored Division markings is a bit of an anachronism, since the M41 was only supplied to the ARVN and was an obsolete tank for U.S. Forces. In fact, the M41 was perfect for the ARVN Armored units, since it's interior was too small for tall "American" tank crews but perfect sized for the small statured Vietnamese tankers. The Bulldog's secondary armament was one Browning M2HB .50 Cal machine gun and an .30 Cal Machine gun
