Battle: Los Angeles (which was also released under the title World Invasion: Battle Los Angeles) is a 2011 science fiction war film directed by Jonathan Liebesman and produced by Columbia Pictures. A poorly-received videogame adaptation of the movie, developed by Saber Interactive and published by Konami, was also released together with the film. The film stars Aaron Eckhart as Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz, a Marine on the verge of retirement and whose actions in battle start to cause concern among some of the men under his command; however, this is interrupted when the titular battle begins as a meteor shower turns out to be the first phase of an alien invasion. The film was made with the cooperation of the US Department of Defense and the United States Marine Corps, who supplied the production with authentic armor and aircraft. The events of the film are supposed to be tied into the "Battle of Los Angeles", an event in early 1942 when the US military opened fire on what were thought to be Japanese aircraft over the city; the "Battle" turned out to be a false alarm, though some believe the antiaircraft batteries were firing at alien spacecraft (an incident that also loosely inspired the 1979 Steven Spielberg film 1941). The film's cast includes Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, and Michael Peña.
The following weapons were used in the film Battle: Los Angeles:
Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) is notably seen firing a Beretta 92FS (used as the substitute for the Military M9) pistol at the alien soldiers during the final battle. In a continuity error, he is seen first firing the handgun and then in the next scene he is actually seen drawing the handgun. A Marine is also seen drawing one out during the first encounter of the alien soldiers.
The M4A1 Carbine is one of the main weapons utilized by the U.S. Armed Forces in the film. The M4A1 is seen in the hands of members of the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines including Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) and Second Lieutenant William Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez). USAF Technical Sergeant Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez) is also seen with an M4. The Marines' M4A1 carbines are fitted with ACOG scopes, RIS foregrips, Surefire Universal weaponlights, and most interestingly, AN/PEQ-15 laser designators; an improved, compact version of the AN/PEQ-2 system first employed in the early 2000's. In several scenes, bayonets are seen fixed on the M4s (which appear to be OKC-3S bayonets, adopted by the Marines to replace the M9 bayonet). The M4s are also all equipped with what appear to be Magpul Back Up Sights (MBUS) though these are never actually used. While training on Camp Pendelton the M4s are seen with EOtech Holographic sights. According to the Instagram account of XTreme Props, which provided the weapons and military props for the film, the M4s in this movie (notably, the carbine used by Santos) are actually mostly built on Desert Ordnance lower receiver groups.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn M4 Carbine (5.56x45mm) from Battle: Los Angeles; the weapon pictured here is the actual screen-used M4 used by Aaron Eckhart in the film, as it appeared on the Instagram account of XTreme Props, which supplied the weapons in the film. Note that the M4 features a number of accessories not issued in the USMC, including a Surefire RIS (as opposed to the issue Knight's Armament RAS), a TangoDown vertical grip (as opposed to the issue Knight's Armament "Broomhandle"), and a Magpul MBUS rear sight (the USMC issues Knight's Armament and MaTech BUIS).Error creating thumbnail: File missingBehind Staff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart), an M4A1 carbine can be seen on the right being carried by Technical Sergeant Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez) in a production still.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSeveral Marines are seen armed with M4A1 carbines. Note that this is the only inclusion of the MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor in the entire movie. Although the Osprey was supposed to be phase out the CH-46E Sea Knight, most units, especially the ones stationed in the West Coast, are still equipped with the Sea Knights.Error creating thumbnail: File missingStaff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) raises his M4A1 carbine fitted with an ACOG scope and the AN/PEQ-15 laser designator, an improved, compact version of the AN/PEQ-2 system first employed in the early 2000's.Error creating thumbnail: File missingStaff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) fires his M4A1 carbine.Error creating thumbnail: File missing2nd Lieutenant William Martinez (Ramon Rodriguez) fires his M4A1.Error creating thumbnail: File missingStaff Sergeant Michael Nantz (Aaron Eckhart) is seen with his M4A1 carbine slung by his side as he throws an M67 grenade towards a gas station in an attempt to lure the enemy unmanned gunship. Note the Resistance 3 billboard in the background.Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt M4A1 Carbine with 6 position collapsible stock - 5.56x45mm. Note slight difference in shape of stock compared to older model M4.Error creating thumbnail: File missingTechnical Sergeant Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez) aims her M4A1 carbine. Note that she is the only one who is seen with a M4A1 that uses the standard handguard instead of the RIS rails handguard.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSantos uses the bayonet on an alien soldier. The bayonet appears to be the Marine Corps OKC-3S bayonet which incorrect for Santos to use as Airmen use the M9 Bayonet.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSantos with her M4A1 that has the OKC-3S bayonet (as seen by the oval EGA logo on the grip) fixed on the barrel.
M16A4
The M16A4 is carried by various Marines fitted with ACOG scopes (both TA31F and TA31RCO models in Larue Precision mounts), RIS foregrips, Surefire flashlights mounted in Viking Tactics mounts, Viking Tactics rifle slings, Magpul MBUS rear sights, and AN/PEQ-15 IR designators. Soldiers of the 40th Infantry Division (Californian Army National Guard) are also armed with M16A4s, but without the AN/PEQ-15s. Joe Rincon (Michael Peña) is seen using the M16A4 as well.
The full-length E2 model of the M249 SAW with long barrel and fixed synthetic buttstock is carried by U.S. Marines, most notably by Cpl. Nick Stavrou (Gino Anthony Pesi) and LCpl. Corey Simmons (Taylor Handley) fitted with Trijicon ACOG scopes.
At least two E3 Paratrooper models of the M249 SAW with M4-style collapsible buttstocks and plastic belt box can be seen carried by U.S. Marines while they're boarding the helicopters at Camp Pendleton.
Several models of the M240 machine gun are seen used in the film. The "D" model of the M240 machine gun is visible on the ramp of the U.S.M.C. CH-46 Sea Knight carrying Nance's Marines as well as on the UH-1 Huey helicopter sent to retrieve the Marines at the police station. The M240B is seen mounted on Marine LAV's and can briefly be seen being carried by a Marine. Nantz is seen manning the M240B when the Marines commandeer an LAV. Also, the coaxial-mounted version M240C is utilized by the LAV-25 and an M1A1 Abrams tank.
The Browning M2HB is seen mounted on various Marine Humvees as well as in a machine gun nest at the Santa Monica Airport. Cpl. Jason Lockett (Cory Hardrict) is seen using a Humvee's M2 to fire at alien soldiers on an overpass. The M2HB is also seen mounted on an M1A1 Abrams tank and on AAVP7A1 amphibious APCs in news footage.
When Nantz meets Lt. Martinez, several Marines can be seen mounting a Browning M3 at the side of a UH-1N Huey helicopter at MCAS Camp Pendleton (in a continuity error, they are seen mounting the machine gun twice).
When the Marines are scrambled to counter the invasion, two A-10A Thunderbolt IIs can be seen sitting on the tarmac, complete with their General Electric GAU-8/A Avenger cannons.
The Mk 19 grenade launcher is briefly seen mounted on a Marine Humvee when Nantz and his squad first take the streets in Santa Monica. Mk 19s can also be seen in the mini-turrets of USMC AAVP7A1 amphibious transports in news footage earlier in the movie.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMk 19 grenade launcher 40mm in vehicle mountingError creating thumbnail: File missingAs the Marines open the armory an AAVP7A1 can briefly be seen on television, armed with a Browning M2HB and Mk 19 grenade launcher in the mini-turret.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe Mk 19 grenade launcher is briefly seen mounted on a Marine Humvee (on the left) when Nantz and his squad first take the streets in Santa Monica.
Other
M203 Grenade Launcher
The standard length M203 grenade launcher is seen mounted on some U.S. Marines M16A4s.
The M203A1 grenade launcher is seen used by several U.S. Marines as well mounted on the M4A1 carbines, most notably Cpl. Jason Lockett (Cory Hardrict) and Cpl. Lee Imlay (Will Rothhaar) where the latter is seen using his M203A1 to detonate an explosive during the final battle.
One of the Marines is seen carrying the M136 AT4 after acquiring it from the wreckage of the FOB. Technical Sergeant Elena Santos (Michelle Rodriguez) uses it in the battle to destroy an alien drone. The sound editing crew seems to the treat the AT4 as a guided weapon, judging by the squealing lock-on tone heard before firing, despite the fact that Santos was actually aiming at the drone's flight path rather than the drone itself.
During the battle on the highway, Marines are seen hiding M112 C4 demolition charges in wrecked vehicles as the aliens advance. While obviously no movie would have actors handling actual plastic explosive charges, the prop charges emulate the lettering of the real thing.
