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Courage Under Fire

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Courage Under Fire is a 1996 Gulf War film starring Denzel Washington as Lt. Col. Nathan Serling, a former Army tank commander who is assigned to the Medal of Honor review for Captain Karen Walden (Meg Ryan). Serling discovers that the incidents surrounding her sacrifice are remembered differently by the witnesses who were there and could put into question whether her actions would warrant the Medal of Honor. Directed by Edward Zwick (Glory), this movie was one of the first to depict the Gulf War in a feature film.

The following weapons were featured in the film Courage Under Fire:

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Courage Under Fire (1996)




Browning M2HB Heavy Machine Gun

In the opening scenes of the film, a formation of US M1 Abrams tanks under the command of Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) engages an Iraqi Republican Guard tank unit in a night battle at Al-Bathra during Operation Desert Storm. Colonel Serling at one point opens up on a group of Iraqi troops with the Browning M2HB heavy machine gun mounted on his M1A1 Abrams (in reality a mocked-up Former Australian Army Centurion tank). One notable goof is that he fires the weapon manually despite all versions of the Abrams except the M1A2 (which wasn't in service during Desert Storm) having the .50 cal rigged to be fired from inside the turret. He also fails to use correct terminology when he engages the weapon, opening fire without saying anything instead of saying "Troops, caliber fifty!" and then firing.

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Browning M2HB .50 BMG in vehicle mounting
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Lt. Colonel Nathaniel Serling (Denzel Washington) opens up with a Browning M2HB heavy machine gun

M16A2 Rifle

One of the central weapons in the film is the M16A2 rifle. Its usage in the incident that lead to the death of Captain Karen Emma Walden (Meg Ryan) is the chief debate for determining whether the Captain would be posthumous awarded the Medal of Honor. M16A2 rifles can also be seen in the hands of other U.S. soldiers at U.S. bases during the film. The M16A2 in the film is also shown firing in sustained automatic bursts like an M16A3, despite the M16A3 being unavailable during the time of the Gulf War.

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M16A2 5.56x45mm
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Sergeant Steven Altameyer (Seth Gilliam) aims an M16A2 rifle at attacking Iraqi soldiers
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Sgt. Altameyer holds the M16A2.
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A wounded Captain Walden wields the M16A2 to cover the other crash survivors as they head for the rescue chopper
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Soldiers carry M16A2 rifles during training

FN C9 Light Machine Gun

Another prominent weapon in the film is an FN C9 light machine gun, a variant of the FN Minimi, fitted with a heat shield to resemble the M249 SAW. It can be identified as a C9 by the open front sights as opposed to the hooded front sights on the M249 and Minimi. It is used by Staff Sergeant John Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillips), who comes along on Captain Walden's medivac helicopter as a door gunner.

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FN C9 light machine gun 5.56x45mm
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SSGT. Monfriez fires the FN C9 from Captain Walden's chopper. The machine gun appears to be attached by bungee cord to the helicopter.
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SSGT. Monfriez brandishes his FN C9 during the standoff with Walden.
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A wounded Captain Walden lies with Monfriez's FN C9. You will note that there is a green 200 round drum attached indicating blank cartridges. A black drum would indicate live 4 ball 1 tracer (4B1T). Her Beretta is also visible.

Beretta 92FS

Several U.S. Army soldiers including Captain Walden (Meg Ryan) can be seen carrying Beretta 92FS pistols throughout the film. Serling's fellow tank commander Captain Boylar (Tim Ransom) is seen with a Beretta in his holster at the beginning of the film. Captain Walden uses hers during a standoff with Staff Sergeant Monfriez and Specialist Ilario (Matt Damon) is also seen with the Beretta during various retelling of the events.

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Beretta 92FS 9x19mm
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Captain Boylar (Tim Ransom) carries a Beretta 92FS in a crossdraw holster just before the battle at Al-Bathra
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Specialist Ilario (Matt Damon) holds his Beretta as he tends to his wounded comrade. In this version of events, he appears to be wearing Altameyer's helmet, as it has the Sergeant (E5) rank insignia on it instead of the Specialist (E4) insignia).
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Captain Walden (Meg Ryan) covers the other crash survivors with her Beretta 92FS as they head to the rescue chopper in one version of the account of her death.
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Captain Walden aims her Beretta 92FS at Monfriez during the standoff.

Heckler & Koch P2A1 Flare Pistol

At one point in the film, Captain Walden orders the chopper's auxiliary fuel bladder be dropped on an Iraqi tank and used as a makeshift firebomb, Staff Sergeant Monfriez using a Heckler & Koch P2A1 flare pistol to set off the bladder once it hits the tank.

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Heckler & Koch P2A1 flare pistol 26.5mm
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Staff Sergeant Monfriez aims the Heckler & Koch P2A1 flare pistol at the gasoline-soaked Iraqi tank

SIG-Sauer P220

At one point in the film, SSG Monfriez pulls a SIG-Sauer P220 on Serling while they are riding in Monfriez's car.

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SIG-Sauer P220 .45 ACP
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SSG Monfriez (Lou Diamond Phillips) holds Lt. Col. Serling at gunpoint with a SIG-Sauer P220
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Serling with the SIG in his face. It can be clearly seen here that the weapon is not ready to fire, as the hammer is not cocked, subsequently indicating that he has not racked the slide, putting a round in the chamber.

RPD Light Machine Gun

During the battle at Al-Bathra, some Iraqi Republican Guard soldiers can be seen armed with RPD light machine guns.

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RPD light machine gun 7.62x39mm
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An Iraqi soldier fires an RPD light machine gun

Norinco Type 56

During the scenes set in Iraq, Iraqi Republican Guard soldiers can be seen armed mostly with Norinco Type 56-series rifles, both the standard Type 56 and the folding-stock Type 56-1.

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Norinco Type 56 7.62x39mm
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Iraqi soldiers hold their Norinco Type 56 rifles over their head to signal their surrender
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Norinco Type 56-1 7.62x39mm
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An Iraqi soldier dies with his Norinco Type 56-1

Fake DShK Heavy Machine Gun

Several times during the film, Iraqi T-54 tanks can be seen fitted with DShK heavy machine guns mounted atop the turret is a mocked up M2 Browning HB. You can spot the mocked up Browning by the see through addition on the top cover.

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DShK heavy machine gun 12.7x109mm
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Browning M2HB .50 BMG in vehicle mounting
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A mocked up DShK heavy machine gun mounted on an Iraqi T-54 tank

M60 Machine Gun

During the battle at Al-Bathra, Col. Serling's tanks can be seen fitted with M60D machine guns (identifiable by the muzzle brake and front sight) at the Loader's hatch, standing in for the M240D machine guns mounted on real Abrams tanks. In another scene, soldiers are shown low-crawling under barbed wire while an M60 machine gun is fired over their heads.

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M60D machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO
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An M60D machine gun (right) mounted on an M1A1 Abrams tank
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M60 machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO
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A soldier fires an M60 machine gun over the heads of soldiers low-crawling under barbed wire

M1903A3 Springfield

In a couple scenes, soldiers can be seen marching and drilling using ceremonial M1903A3 Springfield rifles fitted with white slings and having the metal parts chromed.

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M1903A3 Springfield .30-06
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Soldiers marching with ceremonial M1903A3 Springfield rifles

General Dynamics M197 Vulcan

Seen chin-mounted on the AH-1 Cobras in the film is the three-barreled version of the GE M61 Vulcan, the General Dynamics M197 Vulcan.

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General Dynamics M197 Vulcan - 20mm.
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A pair of AH-1 Cobras armed with M197 Vulcans lay down suppressing fire on Iraqi soldiers

M18 Smoke Grenade

When friendly forces arrive to rescue the crash survivors, an M18 smoke grenade is used to mark their location. In most of the survivors' accounts of the events, the grenade is thrown by Sergeant Steven Altemeyer (Seth Gilliam), but in Specialist Ilario (Matt Damon)'s truthful account, he's the one who throws it.

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M18 smoke grenade
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Sgt. Steven Altemeyer pulls the pin on an M18 smoke grenade
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Specialist Ilario (Matt Damon) prepares to throw an M18 smoke grenade.