Battle for Haditha is a 2007 British drama film loosely based on the controversial Haditha killings of November 2005. The film was shot in Jordan in 2007, thus keeping an authentic feel with its Middle Eastern locations. The weapons were provided by a British armorer, Bapty & Co. of London, England. Directed by British film-maker Nick Broomfield, the film is shot from the perspectives of U.S. Marines, Iraqi insurgents and the Iraqi civilians caught in the crossfire.
The film stars former U.S. military personnel and Iraqi refugees in many of the main roles. Corporal Ramirez is played by Elliot Ruiz, a former U.S. Marine who was the youngest American serviceman in the Iraq War. Captain Sampson is played by Andrew McLaren, a former USMC sergeant and Iraq War veteran, and the platoon's Navy Corpsman, "Doc", is played by Thomas Hennessy, a former U.S. Navy chief petty officer.
The following weapons are featured in the film Battle for Haditha:
Beretta 92FS pistols (standing in for the U.S. military's Beretta M9) are used by some of the U.S. Marines during their raids. Strangely enough, when an angry mob calls for revenge on U.S. forces after they view an insurgent video about the civilian deaths caused by U.S. Marines, a Beretta 92FS is later seen being brandished by one of the angry Iraqis, when a Russian or Soviet handgun (such as a Stechkin APS or a Makarov PM) would be more appropriate. This may be because the movie's armorer did not have any Russian or Soviet handguns available at the time.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBeretta 92FS (9x19mm)Error creating thumbnail: File missingA U.S. Marine (third from left) holds a Beretta 92FS while practicing room-clearing techniques. Note that he maintains proper trigger discipline; his finger is off the trigger.Error creating thumbnail: File missingStrangely enough, an Iraqi is seen waving around a Beretta 92FS while an angry mob shouts slogans, when a Russian or Soviet handgun (such as a Stechkin APS or a Makarov PM) would be more appropriate. This may be because the movie's armorer did not have any Russian or Soviet handguns available at the time.
Rifles
M16A2
Corporal Ramirez (Elliot Ruiz) uses a M16A2, modified with a foregrip and front rail system (standing in for the M16A4 MWS), as his main weapon. Other U.S. Marines use M16A2s with ACOG sights attached to the carry handle and vertical foregrips and tactical flashlights mounted on A2-style handguards. Strangely, M16A2s are also seen being wielded by angry Iraqis in the aftermath of the killings; this may be because the movie's armorers may not have had enough AK-47 derivatives on hand.
Some U.S. Marines in the movie, including Sergeant Ross (Eric Mehalacopoulos) carry Colt Model 727s with foregrips and ACOG sights attached to the carry handles. Some of the Colt Model 727s also have front rail systems, standing in for the U.S. military's M4A1 MWS.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt Model 727 "M16A2 carbine" (5.56x45mm)Error creating thumbnail: File missingA U.S. Marine holds an M727 while standing watch at a Forward Operating Base guard tower. Note the watch cap underneath his helmet, which is common practice among U.S. Marines.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA U.S. Marine (third from the left) holds an M727 while training.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSergeant Ross relaxes and uses his M727 as an air guitar while listening to rock music and back at the base. To resemble the M4A1 MWS, his M727 is equipped with a front rail system, vertical foregrip, and tactical flashlight.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA U.S. Marine shouts "Reloading!" as he reloads his Colt Model 727 after the IED attack.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Colt Model 727 is seen slung over the back of a U.S. Marine (in the middle) who is seen evacuating casualties from the IED attack onto a MEDEVAC helo.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA U.S. Marine keeps his M727 aimed at an Iraqi woman (off-screen) who is crying over the body of her deceased loved one (who was shot and killed by U.S. forces), as he covers Corporal Ramirez.
Norinco Type 56-1
Former Iraqi Army officer-turned-insurgent Ahmad (Falah Falyeh) and his partner Jafar (Oliver Bytrus) fire Norinco Type 56-1 rifles while making their escape after destroying a USMC humvee with an IED. Iraqi civilians and Iraqi Army soldiers are also seen with Type 56s at various points in the film.
In one scene Cpl. Ramirez examines a FN C9 light machine gun (standing in for the M249 SAW) with a fixed stock, distinguishable by its open sights. The C9 is also seen when U.S. Marines are practicing room-clearing techniques.
Browning M2HB heavy machine guns are mounted on USMC humvees. Note that none of them have any ammunition loaded throughout the movie; this is probably due to the fact that most of the movie's scenes involving M2HBs were shot in crowded public areas, and thus were not loaded, for safety issues, or the film armorer just did not have any ammunition available.
All of the Iraqi Army soldiers in the film are seen wearing the "three-color" DCU uniform, although in the time period that the movie takes place in (late 2005), the Iraqi military wore the "chocolate-chip" DBDU uniform.
All of the U.S. Marines are wearing PASGT helmets, although in the time period that the movie takes place in (late 2005), the PASGT helmet had largely been replaced by the LWH helmet for frontline USMC personnel.
