Platoon: Difference between revisions
Platoon: Difference between revisions - Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
Platoon: Difference between revisions
Throughout the film, several of the soldiers are seen carrying [[M60 machine gun|M60 machine guns]] while on patrol. No one is mainly listed using one more than another because in Vietnam, sooner or later, everyone had to lug the 23lb Pig around on patrol.
The [[M60 machine gun|M60 machine gun]], affectionately known in Vietnam as "The Pig", is fired primarily by King ([[Keith David]]) in the film. As was typical in Vietnam, the M60 is typically manned by two men, a gunner and an assistant gunner who "feeds" the ammo.
[[Image:PlatoonM60-1.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Elias lugs [[M60 machine gun|The Pig]] while on patrol.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-1.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Elias lugs the 23 lb. [[M60 machine gun|The Pig]] on his shoulders on patrol.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A soldier sits on watch with his M60 behind him.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Lerner ([[Johnny Depp]]) sits on watch with his M60 behind him.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-3.jpg|thumb|none|600px|King carries his M60 while on patrol.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-3.jpg|thumb|none|600px|King carries his M60 while on patrol. He keeps in the typical Vietnam configuration with the bipod down.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-4.jpg|thumb|none|600px|King fires the M60. Note the blank rounds on the belt.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-4.jpg|thumb|none|600px|King ([[Keith David]]) fires the M60. Note the bottleneck rounds on the belt.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-5.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A door gunner covers the soldiers with an M60.]]
[[Image:PlatoonM60-5.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A helicopter gunner (played by technical advisor [[Dale Dye]]) covers the soldiers with the door-mountd M60.]]
Soldiers of the 1st Platoon, Bravo Company, 25th Infantry Division "Tropic Lightning" use M16A1s, most commonly seen in the hands of Pvt. Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen).
Crawford (Chris Pedersen) is briefly seen using what appears to be an original M16 as it lacks a forward assist. It could also be an AR-15/SP1 rifle, but since he is not seen firing it, it is unknown.
Sgt. Elias Grodin (Willem Dafoe), SSgt. Robert Barnes (Tom Berenger), and Lt. Wolfe (Mark Moses) are armed with Colt Model 653P carbine assault rifles, noted by their rounded forward assists an 14.5" barrels, as the 653Ps were 653 export models sent to the Philippines. It is anachronistic to see these rifles in the movie, as they were not used during the Vietnam war. Colt M653 didn't come out until 1973.
The M1911A1 is the standard sidearm for all of the NCOs and Officers in the film. It is most prominantly seen used by Sgt. Elias (Willem Dafoe) when he does tunnel rat duty and SSgt. Barnes (Tom Berenger) when he uses it to threaten a little girl in the Village to get her father to talk.
The M60 machine gun, affectionately known in Vietnam as "The Pig", is fired primarily by King (Keith David) in the film. As was typical in Vietnam, the M60 is typically manned by two men, a gunner and an assistant gunner who "feeds" the ammo.
The Norinco Type 56 is the weapon of choice of the Vietnamese troops, many of which feature "pig-sticker" under folder bayonets. They are noted as Chinese Type 56 rifles based on their hooded front sights. Only the milled receiver variant of this rifle was actually used during the war. Towards the end of the film, both Sgt. Robert Barnes (Tom Berenger) and Pvt. Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) are seen using these rifles, picked up from dead Vietnamese soldiers.
Huffmeister (Robert 'Rock' Galotti) is seen throwing an M34 White Phosphorous grenade (also called "Willy Pete" - slang for White Phosphorous) in one of the rice wells during the raid of the village. SSgt. Barnes also uses an M34 Grenade to destroy one of the underground tunnels, this time yelling "Willie Pete!" when he throws the grenade.
