U-571 is a 2000 WWII military thriller starring Matthew McConaughey as a US Navy lieutenant who finds himself unexpectedly commanding a stolen German U-Boat while on a secret mission to capture a enemy coding machine known as the Enigma. Directed by Jonathan Mostow and co-written by David Ayer, the film encountered controversy for its dramatic license regarding the actual events surrounding the capture of the machine. The cast included Harvey Keitel, David Keith, and Bill Paxton.
The following weapons were used in the film U-571:
The M1911A1 is the standard issue sidearm of the US sailors in the film and it's seen predominantly in the hands or holsters of Lieutenant Andrew Tyler (Matthew McConaughey) and Chief Petty Officer Henry Klough (Harvey Keitel). Kapitänleutnant Gunther Wassner (Thomas Kretschmann) also gets his hands on a M1911A1 onboard the U-571. Seaman Anthony Mazzola (Erik Palladino) also handles a M1911A1 during the scuffle with him and Wassner.
The Thompson M1928A1 is used by several of the sailors when commandeering the U-571. Interestingly, the Thompsons featured in the film have the buttstocks removed, and have chopped folding stocks taken from M1A1 Carbine Paratrooper installed. Though this is historically 'possible' there is no evidence of this being done during WWII. This would make sense as the full stock of the Thompson wouldn't be practical for combat in the confined space of a U-Boat
During the raid on U-571, a sailor is briefly seen wielding an M1A1 Thompson modified with a folding stock and a compensator. It is identifiable by it's side mounted bolt.
Kapitänleutnant Gunther Wassner (Thomas Kretschmann) uses a Walther P38 as his sidearm in the film. When the US sailors try to take control of the U-Boat, Wassner is seen firing his sidearm at the Yankees. A couple of other German crewmen also use the Walther P38 inside the U-571.
