Generation Kill is a seven part Iraq War miniseries that premiered on HBO in the summer of 2008. The miniseries was based on the book of the same name, which was a chronicle of Rolling Stone writer Evan Wright's experiences being embedded with the Marines of the First Reconnaissance Battalion during the initial stages of the 2003 US invasion of Iraq. The series was produced by the creators of the HBO series The Wire.
The following weapons were featured in the miniseries Generation Kill:
The M4A1 Carbine is the main rifle used by the Marines of First Recon in the miniseries, including Corporal Josh Ray Person (James Ransone) and Sergeant Brad 'Iceman' Colbert (Alexander Skarsgård). The M4s seen in the series all have UTG full quad rails (as opposed to KAC rails, used by the real-life Recon Marines). Most of the Marines' M4s have no additional accessories, while the team leaders all have M4s fitted with M203 grenade launchers and AN/PAQ-4 infrared laser designators (in real life, the AN/PEQ-2 was used by the Recon Marines instead, which is why the show's dialogue makes reference to the PEQ-2 batteries). Sgt. Colbert's M4, which is the most unique of the M4 Carbines in the series, sports an AN/PVS-17 night sight (sometimes replaced with an ACOG scope), a M203 grenade launcher, UTG rail covers, PAQ-4 laser module, and an ERGO grip. Colbert appears to be the only Recon Marine whose M4 is fitted with optics, rather than the standard carry handle/iron sights. Sgt. Rudy Reyes carries an M4 with a UTG vertical foregrip and a PAC-4; he is the only Marine who isn't a team leader and gets a PAC-4, and also the only Marine whose M4 has a vertical foregrip. Also note that with the exception of some officers, First Recon are the only Marines to carry the M4A1 as standard issue; probably the result of a need for a lighter weapon that's easier to carry in cramped Humvees. It should also be noted that they are seen quoting and handling AAA batteries for their laser sights and night vision, when in reality, the AN/PAQ-4s and AN/PVS-7s use AA batteries.
In many scenes of the miniseries where no blank-firing weapons were required, the Classic Army M15A4 airsoft replicas of the M4 were substituted (as evidenced by the carry handle and white Armalite markings). The rifles are notably seen carried by members of Alpha Company in the miniseries.
The M16A2 is carried by numerous Marines, including Lt. Nathaniel Fick (Stark Sands),
Cpt. Bryan Patterson (Michael Kelly), and Hospital Corpsman Second Class Robert Timothy 'Doc' Bryan (Jonah Lotan). The M16A2 has been mostly phased out for the newer M16A4, but because the mini-series depicts the Invasion of Iraq in 2003, the M16A2 was the standard rifle of most Marine units at the time.
Norinco Type 56-1s constitute the majority of the AK-pattern rifles used by Iraqi soldiers, civilians and even American Marines, in particular one platoon commander, Captain Dave "Captain America" McGraw (Eric Nenninger). Whilst all of the Type 56-1 rifles in the series are of normal length, none are seen with the folding stock deployed.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingNorinco Type 56-1 (under-folding stock variant) - 7.62x39mmError creating thumbnail: File missing"Hey Captain Sir, where'd you get that nice-looking AK?" "Captain America" (Eric Nenninger) shows off the well-oiled Norinco Type 56-1 he's recovered to Cpl. Ray Person (James Ransone) in "The Cradle of Civilization" (Ep.2).Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn "The Cradle of Civilization" (Ep.2), "Captain America" fires his Type 56-1 at a SUV to "deny the enemy transportation", startling the Marines in his platoon. Notice how the actor keeps from flinching but uses the wrong eye.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIraqi forces fire their Type 56-1 rifles blindly at the Marines during the Battle of Al Gharraf in "The Cradle of Civilization" (Ep.2).Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn "Screwby" (Ep.3), as one of the Marines videotapes, "Captain America" picks up a Type 56-1 from a dead Iraqi soldier, adding to his collection of Kalashnikovs.Error creating thumbnail: File missing"FOLLOW MY TRACERS!" "Captain America" firing his Type 56-1 during the capture of the abandoned enemy airfield during "Screwby" (Ep.3). Trivia: In real life, Captain McGraw was known to prefer an East German MPi-KM rather than a Type 56, which he fired randomly and without warning during combat operations.Error creating thumbnail: File missingIraqi Freedom Fighters armed with Type 56-1 rifles roll up to Ash Shatrah in "Combat Jack" (Ep.4).
M40A1 sniper rifle
The M40A1 sniper rifle is used by Scout Sniper Sgt. Larry Shawn "Pappy" Patrick (Josh Barrett) to eliminate an enemy RPG team in "The Cradle of Civilization" (Ep.2). In "Bomb in the Garden" (Ep.7), a SEAL sniper team is seen engaging targets with the M40A1 from the factory office.
Note how the rifle scope and observation telescope have tape over the lens to reduce glint or flash.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn "Bomb in the Garden" (Ep.7), a SEAL sniper team is seen engaging targets with the M40A1 from the factory office.
Machine Guns
Browning M2HB
Several Browning M2HB machine guns are mounted on the Marines' Humvees, and are often used in conjunction with the Mk. 19 grenade launchers to assault Iraqi positions. In "Combat Jack" (Ep.4), a Browning M2HB mounted on an M3 tripod is used by the dug in Marines on watch.
Some of the Marines, notably Lance Corporal Trombley (Billy Lush), carry the paratrooper variant of the FN Minimi, fitted with a heat shield to pass for an M249 SAW Paratrooper throughout the series. The Minimi is also seen mounted on Marine UH-1 helicopter in "Stay Frosty" (Ep.6). The weapons are seen with both the straight carry handle of the Minimi, and the M249's angled carry handle.
The USMC version of the M240 Machine Gun, the M240G, is seen mounted to LAVs throughout the series. These machine guns were CG models, as the majority of the LAV's seen in the miniseries were created with digital effects.
The 25mm M242 Bushmaster chaingun is the main gun of the Marines' LAV-25 armored personnel carriers. The LAVs are seen firing their Bushmasters after the First Recon encounters enemy forces at the bridge. During the filming of the miniseries, the LAV's were practical vehicles made from plywood and sheet metal on a truck chassis. However, these mockups did not satisfy former 1st Recon Marine and miniseries' key technical adviser Eric Kocher, who insisted that they be replaced with CG models, at the cost of $240,000.
Marine AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters with its three-barreled version of the GE M61 Vulcan, the General Dynamics M197 Vulcan, is seen providing air support. The helicopters were CG models.
The M203 grenade launcher is usually carried by the Marine team leaders and officers, including Sergeant Brad Colbert and Lieutenant Nathaniel Fick. In "A Burning Dog" (Ep.5), Colbert uses his M203 to launch blue smoke grenades in an attempt to prevent accidental shootings at roadblocks. In one tragic scene, a smoke grenade is fired to only ricochet off the ground and strike the head of a civilian.
The Mk 19 grenade launcher is seen mounted on several of the Marines' Humvees including Sergeant Colbert's. Seen operated by several Marines including Cpl. Anthony "Manimal" Jacks (Rich McDonald), Cpl. Walt Hasser (Pawel Szajda) and Cpl. Garza and is often used to demolish enemy strong points throughout the miniseries.
RPG-7 launchers are used by some Iraqi Feyadeen during their attempts to attack the invading American forces. RPG's are also seen in the hands of Iraqi freedom fighters in "Combat Jack" (Ep.4).
In "Screwby" (Ep.3), when the Marines take the airfield, a Recoilless rifle sits beside captured Iraqi T-72 tanks. After the recon Marines successfully capture a strategic bridge in "A Burning Dog" (Ep.5), the surrendering Syrian irregulars can be seen abandoning Recoilless rifles and heavy mortars, which includes the Spg-9 Recoilless Rifle.
Remington 870 shotguns are seen being carried by Meesh (Nabil Elouahabi), the Marine Recon battalion's Iraqi translator, and Major Todd Eckloff (Benjamin Busch), the Battalion's executive officer.
M18A1 Claymores are mounted on the barricades as part of the Marine roadblock at Al-Hayy in "Combat Jack" (Ep.4).
M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mineError creating thumbnail: File missingCpl. Teren "T" Holsey (Sydney Hall) sets a claymore on some concertina wire at a roadblock in "Combat Jack" (Ep.4).Error creating thumbnail: File missingIn "Combat Jack" (Ep.4), Sgt. Leandro "Shady B" Baptista (Mike Figueroa) uses an M18A1 Claymore to give Portuguese lessons to Holsey.
