Hamburger Hill is a 1987 war film that was a competing 'Nam movie to Platoon. This film was released in August of 1987, only a few weeks following the release of Full Metal Jacket and only a few months following Platoon's Academy Award win for Best Picture. As a result of this, there were invariably many comparisons to these other bigger budget films, however, Hamburger Hill did not achieve the same success as Platoon, however it did respectably at the box office.
Since Hollywood does everything in groups, Hamburger Hill was part of a slew of Vietnam War-themed movies released in the mid-1980s. Uncommon Valor (1983) was one of the early successes of these strings of movies, but generally these films were either critically acclaimed "A-list" movies, like Platoon (1986) or low budget "B action films" like Missing in Action (1984).
Hamburger Hill refers to the infamous 'Hill 937' in the A Shau Valley , Thua Thien province, which was a major point of supply by the enemy from the north. At the north end of the A Shau Valley was a major North Vietnamese Army (NVA) staging area known as Base Area 611. Hill 937 is so named because the number lists the number of meters 'above sea level'. (Hills with identical heights are given additional name identifiers, but there were few hills that had the exact same height in Vietnam. )
Though the film shows a majority of the platoon being killed in the ascent to the summit, the 101st Airborne actually suffered 4% KIA during the 10 day assault. It is interesting to note that many motion pictures depict much greater casualties than actually occurred during an historical battle (Gallipoli is a stark example).
The following weapons were used in the film Hamburger Hill:
The majority of the 101st Airborne troopers in the film carry mockups of XM16E1 Rifles, the interim variant of the M16 rifle which combined the 3 prong flash hider with the A1-style upper receiver. In reality, the 101st AB, at this stage of the war, did NOT carry the XM16E1, but had the M16A1 with birdcage flash hider, a fact pointed out by Hamburger Hill Veterans when the film was released. The rifles, while featuring the older flash hiders, have full magazine fences, which were not on actual XM16E1s, but rather on later M16A1s.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMockup of an XM16E1 rifle with 20 round magazine - 5.56x45mm. What distinguishes it from the original M16 was the addition of the forward assist button and a chrome bolt carrier (which was later dropped with the M16A1). This can be identified as a mockup by its full magazine fence and strengthened front pivot point, neither of which appeared on the actual XM16E1.Error creating thumbnail: File missingPvt. Ray Motown (Michael Patrick Boatman) firing his M16A1 during the opening battle. Motown and other soldiers are constantly seen having to "clear" jammed shells out of their rifles.Error creating thumbnail: File missingDuring the 101st Airborne's first battle seen in the film, all combatants are carrying XM16E1 rifles, including Sfc. Worcester (Steven Weber) on the left and Sgt. Franz (Dylan McDermott), who has his mags taped together jungle-style.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAt the right, Sgt. Franz (Dylan McDermott) oversees an evac of his platoon onto UH-1D Helicopters. He carries an XM16E1 Rifle.Error creating thumbnail: File missingLeft to right: Washburn (Don Cheadle), Bienstock (Tommy Swerdlow), and Galvan (Michael A. Nickles) have a laugh at Languilli's (Anthony Barrile) expense. The three pronged flash hider on their XM16E1 rifles are clearly shown here.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Franz (Dylan McDermott) sits atop his 'hooch' with his XM16E1, enjoying the sunshine - 5.56mmError creating thumbnail: File missingPvt. Murphy (Michael Dolan) opens fire with the M16A1.
MGC Replica M16
Soldiers in the beginning of the film have ModelGun Corp replica MGC M16s slung to their backs as they load wounded onto helicopters. One of the giveaways is the 'blued' 20 round magazine (the real 20 round magazine is anodyzed aluminum), the shape of the pistol grip and the rear sling swivel. The most obvious detail is not seen here, the fake forward assist of the replica rifle.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe MGC M16 Assault rifle: a non firing metal replica built by the Model Gun Corp of Japan and one of the most used non firing replicas of the M16 in movies and television.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSoldiers of the 101st carry wounded with MGC M16 Replica rifles slung to their backs.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSoldiers of the 101st with MGC M16 Replica rifles slung to their backs carry wounded men to the evac helicopters.
AK-47
Some of the NVA troops are seen carrying carrying standard AK-47-style rifles throughout the film.
Other than the milled receiver AK-47s (which are probably Poly-Technology Legend series rifles), there are obvious stamped receiver Norinco Type 56 style AK rifles with underfolder spike bayonets (aka "PigSticker". This variant has a stamped receiver, the version in the film has a milled receiver.)
Error creating thumbnail: File missingNorinco Type 56 (fixed stock variant) with under-folding bayonet ("pig sticker") which was standard on PLA-issue Type 56s - 7.62x39mmError creating thumbnail: File missingPvt. Joe Beletsky (Tim Quill) takes a Type 56 Assault rifle from a dead NVA - 7.62x39mm. Note the extended 'israeli style' screw on blank adapter.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA montage of Pvt. Joe Beletsky (Tim Quill) with his Type 56 Assault rifle during the final assault for Hill 937.Error creating thumbnail: File missingNVA hides in the tunnel - Type 56 rifles mixed in with Milled receiver AK-47 rifles. Note the weird kid on the right, sitting in exactly the same position, with exactly the same expression every time the NVA takes cover ;)Error creating thumbnail: File missingFlanking the M60 gunner are NVA soldiers with Type 56 rifles - 7.62x39mm. In the 1980s many of the AK47 blanks had heavy doses of black powder, which made these huge clouds of smoke when they fired, which is not at all close to the real thing.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn NVA soldier pops out of his tunnel with a Type 56 Rifle - 7.62x39mm
SKS/Type 56 Carbine
The Chinese variant of the Russian SKS, the Type 56 Carbine with spike bayonet, is used by the NVA combatants in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingChinese Type 56 Carbine with spike bayonet - 7.62x39mm.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAn NVA soldier is killed after wounding Duffy (Harry O'Reilly) in the arm during a battle. The Soldier holds the Chinese Type 56 Carbine with spike bayonet - 7.62x39mm.Error creating thumbnail: File missingNVA soldier bayonets Sgt. Franz (Dylan McDermott) in his side during the final battle - 7.62x39mmError creating thumbnail: File missingA montage of the scene where the NVA soldier shoots Gaigin and Doc with his Type 56 Carbine (SKS). This is particularly hard to see due to the heavy rainfall and dense smoke of the scene. The rear sight is flipped up, most likely occurring when the rifle snags on debris as the man crawls back and forth from his hole. The sight cannot be used in this manner for any sort of aimed fire, so he is purely pointing and shooting.Error creating thumbnail: File missingNVA soldier with a Type 56 Carbine (SKS) fires next to an NVA using a Type 56 Assault Rifle (AK47) - 7.62x39mm
Machine Guns
M60
The M60 is first seen used by Duffy (Harry O'Reilly) and then by both Gaigin (Daniel O'Shea) and Bienstock (Tommy Swerlow). NVA forces are also seen using the M60 in defense of the hill. This is not somewhat inaccurate as Viet Cong used captured American weapons, and some could have easily have found their way into the NVA arsenal as well.
Browning M2HB machine guns are seen in the distance on some of the perimeter shots of the base camps and mounted on M113 APCs.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBrowning M2HB - .50 BMGError creating thumbnail: File missingAn M113 APC rolls by with soldiers 'grabbing a ride'. An Browning M2HB is seen mounted on the front. Contrary to what is depicted in the film, soldiers riding vehicles were supposed to wear their M55 or M68 flak jackets, even though they were not bulletproof, they protected against grenade or bomb fragments, including roadside mines and boobytraps. Only in close quarters battle where quick movement trumped ballistic protection, did the soldiers ditch their flak vests.
When Sgt. Frantz (Dylan McDermott) is lecturing the new members of the platoon, he uses a former NVA crossover (a participant in the Chieu_Hoi program [1]) named "Han" to demonstrate how 'not paying attention' will get them killed. Han is 'armed' with a long empty tube made to resemble an RPG launcher of sorts (most likely the RPG-2, given the single pistol grip and the prevalence of the weapon in Vietnam). It has a dud Warhead on it. "Han" demonstrates his skill and ability by avoiding the noisemakers, trip wire and barbed wire of the perimeter to get within striking distance of the G.I.s
Some of the Airborne soldiers are seen carrying M72 LAW rockets, but not seen used. Since the enemy at this stage had no armor to defeat, the M72 LAW rockets were used primarily as 'bunker busters', though they are not effective against soft earth targets like the tunnel entrances on Hill 937.
The M1911A1 was standard issue in the Black leather holster of officers and NCOs, however, the handgun is only seen holstered and not seen fired. (Note: I am not 100% sure but I caught no instance of the M1911 used in combat in the film MPM)
Grenades
M26 Fragmentation Grenade
A variety of 'lemon grenades' are seen on soldier's web gear throughout the film. They are often seen from a distance on webbing or in men's hands as they are thrown. In real life they are supposed to be M61 Grenades (virtually identical to the M26A1 lemon grenades most associated with Vietnam), however, these have a slightly unusual shape, implying that they are some sort of 'trainer' grenade that is not often used to impersonate the M26/M61 series of grenades.
Throughout the film, the enemy uses [[what appear to be Chinese Type 67 stick grenades. These weapons typically were an oval pineapple-style grenade attached to the top of a short wooden stick and noticeably shorter than the famous German Stielhandgranate of World War II vintage.
An M41 Walker Bulldog tank can be seen parked in a field during a visit to a rear area, away from the fighting. The fact that this tank has U.S. Armored Division markings is a bit of an anachronism, since the M41 was only supplied to the ARVN and was an obsolete tank for U.S. Forces. In fact, the M41 was perfect for the ARVN Armored units, since its interior was too small for tall "American" tank crews but perfect sized for the small statured Vietnamese tankers. The Bulldog's secondary armament was one Browning M2HB .50 Cal machine gun and an .30 Cal Machine gun
