What appears to be infantrymen is seen manning the Browning M2HB .50 caliber machine guns on the M113 armored personel carriers (actually British FV432 APCs) in downtown Los Angeles.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBrowning M2HB .50 BMGError creating thumbnail: File missingRather inaccurately, a soldier in infantry uniform mans the Browning M2HB .50 caliber machine guns on the FV432 APC - .50 BMG. Note the bizarre ad-hoc mounting bracket necessary to do this: the FV432's normal hatch weapon is an L7 GPMG, an FN MAG derivative, and so the standard hatch mounting bracket would be useless.Error creating thumbnail: File missingBrowning .50 Cal gunners unload with their fifty cal machine guns - .50 BMG. The soldier here is wearing armor and the BDU of an infantryman and not of a Combat Vehicle Crewman (CVC) (who should be manning the guns).Error creating thumbnail: File missingA front shot of the fireball from the .50 cal blanks.
M4A1 Carbine
In the film's opening, a SWAT team runs to the Dragon cave, mostly armed with flat top M4A1 Carbines with Aimpoint sights.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM4A1 5.56mm with M68 Aimpoint scope and RIS foregripError creating thumbnail: File missingEarly on a SWAT team runs to the Dragon cave, mostly armed with flat top M4 Carbines with Aimpoint sights - 5.56mmError creating thumbnail: File missingMechanized Infantry gets into position in front of an APC, with their M4 flat top carbines with M68 Aimpoint sights.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn the carnage of the first failed assault on the Dragon Lair, the surviving SWAT team members fire their M4 Carbines at the approaching Dragon soldiers.Error creating thumbnail: File missingWhat is interesting is that the M4s have the correct A2 flash hiders (the starburst doesn't go all the way around), which is rare in motion pictures. Usually all blank adapted firearms with birdcage flash hiders have the M16A1 version, to create that beautiful full starburst pattern with their full hot blanks.
M16A1 Rifle
Some M16A1s with A2 handguards are used by U.S. Soldiers in firing sequences. However, during non firing sequences, they seem to have the modified MGC Replica M16s that have been upgraded with A2 handguards, A1 style flash hiders and 30 round magazines (just like the ones used by the Congressionals in the film Barb Wire).
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWhat appears to be a Korean stuntman dressed as a police officer, fires his unknown revolver before being crushed by a flying car. The police car is a Daewoo, and not a standard police car used in the U.S.
Despite what the critics say, there is an impressive (if unsuccessful) defense of Los Angeles by a slew of U.S. Armored Vehicles; most of these vehicles are played by more easily available British stand-ins belonging to a movie rental company called Army Trucks Inc. The tanks are Chieftain tanks visually modified to pass as M1A1 Abrams, as also seen in many other movies such as Jarhead and Cloverfield, while the M113 APCs are played by FV432 APCs. It seems only two real tanks were present, with CGI trickery used to create the remainder of the column.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingArmored Vehicles drive into the financial district of Los Angeles.Error creating thumbnail: File missingImpressive lineup of U.S. Armored vehicles driving downtown. The two front tanks are easily identified as Army Trucks Inc's Chieftain-chassis fake Abrams, while the ones further back appear to be CG fakes; note that unlike the tanks ahead they do not have a raised lip on the glacis plate, and the shape of their hull front is more correct for an Abrams. Note also that none of the rear tanks are obscured by the exhaust smoke of the pair in front.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"M1A1" tank with their gunners roll towards their doom...
Military Helicopters
The CGI helicopters are actually quite good in the film. The Battle over the skies of Los Angeles, though illogical at times, is a nice and high end CGI sequence.
