Tobruk (1967)

Tobruk Error creating thumbnail: File missing Theatrical Release Poster Country Error creating thumbnail: File missing United States Directed by Arthur Hiller Release Date 1967 Studio Universal Pictures Distributor Universal Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Maj. Donald Craig Rock Hudson Capt. Bergman George Peppard Col. Harker Nigel Green Sgt. Major Jack Tyne Jack Watson

Tobruk is a 1967 World War II adventure film directed by Arthur Hiller and written by Leo Gordon. The movie stars Rock Hudson, George Peppard and Nigel Green. The film focuses on a joint British/SIG (Special Interrogation Group) raid on the fuel dumps at German controlled port city of Tobruk. The raid is led by British Colonel Harker (Nigel Green) with a core of british troops supported by the SIG team, led by Captain Bergman (George Peppard). Joining the team is Major Donald Craig (Rock Hudson), a Canadian who was pressed into service by Harker.

The film is a fictionalized account of the actual raids conducted during the war. In reality, the historical SIG was a group of German Jews recruited from the then British territory of Palestine to fight the Nazis in various ways, including sabotage, infiltration, espionage behind the lines and interrogation of German prisoners. They operated mainly during the African campaign and was disbanded in late 1942.

The following weapons were used in the film Tobruk (1967):

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Handguns

Beretta M1934

An Italian officer is seen with a Beretta M1934.

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Beretta Model 1934 - .380 ACP.

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Lt. Agostino (Lawrence Montaigne) with a Beretta M1934.

Luger P08

During the opening scenes, a group of German commandos attack a Vichy French cargo ship holding newly transferred prisoners of war, including a Canadian Major named Donald Craig (Rock Hudson). The commandos use a silenced Luger P08, though the suppressor is most likely a prop.

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Luger P08 with black grips - 9x19mm

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George Peppard (left) with a P08 Luger.

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Rock Hudson.

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Webley "WG" Army Model

The SIG/British group pick up a couple of British subjects during their march towards Tobruk. They are in fact spies with an anti-royalist agenda and ask the German troops (not knowing they are SIG) to assist them in contacting the German High Command.

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Webley "WG" Army Model - .455 Webley

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Anti-Royalists Henry Portman (Liam Redmond) is threatened by a SIG traitor. The forward sight is a giveaway that the gun is a Webley Army as opposed to a Mk. VI.

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A dying Sgt. Major Jack Tyne (Jack Watson). Note the curved grip which sets it apart from a contemporary Webley Mk. VI.

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Lt. Agostino (Lawrence Montaigne) inspects the Webley "WG" taken from the British traitor.

Webley Mk. VI

A French crewmember is seen with a Webley .455 Mk VI in his belt.

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Webley Mk. VI - .455 Webley

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A Vichy French sentry is taken out by a SIG soldier. Note the Mk. VI in his belt.

Submachine Guns

M1A1 Thompson

The M1A1 Thompson is carried by the Allied troops. It is identifiable by its hooded rear sight.

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M1A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

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The tube he is holding is a rangefinder.

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Sgt. Major Jack Tyne (left) in German uniform carrying a M1A1 Thompson.

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Col. Harker (Nigel Green on the left) with a M1A1.

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Actor Percy Herbert on the right with his Thompson.

Madsen M50

Vichy French guards carry the anachronistic Madsen M50 SMG.

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MP40

The German MP40 is seen in the hands of German and Allied soldiers throughout the movie.

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MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm

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A (genuine) German sentry with his MP40

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SIG soldier preparing his MP40.

PPD-40

An Italian patrol is armed with the PPD-40 submachine gun. This gun, and the PPSh-41, is probably meant to be a stand-in for the Italian Beretta Model 38 submachine gun which was produced for the Italian Armed Forces (though it was used in limited numbers) during world war 2. Since the PPD-40 did not have box magazines, this is either a conversion under 9mm (with MP-40 magazines) like the PPSh-41 below, or just a mock-up.

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PPD-40 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev

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The troops are using stick magazines instead of a drum.

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The middle soldier reveals further details of his weapon including the charging handle, forward wooden grip and the distinct cut of the barrel jacket

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PPSh-41

In a very brief shot one of the Italian soldiers is revealed to be using a PPSh-41 as opposed to the PPD 40's carried by his comrades

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PPSh-41 with 9mm conversion.

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The top left soldier with a PPSh-41. Note the straight magazine and position of the forward sight.

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The top left soldier's weapon shows a rounded forward sight of a PPSh.

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The left most soldier with his PPSh. There are obvious differences between the weapon muzzles, the left is a PPSh-41 and the two on the right PPD 40's.

Rifles

Krag-Jørgensen (US)

One of the Arab mercenaries, (of the Tuareg people), carry a Krag-Jørgensen rifle. It is most likely a US model as opposed to a Norweigan original. (The US adopted the Krag-Jørgensen as their main rifle before they adopted the Springfield 1903).

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US Property Marked Krag-Jørgensen Model 1896 Rifle - .30-40 Krag

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Major Donald Craig (Rock Hudson) in the guise of a German officer negotiating with an Arab (Turageg) chieftain played by Yugoslavian born actor Peter Coe.

M1 Carbine

During the initial commando mission, a pair of pistol-gripped M1 carbines are used against the Vichy French forces.

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M1 Carbine (Post-War) - .30 Carbine

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Note the anochronistic bayonet lug which were not added to any M1 Carbine model until after WW2.

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Mauser Gewehr 1898

The Mauser Gewehr 1898 is seen in the hands of the Vichy French, Italian and later with the German soldiers. The weapon is easily identifiable by the rear sight and straight bolt handle.

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Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

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Vichy French soldier escorting Italian deserters. He is armed with a Gewehr 1898.

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Italian sentry with same.

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German soldier.

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Lots of German soldiers with the 1898.

Machine Guns

Bren Gun

The British are (correctly) using a Bren gun.

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Bren Mk1 - .303 caliber

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A british Bren gun team taking aim.

Browning M2 Aircraft

Tanks and armored veichles on both sides are mounted with the Browning M2 Aircraft model, identifiable by it's "hooded" barrel.

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Browning M2 Aircraft, Flexible - .50 BMG

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Captain Bergman (George Peppard).

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Major Donald Craig (Rock Hudson) in a veichle mounted with two M2 Aircraft BMG.

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"Italian" M48 Patton tanks with turret mounted M2 Aircraft BMG.

Browning M2HB's in M51 Quad Mounted System - .50 BMG

An anti-aircraft quad mounted system, "Browning M2HB's in M51 Quad Mounted System - .50 BMG", are seen towed by the Axis forces (though never used). The M51 system as depicted in the hands of the Italians is not historically accurate due to production limitations.

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Browning M2HB's in M51 Quad Mounted System - .50 BMG

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An anti-aircraft quad mounted system, "Browning M2HB's in M51 Quad Mounted System - .50 BMG", are seen towed by the Axis forces. The Italian tank seen here is actually an anachronistic American-made M48 that was in the inventory of the Spanish army and often was utilized by films produced in Spain in the late 1960's such as Patton.

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The quad 50 is seen on the left.

MG34

Both Allied and Germans troops use the MG34.

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MG34 with front and rear sights folded down - 7.92x57mm Mauser

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SIG and British troops with the MG34.

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Other weapons

M2 flamethrower

At the climax of the movie, SIG Captain Bergman (George Peppard) uses a M2 Flamethrower against the "German" tanks.

M2-2 flamethrower

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Captain Bergman firing the flamethrower. Note the similarities between the M2-2 and Bergman's flamethrower.

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Bergman showing the left canister of the M2-2 flamethrower.

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M8 Flare pistol

Col. Harker (Nigel Green) fires a M8 flare pistol into the bunker during the last battle.

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M8 Flare Pistol - 37mm

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