1968 Tunnel Rats is a 2008 Vietnam War film directed by infamous Uwe Boll. As typical for Uwe Boll films, there is a lot to criticize, though the film itself has mixed reviews (some reviewers actually think Boll is getting better). It appears that not a lot of thought was put into accurately portraying Vietnam War-era uniforms and gear for the film. Being filmed in South Africa (standing in for Vietnam), US soldiers wear green South African cotton uniforms (as seen in Red Scorpion in the guise of Russian and Cuban soldiers), their shoulder patches are bright and not subdued (subdued insignia was common by 1968) and the helmet covers are Woodland BDU, not the M59 "Vine Leaf / USMC reversible" pattern which is correct for Vietnam.
The following weapons were used in the film 1968 Tunnel Rats:
Error creating thumbnail: File missingColt Sporter II Carbine with 20-round magazine - 5.56x45mm. Colt model #R-6420. Colt still insisted on using the SP1 style lower receiver so any rifle that looks like this but has the ribbing around the magazine release button is not a Colt rifle. Variants of this rifle have both the round and tear drop forward assist buttons, however, most of the early years of production had the tear drop button, like this rifle in the image.Error creating thumbnail: File missingCpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel) holds a Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine as he greets the new arrivals.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Mike Heaney (Brad Schmidt) gives the order to saddle up while holding his Sporter Carbine.Error creating thumbnail: File missingSgt. Heaney aims his Sporter Carbine down a tunnel.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA US soldier fires his Sporter Carbine during the NVA attack.
M16
The original M16 rifles are carried by Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette) and other US soldiers during the chopper disembarkation at the beginning of the film. As with the other rifles in the film, M16s can be seen on occasion with anachronistic 30-round magazines.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingOriginal M16 - 5.56x45mm - the first model, firing in a 20-round magazine, adopted in large numbers by the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. This has the original 3-prong flash-hider. It would later be replaced by the upgraded M16A1.Error creating thumbnail: File missingPvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette) with an M16 during the chopper ride. This gives a good shot of the ALICE suspenders, that are used by many US soldiers in the film, and that are obviously wrong for the period depicted.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA US soldier hauling a body bag carries an M16.
M16A1/XM16E1
Most of the US soldiers carry the updated M16A1 as well as the earlier variant XM16E1 rifles, including Lt. Vic Hollowborn (Michael Paré), Pvt. Samuel Graybridge (Brandon Fobbs), Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette), Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker) and Pvt. Bob Miller (Jeffrey Christopher Todd).
Error creating thumbnail: File missingM16A1 with 20-round magazine - 5.56x45mm. What distinguishes it from the original M16 was the addition of a raised rib around the magazine release button, changing of the forward receiver pins, and the addition of the forward assist button on the upper receiver.Error creating thumbnail: File missingM16A1 with A2 style handguards - 5.56x45mm. Putting the distinctive A2 handguards on the older rifle was a method used by Film/TV armorers to simulate A2 rifles when M16A1s were the only ones available. The same thing has been done vice-versa, using M16A2s with A1 handguards for Vietnam War B films.Error creating thumbnail: File missingXM16E1 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).Error creating thumbnail: File missingPvt. Samuel Graybridge (Brandon Fobbs) on watch with his XM16E1.Error creating thumbnail: File missingLt. Vic Hollowborn (Michael Paré) fires an XM16E1 during the NVA attack on the US camp.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGraybridge fires at pursuing NVA soldiers in full-automatic mode.Error creating thumbnail: File missingPvt. Bob Miller (Jeffrey Christopher Todd) with his XM16E1.Error creating thumbnail: File missingMiller tries to clear a jam on his XM16E1.
M16A2
During the scene where a captured NVA soldier is hung, a US soldier can be seen with an anachronistic M16A2 rifle, identified by the heavy barrel. The M16A2 did not enter U.S. Army service until 1989.
NVA soldiers use what appear to be at first glance AK-47 rifles. However, based on their 5.56mm magazines and angled Valmet-style receiver design, these rifles are actually Vektor R5 rifles modified to resemble Kalashnikovs. Most of the NLF soldiers, including Vo Mai (Jane Le), Huy Tran (Scott Ly) and Nguyen Van Chien (John Wynn) use R5s modified to look like the AK-47s. Similar weapons have appeared in other films made in South Africa, such as District 9, Dangerous Ground or Chris Ryan's Strike Back.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingMosin Nagant M38 Carbine - 7.62x54mmR. This is the model issued during most of World War Two, the M44 would not be fielded until the last six months of the war. Note slightly shorter barrel, lack of brass reinforcements in the sling holes and lack of bayonet notch in the stock.Error creating thumbnail: File missingA Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine leans against a wall in Vo Mai's (Jane Le) dugout.Error creating thumbnail: File missingAnother shot of the M38 Carbine leans against the wall.
Machine Guns
M60
The M60 machine gun is used by Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker) and Pvt. Dean Garraty (Adrian Collins). A US soldier also uses one during the NVA attack on the base camp. Note that every operator fires it one-handed - a difficult feat.
A Browning M2HB is mounted in the camp perimeter. The gunner is killed before he can use it.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingBrowning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMGError creating thumbnail: File missingA US soldier loading a Browning M2HB in the background. Here you see, on the black soldier on the left, another equipment massively used in the film: the Webbing P58, that is BRITISH... one could expect that at least nationality, if not the model, would have been right, but hey that's Uwe Boll!Error creating thumbnail: File missingA US soldier manning the M2HB as his comrade's brains are blown out behind him. Apparently he doesn't notice this or the raging firefight around him. According to Vietnam War film logic, he's probably high. He certainly looks it.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe unmanned M2HB swings from its mount as Nguyen Van Chien (John Wynn) decides the US soldier isn't dead enough, and proceeds to posthumously dismember him. One would hate to think what would happen to the poor bastard if Nguyen got him alive.Error creating thumbnail: File missingNguyen, in overkill mode, fires his R5/AK-47 next to the M2HB.
Shotguns
Smith & Wesson Model 916A
Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 916A shotgun as his personal weapon.
The Colt M1911A1 is used by the US soldiers for tunnel rat duty. Carrying it throughout the film are Lt. Vic Hollowborn (Michael Paré), Sgt. Mike Heaney (Brad Schmidt), Cpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel), Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins), Pvt. Carl Johnson (Erik Eidem), Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette), Pvt. Jonathon Porterson (Garikayi Mutambirwa) and Pvt. Dean Garraty (Adrian Collins).
Pvt. Jonathon Porterson (Garikayi Mutambirwa) carries an M79 grenade launcher during patrol; he switches to a Colt M1911A1 for the rest of the film, which he spends in the tunnels.
Lt. Vic Hollowborn (Michael Paré), Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins), Pvt. Carl Johnson (Erik Eidem), Pvt. Jonathon Porterson (Garikayi Mutambirwa) and Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker) all carry or use the M26 Hand Grenade at various points. An M26 Grenade is also seen as part of an NVA booby-trap in the tunnels.
The M7 CS Gas Grenade is used by the US soldiers to clear the way for their entry in the tunnel systems. Carrying and using the M7 are Cpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel), Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins), Pvt. Carl Johnson (Erik Eidem) and Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette).
.jpg){kind=link}
