The M16A1 assault rifle are used by the soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division including Lt. Colonel Hal Moore(Mel Gibson). Later on the film during the Ia Drang battle Joe Galloway (Barry Pepper) uses one as well. They have the M16 "duckbill" flash suppresor to make them look like the first model M16.
The use of the M16A1 in the film is a anachronism, since the M16A1 wasn´t issued to the US Military untill 1967 while the Battle of Ia Drang takes place in 1965.
A Korean war era M1 Carbine is carried by the South Vietnamese (ARVN) advisor dressed in Tigerstripe fatigues. He appears in the scene in which the NVA scout is caught and interrogated.
A Colt M1911A1 is fired by Sgt. Maj. Basil Plumley (Sam Elliott) during a close combat sequence and is also seen in the holsters of his fellow soldiers.
The NVA weapons in this movie are of the basic types one will usually see in Vietnam movies on the /NVA/Vietnminh/Vietcong - side. In the beginning when the Viet Minh troops attack the French forces, several SKS (or possibly Chinese copies of them) rifles and as well as examples of the PPS-43, PPSh-41, M1 Carbine, Mosin-Nagant M44 and a ZB-26 light machine gun . The opening scene also features an AT weapon of some sort, which would appear to be an M20 "Super Bazooka"(Note: Most definitely NOT an M20 Super Bazooka, the front end is completely different).'*It seems to be an M1 Bazooka instead* '. Later on in the movie standard AK-47's (or possibly cloned Chinese Type-56 assault rifles)and RPG-2s can be seen in addition to the SKS's. In the climax of the film, the NVA are also seen with a DShK heavy machine gun and German-made MG34 machine gun at the ready, as well as brief glimpses of a DP-1928 and RPD.
File:AKtype56 WWS.JPGNorth Vietnamese soldiers firing AK-47s, indicated by the milled receiverFile:M20 Bazooka WWS.JPGThe Vietminh AT weapon at the start of movie. Model and type to be determined.*Seems to be a M1 Bazooka*
The .38 caliber revolver pulled out by Maj. Bruce "Snake S!@#" Crandall (Greg Kinnear) is most likely a Smith & Wesson M-13 Aircrewman, an unsuccessful lightweight aluminium-cylindered revolver designed for US military flyers.
A pair each of GE M134 Miniguns are seen mounted on the gunship Hueys at the climax of the film, and one is also on display on a table in the beginning of the movie.
As the American soldiers are heading off for battle you can see a South Vietnamese soldier holding up an M1928/M1928A1 Thompson with a 30 round magazine and a horizontal foregrip
Two Browning M1919A4s can be seen mounted on French jeeps on the intro sequence.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingA variant of the Browning M1919 developed during World War 2, this model is designated the M37, with the ability to feed from either the left or the right of the weapon - 30-06. This example is shown without a tripod, only the pintle mount. This the MOST likely .30 cal machine gun to be seen firing from armored vehicles.File:Vlcsnap-30185.jpgA french soldier fires the Browning M1919A4 at Viet Minh forces.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe Browning M1919A4 can be seen mounted on the jeep on the left.
MAT-49
Various French Soldiers use MAT-49 submachine guns during the opening Scene. Various North Vietnam soldiers and Vietcong soldiers use them as well during the Battle of Ia Drang.
