1968 Tunnel Rats

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1968 Tunnel Rats (2009)

1968 Tunnel Rats is the latest film directed by 'infamous director' Uwe Boll. The film was originally titled Tunnel Rats. The film was screened at film festivals in Canada and Germany and had a limited theatrical run in Los Angeles at the Downtown Independent Theater on December 20th, 2008. The 'official' release date for the film in the U.S. was supposed to be March 13th, 2009, however that release date got pushed back, despite being released elsewhere in the world on DVD. The U.S. DVD was released on Jun 30, 2009.

Like usual, there is a lot to criticize in the film, though the film itself has mixed reviews (some reviewers actually think Boll is getting better(!)) But there was not a lot of thought put into the costuming and gear for the film. Being filmed in South Africa (standing in for Vietnam), American 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 Nam leaf pattern which is correct for Vietnam.

The following guns were used in the movie "1968 Tunnel Rats"

Rifles

Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine

Sgt. Mike Heaney (Brad Schmidt) and Cpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel) carry the Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine rifles.

Colt Sporter II Carbine with 20 round magazine. 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 photo - - 5.56x45mm

Cpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel) carries a Colt AR-15 Sporter Carbine as he greets the new arrivals.

Sgt. Mike Heaney (Brad Schmidt) gives the order to saddle up, holding his Sporter Carbine.

Sgt. Heaney aims his Sporter Carbine down a tunnel.

A US Soldier fires his Sporter Carbine during the NVA attack.

M16

The original model M16 are used at the beginning of the film during the Chopper disembarkation by Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette) and other soldiers. As with the other rifles in the film, it can be seen on occasion with anachronistic 30-round magazines.

The original M16, the first version, 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 - 5.56x45mm

Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette) with an M16 during the Chopper ride.

A US soldier hauling a body bag carries an M16.

M16A1

Most of the US Soldiers carry the updated M16A1 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).

M16A1 with 20 round magazine. 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 - 5.56x45mm

M16A1 with A2 style handguards. Putting the distinctive A2 handguards on the older rifle was a method used by Movie/TV armorers to simulate A2 rifles when M16A1s were the only ones available. The same thing has been done vice-versa, Using M16A2's with A1 handguards for Vietnam War B Movies - 5.56x45mm

Pvt. Samuel Graybridge (Brandon Fobbs) carries an M16A1 rifle, complete with A2 style handguards and anachronistic 30-round magazines.

Pvt. Terence Verano (Rocky Marquette) and Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker) lugging M16A1 rifles on patrol, both with A2 handguards and 30-round mags.

Lidford scans the jungle with his M16A1.

Graybridge on watch with his M16A1.

Lt. Vic Hollowborn (Michael Paré) fires an M16A1 during the NVA attack on the US Camp.

Graybridge fires at pursuing NVA at full automatic.

Pvt. Bob Miller (Jeffrey Christopher Todd) with his M16A1.

Miller tries to clear a jam on his M16A1.

M16A2

During the scene where a captured NVA soldier is hung, a soldier can be seen with an anachronistic M16A2 rifles, identified by the heavy barrel. This make wasn't introduced until 1989.

M16A2 Rifle - 5.56x45mm

A Soldier rests an M16A2 rifle on his chest.

The M16A2, identified by its heavy barrel, can be seen in the center of the image.

AK-47

Several NVA soldiers, including Vo Mai (Jane Le), carry the AK-47. It appears to be a Type II model.

Type II AK-47. (note stock mounting bracket) with prototype slab sided magazine - 7.62x39mm

Vo Mai (Jane Le) carries an AK-47.

An NVA soldier fires an AK-47.

Norinco Type 84S

Most of the NVA soldiers, including Huy Tran (Scott Ly) and Nguyen Van Chien (John Wynn), use the anachronistic Norinco Type 84S rifles, rather then the periodically correct Type 56 rifles. Most likely the film crew were unable to obtain enough AK-47's.

Norinco Type 84S - 5.56x45mm

Huy Tran (Scott Ly) and Nguyen Van Chien (John Wynn) with Norinco Type 84S rifles.

Nguyen aims his Type 84S.

Nguyen loads a magazine into his Type 84S.

Huy on patrol with his Type 84S.

Nguyen aims his Type 84S.

Nguyen fires his Type 84S on semi-automatic mode.

An NVA soldier trying to clear a jam in his Type 84S.

Huy struggles to load his Type 84S.

Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine

A Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine can be seen in Vo Mai's (Jane Le) dugout in the tunnels.

Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine. This is the version issued during most of World War 2, 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 - 7.62x54R

A Mosin Nagant M38 Carbine sits against a wall in Vo Mai's (Jane Le) dugout.

Another shot of the M38 Carbine against the wall.

Machine Guns

M60 Machine Gun

The M60 Machine Gun is used by Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker) and Pvt. Dean Garraty (Adrian Collins). A soldier uses one during the NVA attack on the base camp. Note that every operator fires it one handed - a difficult feat.

M60 Machine Gun with bipod extended - 7.62x51mm NATO

Pvt. Dean Garraty (Adrian Collins) with the M60 Machine Gun.

The M60, now the responsibility of Pvt. Jim Lidford (Nate Parker), leans against a fallen log.

Lidford picks up the M60 when he and Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins) are ambushed by the NVA.

Lidford firing the M60 one-handed in Rambo mode.

A Soldier defending the camp perimeter opens up with an M60.

The Soldier fires his M60 before being gunned down by an NVA solider. With scenes like these, you'd think that US Soldiers were trained to fire LMG's one-handed.

Browning M2HB

A Browning M2HB is seen mounted in the camp perimeter. The gunner is killed before he can use it.

Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG

A US Soldier loading a Browning M2HB.

A 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 Movie logic, he's probably high.

The unmanned M2HB swings from its mount as Nguyen Van Chien (John Wynn) decides the 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.

Nguyen, in overkill mode, fires his Norinco Type 84S next to the M2HB.

Shotguns

Smith & Wesson Model 916A

Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins) carries a Smith & Wesson Model 916A shotgun as his personal-issue weapon.

Smith & Wesson Model 916A - 12 gauge

Sidearms

Colt M1911A1

The Colt M1911A1 is used by the US Soldiers for Tunnel Rat Duty. Sporting 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).

World War II issued Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP

Heavy Weapons

M67 Grenade Launcher

Pvt. Jonathon Porterson (Garikayi Mutambirwa) uses a M67 Grenade Launcher during patrol; he switches to a Colt M1911A1 for the rest of the movie, which he spends in the tunnels.

M79 grenade launcher - 40mm

Unknown Flamethrower

An NVA soldier picks up an Unknown Flamethrower model form a dead US Soldier, using it against other GI's during the attack on the camp.

Grenades

M26 Hand Grenade

Lt. Vic Hollowborn (Michael Paré), Cpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel), 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 in the film. An M26 Grenade is also seen as part of an NVA booby trap in the tunnels.

M26 High-Explosive Fragmentation Hand Grenade

M7 CS Gas Grenade

The M7 CS Gas Grenade is used by the US Tunnel Rats to clear the way for their entry in the tunnel systems. Sporting and using the M7 are Cpl. Dan Green (Wilson Bethel), Pvt. Peter Harris (Mitch Eakins), Pvt. Carl Johnson (Erik Eidem) and Pvt. Jonathon Porterson (Garikayi Mutambirwa).

M7 CS Gas Grenade