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The Battle of Long Tan: Difference between revisions
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Vietcong troops in the film also carry [[SKS rifle|SKS]] rifles with underfolding bayonets. | Vietcong troops in the film also carry [[SKS rifle|SKS]] rifles with underfolding bayonets. | ||
[[File:Simonov-Russian-SKS45.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Russian Simonov Type 45 aka the Russian SKS rifle - 7.62x39mm. The Russian SKS has a milled receiver and a blade bayonet. The rifles were issued with hardwood or laminated stocks. This example has a hardwood stock.]] | [[File:Simonov-Russian-SKS45.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Russian Simonov Type 45 aka the Russian SKS rifle - 7.62x39mm. The Russian SKS has a milled receiver and a blade bayonet. The rifles were issued with hardwood or laminated stocks. This example has a hardwood stock.]] | ||
[[File:LongTan SKS 2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|Two Vietcong from D445 Battalion, armed with SKS rifles, move through the jungle. Note the underfold "pigsticker" bayonets.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan SKS 3.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A VC soldier lies in wait for 11 Platoon with his SKS.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan SKS 5.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A VC fires his SKS as an artillery shell explodes nearby. Note the forward receiver and "banana" magazine of the AK-47 besides him.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan SKS 6.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A VC fires his SKS.]] | |||
=Submachine Guns= | =Submachine Guns= | ||
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Australian Radio Telephone Operators (RTO's) carry the [[Owen Submachine Gun]], probably due to it's lightweight and reliability in jungle combat. Indeed, the Owen was in service in Vietnam until 1966, when it was replaced by the similar [[F1_SMG|F1 Submachine Gun]]. | Australian Radio Telephone Operators (RTO's) carry the [[Owen Submachine Gun]], probably due to it's lightweight and reliability in jungle combat. Indeed, the Owen was in service in Vietnam until 1966, when it was replaced by the similar [[F1_SMG|F1 Submachine Gun]]. | ||
[[File:Owen-gun_400.jpg|thumb|none|350px|Owen Mk I Submachine Gun - 9x19mm]] | [[File:Owen-gun_400.jpg|thumb|none|350px|Owen Mk I Submachine Gun - 9x19mm]] | ||
[[File:LongTan Owen.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Australian Radio Telephone Operator moves with his Owen Submachine Gun.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan Owen 2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An RTO with an Owen Gun.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan Owen 3.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An RTO dives for cover.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan Owen 4.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Owen-operating RTO being battered by rain.]] | |||
=Machine Guns= | =Machine Guns= | ||
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The [[M60 machine gun|M60]] is used by Australian machine gunners in the documentary, both with the deployed bipod and without it. | The [[M60 machine gun|M60]] is used by Australian machine gunners in the documentary, both with the deployed bipod and without it. | ||
[[File:M60GPMG.jpg|thumb|none|400px|M60 machine gun with bipod folded - 7.62x51mm NATO]] | [[File:M60GPMG.jpg|thumb|none|400px|M60 machine gun with bipod folded - 7.62x51mm NATO]] | ||
[[File:LongTan M60.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Australian machine gunner on patrol with his M60.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan M60 2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An Australian fires his M60 as his Assistant Gunner "feeds" him the belt.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan M60 3.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An M60 firing.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan M60 4.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A soldier chambers a new belt into his gun. Notice the deployed bipod.]] | |||
==RPD== | ==RPD== | ||
The [[RPD light machine gun|RPD]] is used by the Vietcong troops who ambush 11 Platoon. | The [[RPD light machine gun|RPD]] is used by the Vietcong troops who ambush 11 Platoon. | ||
[[File:RPD-Light-Machine-Gun.jpg|thumb|none|400px|RPD Light Machine Gun - 7.62x39mm]] | [[File:RPD-Light-Machine-Gun.jpg|thumb|none|400px|RPD Light Machine Gun - 7.62x39mm]] | ||
[[File:LongTan RPD.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A Vietcong soldier ambushes 11 Platoon with his RPD.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan RPD 2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A VC runs with his RPD, idenitifiable by the drum magazine and buttstock.]] | |||
==Browning M2HB== | ==Browning M2HB== | ||
The [[Browning_M2#Browning_M2_Heavy_Barrel|Browning M2HB]] is mounted on Australian M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC's) sent to reinforce D Company. | The [[Browning_M2#Browning_M2_Heavy_Barrel|Browning M2HB]] is mounted on Australian M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC's) sent to reinforce D Company. | ||
[[File:BrowningM2.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG]] | [[File:BrowningM2.jpg|thumb|none|400px|Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG]] | ||
[[File:LongTan M2HB.jpg|thumb|none|600px|An M113 APC gunner mans the turret Browning M2HB.]] | |||
[[File:LongTan M2HB 2.jpg|thumb|none|600px|A gunner opens up with his .50.]] | |||
[[Category:Australian Produced/Filmed]] | [[Category:Australian Produced/Filmed]] | ||
[[Category:Television]] | [[Category:Television]] | ||
[[Category:War]] | [[Category:War]] |
Revision as of 02:55, 21 May 2012
Work In Progress This article is still under construction. It may contain factual errors. See Talk:The Battle of Long Tan for current discussions. Content is subject to change. |
The Battle of Long Tan is a 2006 ABC documentary made by Red Dune Films. Narrated by Sam Worthington of Avatar fame, and employing a mixture of veteran interviews, archival footage and dramatic reenactments, it tells the story of the events of 18 August 1966, when D Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment fought a fierce battle with local Vietcong forces at the Long Tan Rubber Plantation in the Phuoc Tuy province of the Republican of Vietnam. Despite being a documentary, it employs actors using uniforms and weapons correct for the period, making it eligable for inclusion.
The following weapons were used in the documentary The Battle of Long Tan:
Rifles
L1A1
The L1A1 is the main weapon of 6RAR in the film, not surprising it was the standard-issue Australian Defence Force rifle during the Vietnam War.
M16
The M16 also appears fairly regularly in the documentary, carried mostly by officers and scouts. Sergeant Bob Buick (11 Platoon) recalls using the Armalite AR-15 in both the film and his memoirs; the AR-15 was in fact the basis for the M16 rifle, but it was possibly referred to as the Armalite by Australian and New Zealand troops in-country.
M16A1
The M16A1 appears amongst Australians in a couple of scenes. It can be identified by the forward reciever pins and the "birdcage" flash hider. This is anachronistic, since the M16A1 was introduced amongst U.S. troops in 1967, and would have hardly reached Australians by that time.
AK-47
The AK-47 is carried by Vietcong troops. In one scene, when 11 Platoon first makes contact with the enemy, 2Lt Gordon Sharp can be seen removing/pocketing the sole magazine and clearing the chamber of rounds to prevent immedtiate enemy re-usage.
SKS
Vietcong troops in the film also carry SKS rifles with underfolding bayonets.
Submachine Guns
Owen Submachine Gun
Australian Radio Telephone Operators (RTO's) carry the Owen Submachine Gun, probably due to it's lightweight and reliability in jungle combat. Indeed, the Owen was in service in Vietnam until 1966, when it was replaced by the similar F1 Submachine Gun.
Machine Guns
M60
The M60 is used by Australian machine gunners in the documentary, both with the deployed bipod and without it.
RPD
The RPD is used by the Vietcong troops who ambush 11 Platoon.
Browning M2HB
The Browning M2HB is mounted on Australian M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC's) sent to reinforce D Company.