Black Hawk Down is the 2001 feature film adaptation of the non-fiction Mark Bowden book that recounted the events surrounding the ill-fated US mission to capture a Somali warlord in 1993. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film was notable for its depiction of modern US warfare. The film received support from the US Department of Defense, who provided extensive training for the actors with members of the US Army Ranger and other Special Forces soldiers to ensure authenticity in addition to allowing access to actual Black Hawk and "Little Bird" helicopters for filming. During the film's production, many of the soldiers and pilots seen were active duty, some of whom were veterans of the actual battle. The film's cast included Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, William Fichtner, Ewan McGregor and Sam Shepard as well as Tom Hardy and Ioan Gruffudd in early roles.
The following weapons were used in the film Black Hawk Down:
Majority of the U.S. Delta Force operators carry the Colt Model 727 as their primary weapon, fitted with various accessories such as Aimpoint red dot scopes and SureFire 660 flashlights, also some of the carbines have desert tan camouflage paint schemes. Delta Staff Sergeant Daniel Busch (Richard Tyson), Sergeant First Class Norm "Hoot" Gibson (Eric Bana), Master Sergeant Chris Wex (Kim Coates), and SFC Jeff Sanderson (William Fichtner) all carry the Model 727.
In real life, the older Colt Model 653 and Colt Model 723 would have been the carbines used by Delta operators during Operation Gothic Serpent. The Colt Model 727 would have been more common amongst the Rangers and not Delta. In the film, most of the Model 727 carbines are also anachronistically equipped with Aimpoint CompM2 reflex sights (which was not available commercially until 17 March 1995, and later standardized into the SOPMOD kit in 2000). During Operation Gothic Serpent, some Delta operators and Rangers utilized the Aimpoint 3000 and 5000 reflex sights (which due to these optics being disconnected and rare would explain the extensive usage of the CompM2 scopes standing in for the older Aimpoint scopes during filming).
Various Delta Force operators and Army Rangers are armed with the short-barreled Colt Model 733. Some are standard 733s, while others are customized with camouflage paint schemes and Aimpoint scopes (similar to the aforementioned Model 727s). Some of the weapons have a XM177-style flash-hider instead of the standard barrel with A2 flash-hider. One particular Model 733 used by Delta MSG Gary Gordon (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) and later Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mike Durant (Ron Eldard) is heavily modified with a camouflage paint scheme, anachronistic Aimpoint CompM2 red-dot scope, weaponlight, and a sound suppressor.
In history, Gordon's carbine was actually a Colt Model 723 (like all other Deltas were using at the time) with an OPSINC suppressor sleeved over the barrel.
For several of the sequences that involved stuntwork, a number of non-firing rubber prop M4 Carbines are seen in the hands of the Delta operators. They are recognizable by the knobs on the carry handles which indicate that the carry handles are detachable, which is the distinguishing visual feature of the M4. The use of these weapons - even in rubber prop form - is anachronistic as the M4 Carbine was not adopted by the U.S. military (not even U.S. SOCOM) until 1994, the year after the events of the film took place.
NOTE: While prototype models of the M4 existed at the time of Operation Gothic Serpent, and conceivably might have been available to Delta, all prototype models of the M4 used fixed carry handle upper receiver assemblies. Further, when the M4 entered service in 1994, the initial standard was the Colt Model 777, which had a fixed carry handle. The flattop receiver Colt Model 920 and Model 921 - two Colt carbines which eventually became standardized as the M4 and M4A1, respectively - neither existed nor entered service until 1995, after the initial purchase of Model 777s. Photographs of the events leading up to Operation Gothic Serpent, as well as research by enthusiasts, have confirmed that in fact Delta used Colt Model 653s and 723s during the operation - see the Colt Model 727 section above.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt M4 Carbine - 5.56x45mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingCaptain Mike Steele (Jason Isaacs) points out the fact that the selector switch on the carbine carried by SFC "Hoot" Gibson (Eric Bana) isn't set to "SAFE", who then replies "This is my safety" and bends his trigger finger. The selector switch appears to be molded into the receiver, making it likely this is actually a rubber stunt prop. (The book states Hoot had just cleared the chamber and pulled the trigger before inserting the magazine, making it unable to engage the safety due to the hammer being down.)Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Delta operator with a rubber stunt M4 Carbine.
Special
Error creating thumbnail: File missingA trio of actors portraying Delta operators on the set of Black Hawk Down. The operator on the right has one of the rubber stunt M4 Carbines. The one in the middle holds a camouflaged Model 733 with XM177-style flash-hider. While not obvious, the operator on the left has a Model 733 (the 11.5-inch barrel is visible in other images taken during the same series of photographs).
M16A2
Most of the Rangers, including SSG Matt Eversmann (Josh Hartnett), are armed with M16A2 Rifles. While defending the second Black Hawk crash site, SFC Randy Shughart (Johnny Strong) can be seen briefly using an M16A2, alongside his M14. Also, when CPT Steele (Jason Isaacs) tells SSG Eversmann that they have to secure the perimeter for the SAR chopper, the Ranger lying prone in the background appears to be working the forward assist on his M16A2.
It should be noted that Rangers weren't just issued the M16A2 during Operation Gothic Serpent - they also used the Colt Model 727, which was then sold commercially by Colt as the "M16A2 Carbine". Despite the film's portrayal of Delta Force using the M727, it is inaccurate as in reality they used Colt Model 653 and Colt Model 723 carbines; the Rangers would have used the M727 in selected roles such as NCOs, COs, or in the case of the film, radiomen and possibly medics.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM16A2 - 5.56x45mm NATOError creating thumbnail: File missingSSG Matt Eversmann (Josh Hartnett) leads his Ranger team, many armed with M16A2s.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSSG Eversmann firing his M16A2 at Somali militia as the Rangers make their way to the first Black Hawk crash site.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSGT Mike Goodale (Carmine Giovinazzo) fires his M16A2 while making his way to the first Black Hawk crash site.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSSG Eversmann fires his M16A2 during the rescue of SSG Busch. The pilot seen here is CWO Keith Jones, who was the pilot who rescued the real Busch during the actual event.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSGT Goodale (Carmine Giovinazzo) with his M16A2 as the Rangers and Deltas hold off the Somali militia.Error creating thumbnail: File missingDelta Force SFC Randy Shughart (Johnny Strong) switches between his M14 and an M16A2 as the Delta snipers defend their position at the second crash site. He must have found an M16A2 in the chopper because in Mike Durant's book "In the Company of Heroes" it says Shughart asked Durant if there were any weapons in the chopper.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThis is probably the only Ranger in the film fire bursts from his M16A2. Rangers are usually trained not to fire in bursts unless "they have a damn good reason", as quoted by several Drill Sergeants. However this instance may certainly qualify as a "damn good reason".
The M14 rifle is used by Delta Force Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart (Johnny Strong), most notably when he and MSG Gary Gordon (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) are covering the second crash site. His M14 has a camouflage paint scheme and an Aimpoint CompM2/M68 reflex sight.
Several M16A1 rifles are seen in the Somali arms dealer's shop and one militia member is seen loading up one. At one point, Rangers can be seen watching a scene of the film The Jerk where a madman is trying to shoot the protagonist using a scoped M16A1.
The local militia arm themselves with Heckler & Koch G3 rifles among many weapons. Both older variants and newer G3A3 variants are seen in the film. The older variants were previously ID'd as CETME Rifles, which is incorrect - The furniture, magazines, trigger housings and receivers are incorrect for CETMEs. The fixed rear sights, while generally associated with CETMEs, were also used on older-spec G3 rifles. The distinctive (and more commonly seen) H&K adjustable spindle/drum rear sight was only first introduced with the G3A3.
The vast majority of the Somali gunmen are armed with the Norinco Type 56-1 assault rifle, which is a Chinese derivative of the AKS-47/AKMS. They are identified by the hooded front sights, which only Chinese Kalashnikov rifles have. At one point, one of US soldiers can be seen removing the magazine from a discarded Type 56-1 and stuffing it in his empty pouch. Whether this was done to take back a souvenir or for some other reason is not known.
Mo'alim (Razaaq Adoti), the Somali militia leader, carries an AKS-74U as his weapon of choice, first seen picking it up and inspecting it before heading into battle, then firing a burst into the air to break up angry civilians attacking CWO3 Mike Durant (Ron Eldard) before announcing that he was to be taken alive as a prisoner.
Ranger Specialist Shawn Nelson (Ewen Bremner) can be seen carrying an M60 machine gun as his standard weapon. A vehicle-mounted M60 is also seen and fired from at least one of the Humvees in the extraction convoy. Some of the Somalis can be seen using this gun as well.
Several Rangers can be seen carrying FN Minimis throughout the film, standing in for the M249E1 SAW. It is also used by Specialist Lance Twombly (Tom Hardy) to accidentally deafen Nelson (Ewen Bremner) when he fires it too close to Nelson's head. The Minimis are also fitted with circular 200-round cloth ammo bags instead of hard plastic drums. At one point, a Somali shoots at Twombly and hits one of his ammo drums causing the ammo to cook off and burn him, though he's able to get rid of it before he's seriously harmed.
The Browning M2HB heavy machine gun is used by the US Army on their HMMWVs, the U.N. forces on their APCs, and the Somali militia on their technicals. The opening scene features Somali militiamen slaughtering a gathered crowd at the food distribution center with the powerful .50 cal.
The M85 heavy machine gun can be seen mounted in the Commander's cupola of M60A1 Patton tanks providing security at the soccer stadium being used as a base by the U.N. forces.
The MH-60 Black Hawks are armed with GE M134 Miniguns as doorguns. Pylon-mounted miniguns, mounted alongside 2.75" rockets, are seen as the armament of the AH-6 Little Birds. The Black Hawk and Little Bird helicopters were provided for the film by the US Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, and the weapons mounted are the actual armaments. One of the pilots seen in the film (Keith Jones) was a veteran of the actual battle.
One of the Somalis fires at Mike Durant's Black Hawk armed with a Zastava M72, a copy of the RPK light machine gun, identifiable by the stock and handguard design. Another Somali is seen providing suppressing fire at the Rangers and Delta operators with one when they try to reach the first Black Hawk crash site.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael "Mike" Durant (Ron Eldard), the MH-60 Black Hawk pilot of Super Six-Four, is armed with a Heckler & Koch MP5A3 with a "slimline" handguard and uses it to defend himself after he's shot down. Another MP5A3 is also picked up and used by SFC Randy Shughart (Johnny Strong) before being killed by the overwhelming militia. The MP5 was briefly issued to helicopter crews as a personal defense weapon (PDW), but was discontinued in this role when it was determined its 9x19mm ammo lacked sufficient stopping power against armor-wearing or drug-crazed enemies, as was the case in Somalia. In the book and real life, the weapons were actually MP5Ks. They were referred to as "Skinny Popper", a reference to the men's nickname for the Somalis.
While never used on screen, SFC Sanderson (William Fichtner) can be seen carrying a customized Remington 870 Express Magnum (standing in for an 870 Police Magnum) slung over his right shoulder. A pistol grip (minus the folding stock) is used in place of the full stock. This same setup is used on a short 870 by Charlie Sheen in the film Navy SEALs. In a deleted scene, SFC Sanderson uses the shotgun to blow the hinges on a door inside the target building. The tail end of this shot is still in the finished film, although if you haven't seen the deleted scene before it would be hard to spot. In the book, at least one of the Delta operators has an 870 Masterkey attached to his CAR-15.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingRemington 870 Police Magnum with folding stock - 12 Gauge. The one seen in the film lacked the folding stock.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSanderson with his Remington 870 Express Magnum slung over his back. Note the full-length barrel.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA close-up of Sanderson's 870. Also a good shot of an M733's barrel.Error creating thumbnail: File missingReceiver reads "Express Magnum" on Sanderson's 870. In real life, it would have been a sturdier Police Magnum, not the cheaper, "economy priced" Express Magnum, though both are visually identical. The Police Magnum is the same shotgun, but built from stronger materials and has slightly different finish.
Handguns
Colt M1911A1
The Colt M1911A1 pistol is used by the Delta operators as their sidearm of choice. The weapon is most notably seen in the hands of Gordon and Shughart as two Delta snipers attempt to secure the second crash site and are forced to draw their M1911A1 pistols as the overwhelming Somalis close in on them. Delta Force MSG Wex (Kim Coates) can be seen with an M1911A1 at the firing range near the beginning of the film.
A Somali militiaman uses a Tokarev TT-33 to kill SFC Shughart (Johnny Strong) at the second crash site. It should be noted that the militiaman fires 11 shots, which is 3 more than the TT-33's 8-round magazine.
The Beretta 92FS pistol (standing in for the Beretta M9) is seen a few times in the hands of Rangers and members of Lieutenant Colonel McKnight's (Tom Sizemore) convoy. Mainly it is seen in the hands of Maddox (Michael Roof) in the Humvee. McKnight himself carries his 92FS around as a proper means to defend himself. Twombly (Tom Hardy) also carries a 92FS as a sidearm to his FN Minimi. He never uses it and it is mostly seen in his holster.
The Russian-manufactured RPG-7 launcher appears as the weapon which brings down a pair of MH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. In one scene inspired by an actual event, a projectile from an RPG-7 strikes PVT Kowalewski (Brendan Sexton III), the driver of one of the M35 'deuce and a half' trucks in the convoy commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Danny McKnight (Tom Sizemore). The warhead fails to detonate, impaling the luckless soldier instead. At least one of the RPG-7s used in the film was a rare live and registered example owned by Movie Gun Services.
Along with the RPG-7s mentioned above, Chinese Norinco Type 69 RPG launchers are also used by the militia. The Type 69s seem to be loaded with PG-7VL rockets instead of the more commonly-seen PG-7VM rockets, distinguished by the larger warhead.
Ranger Lieutenant Tom DiTomasso (uncredited) can be seen taking out a "technical" with an M72A3 LAW. The M72A3 was a post-Vietnam War improved model of the M72, and the last variation used by the US Army. Upgrade models (up to M72A7) of the LAW are being used by the US Navy and USMC as recently as 2007, as well a variant is used by the Canadian Forces and other NATO nations in Afghanistan.
At one point, Aidid's militia begin to bombard the building the majority of the Rangers and Deltas have taken cover in with mortars and an SPG-9 recoilless rifle. A group of Deltas led by Hoot soon kill the gunners and then turn the SPG-9 against the militia, killing several with one shot. It's later destroyed by Hoot's team before they join Eversmann's team. Interestingly, according to the audio commentary on the DVD, this incident never happened and was made up for dramatic effect by the writers.
While the Cobray CM203 37mm Flare Launchers are fitted on most of the Rangers' M16A2 Rifles, a couple of actual M203 grenade launchers are also seen, the most notable of which is Specialist John Grimes (Ewan McGregor) who assists Delta operators in taking out a "technical" that has them pinned down, missing the first shot before destroying the vehicle with a second High-Explosive Dual-Purpose (HEDP) grenade from his M203.
While loading up for the assault, Hoot (Eric Bana) is seen taping up the pins and spoons on some M67 fragmentation hand grenades. SFC Sanderson (William Fichtner) is later seen throwing one into a window to take out a Somali who has the Rangers and Deltas pinned down.
There are several appearances of AN/M14 incendiary grenades; used by Delta operators to destroy sensitive equipment at both Black Hawk crash sites, as well as to destroy the SPG-9 recoilless rifle mentioned above once Hoot and his team are done with it. Another one can be seen lying on a table when Hoot is loading up.
