Tears of the Sun

Tears of the Sun is a 2003 action film starring Bruce Willis as a SEAL commander who leads a team into Nigeria during a coup to extract Lena Kendricks (Monica Bellucci), an American doctor. When she goes with the team to the extraction site along with the 80 some refugees from her village, the SEALs take only her. After seeing the atrocities committed on the village, Lt. Waters has a change of heart and turns the helicopters around. He and his SEAL team then become determined to get the doctor and the refugees to the border before the rebel militants can find them.

The following weapons can be seen in the film Tears of the Sun:

Tears of the Sun (2003)

M4A1 carbine

Lieutenant Waters (Bruce Willis), Flea (Chad Smith), and Lake (Johnny Messner) use M4A1 carbines as their primary weapons. "Flea" has a Combat Military Optics LTD Marksman Series Model 100[1] scope on the carry handle, a cheek pad on the stock, a suppressor, and a custom paintjob of green and black (there is no such thing as a 6x48 Sightron S33). "Lake" has a suppressor on his carbine. Both Lake and Lt. Waters have M68 Aimpoint scopes fitted on their weapons. When the team first arrives in Africa, their M4A1's are fitted with PVS-14 night-vision scopes which are removed once morning arrives. Lt. Waters' also has a D-LAP Laser sight, essentially a more compact PEQ-2A. It is worth noting that they use the correct, modern flash hiders rather than the A1 style used on so many movie M4A1s and M16A2s.

M4A1 5.56x45mm with M68 Aimpoint scope and RIS foregrip

Lt. Waters meets Dr. Lena Hendricks. Note: The M68 Aimpoint is mounted backwards.

Lieutenant A.K. Waters (Bruce Willis) with his M4A1 with M68 Aimpoint scope and RIS foregrip.

Flea and Lake search the village hooches with their suppressed M4s.

Flea hands out the contents of his MRE to refugees.

Flea takes a sniper position in a tree while the other team members raid the village.

Lake fires his M4. He is firing from this awkward position due to having been shot in the shoulder minutes earlier.

Red, (Cole Hauser), fires Lt. Waters' M4 after he drops it.

The team with their weapons. Doc, Lake, Lt., and Zee with their M4s.

After being wounded, Lake uses his left hand to hold the M4A1.

M4A1 carbine with M203 grenade launcher

Team corpsman, Doc, and radioman, Zee, both carry M4A1 carbines with M203 grenade launchers.

M4A1 carbine 5.56x45mm with M68 Aimpoint red dot scope, flip-up rear sight, and M203 grenade launcher 40mm

Zee lays down cover fire with his M4/M203.

Doc and Zee ready their pistols, while slinging their M4/M203 combos.

M16A2 Rifle

A few of the Marines disembarking the helicopter in the beginning of the film are carrying M16A2 rifles, as well as a few Marines at the end of the film.

M16A2 Rifle - 5.56x45mm. Select Fire rifle (Safe/Semi/3 round Burst Only).

Jarhead behind the others is carrying a M16A2.

The Marine in the background is carrying a M16A2.

M16A1 Rifle

M16A1 rifles are used by Nigerian soldiers in the opening scene of the director's cut of the film.

M16A1 5.56x45mm

Nigerian soldiers with Vietnam-era M16 rifles.

Nigerian soldiers standing guard with Vietnam-era M16 rifles.

Nigerian soldiers standing guard over the President and his family with Vietnam-era M16 rifles.

M25 Sniper Rifle

An M25 Sniper Rifle (The U.S. Navy's designation for the M21 Sniper Rifle, which is a U.S. Army designation) is carried by Silk (Charles Ingram). It is covered in heavy custom camo and mounts a Leupold & Stevens Mark 4 LR/T 10x40 M1 rifle scope. He uses the weapon throughout the movie. It is noted as being of the actual M14/M21/M25 series and not a Springfield M1A by the notch which would normally contain the fire-selector switch. M14s were known to be difficult to control firing fully-automatic so many actual M14s and their derivatives were modified by setting them to semiautomatic and then removing the selector switch to make them semiautomatic-only. However the notch for selector switch itself remains. Rifles manufactured for civilian sale (such as the M1A) do not feature selective fire, and as such do not have the notch made for a selector switch.

File:M21 m1a.jpg

M21 sniper rifle - 7.62x51mm NATO. The M25 is identical, M25 just being a U.S. Navy designation for the weapon.

Silk with the M25 rifle. Note the open notch for the selector switch (which has been removed), something done on many actual M14-family rifles.

Silk (Charles Ingram) readies to shoot the refugee carrying the transmitter with his M25.

Red and Silk make their final stand, firing Lt. Water's M4 and the M25.

L1A1 Rifle

At the end of the film, one of the Cameroon border guards can be briefly seen armed with an L1A1 rifle instead of an AK variant.

L1A1 7.62x51mm NATO

A Cameroon border guard behind Captain Bill Rhodes (Tom Skerritt) brandishes an L1A1 rifle.

AKM

The most commonly used assault rifle on the African continent, AKM rifles are seen in the hands of militants, refugees, and Doc, (Paul Francis) who took it from a dead militant. He is never seen using it, but after the village raid, he most likely gave it to a refugee, as they acquired a lot of them then.

AKM 7.62x39mm

A rebel fighter walks through the jungle with his AKM.

Rebels enter the mission with their AKMS.

Doc Kelly sits with his AK slung over his shoulder. He acquired the weapon after Lt. Waters killed it owner.

Doc crawls towards the village with his AK slung over his shoulder.

A rebel executes a villager with his AK.

A refugee obtains a pair of boots and an AK-47 from a dead rebel.

One of Arthur Azzuka's bodyguards (a trained soldier) covers Arthur.

Norinco Type 56-1

The under folding version of the AK-47 is seen being used by several soldiers as well as the full stocked variant.

Norinco Type 56-1 (under-folding stock variant) - 7.62x39mm

A rebel fires upon the fleeing SEALs with his Type 56-1.

AKMSU

A few soldiers are seen wielding the AKMSU.

AKMSU Krinkov - 7.62x39mm. This is a blank adapted full auto transferable AKM (7.62x39mm) pistol that was converted into a Krinkov via parts kit.

Rebel soldiers advancing. They are armed with a variety of AKs including AKMSUs.

SKS rifle

Several rebels and refugees are seen carrying SKS rifle.

SKS rifle 7.62x39mm

The point man of the rebel men walks through the jungle.

One of Arthur Azzuka's bodyguard saves Lt. Waters.

FN FAL

Actual footage of the violence in Africa is seen in the beginning of the film and one scene shows several soldiers carrying FN FAL rifles.

FN FAL 50.63 Paratrooper with 18" barrel - 7.62x51mm NATO

The soldier far right has a FN FAL paratrooper.

The soldier also has a FN FAL paratrooper.

Karabiner 98k

What appears to be a WWII-vintage Karabiner 98k is seen in the hands of at least two militants. They are never given explicit detail, sadly.

Karabiner 98k 7.92x57mm Mauser

The rebel bottom center is carrying a Kar98.

A rebel armed with what appears to be a 98k moves to investigate the body the transmitter-carrying refugee.

M249 SAW Para

Slo (Nick Chinlund), the squad's designated heavy gunner and tech-guy is seen with his paratrooper version of the M249 SAW throughout the movie, until he is killed in a shootout with the rebels. Silk (Charles Ingram) then uses the weapon during the climax firefight.

M249 SAW 5.56x45mm paratrooper version with 200-round ammo drum and accessory rail on feed tray cover.

Slo with his SAW.

Note the blank rounds on the ammo belt.

M60D

The M60D is seen mounted on a helicopter, but it is never fired.

M60D machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO

M60E4 Machine Gun

Red (Cole Hauser), the team’s designated heavy-gunner is seen armed with a M60E4 machine gun without the film. Doc (Paul Francis) wields the weapon when Red runs to set-up a Claymore. Another Navy SEAL who accompanies Captain Bill Rhodes (Tom Skerritt) also wields a M60E4.

M60E4 machine gun 7.62x51mm NATO

Red directs the refugees with his M60E4.

Doc mans Red's M60E4.

The other Navy SEAL with a M60E4.

DShK Heavy Machine gun

It’s hard to determine, but a heavy machine gun; actual DShK or Browning M2 mocked-up is seen on a mounted platform of a flatbed truck.

DShK heavy machine gun 12.7x109mm

The machine gun can be seen on the truck.

The barrel is seen mildly clearly here.

FN MAG

Seen in the actual footage at the beginning, a government soldier is seen with what looks to be a FN MAG.

FN MAG 58 7.62x51mm NATO

THe soldier stands behind a FN MAG in the actual footage.

M72 LAW

The M72 LAW (Light Anti-Tank Weapon) is seen having been carried by Red (Cole Hauser) and Slo (Nick Chinlund). The two weapons are fired by Lake and Flea.

M72A2 LAW 66mm

Slo (Nick Chinlund) helps refugees up a hill with his M72 strapped into his pack.

Flea readies his M72.

Flea and Lake fire their LAWs.

Type 69 RPG

The Chinese-replica Type 69 RPG is seen in the hands of several Militant rebels throughout, fitted with the PGO-7 scope.

Type 69 RPG 40mm

The rebels enter the mission, the one on the far-right brandishing a Type 69 RPG

An RPG team prepares to engage the SEALs with a Type 69

I'd imagine that black eye hurts, huh?

RPD Light Machine Gun

A militant rebel is seen with an RPD light machine gun.

RPD light machine gun 7.62x39mm

One of the rebels left of center can be seen armed with an RPD light machine gun

Heckler & Koch MK23

The pistol designed especially for USSOCOM, the Heckler & Koch Mark 23 is used by several Navy SEALs, including Lt. Waters, Zee, Red, Flea, Lake, and Slo.

H&K Mk 23 Mod 0 .45 ACP

Lt. Waters with his MK23.

H&K Mk 23 Mod 0 with (real) Knights Armament suppressor .45 ACP

Lt. A.K. Waters wields a suppressed H&K Mark 23 while engaging militia fighters in the village

Red prepares to enter a hooch with his MK23.

Rack the slide on your MK23, Lake! This is a continuity shot as it only happens for a second.

Walther PP

In a deleted scene, Lt. Waters leaves the priest running the hospital a Walther PP for self-defense.

A Walther PP

A Walther PP left by Lt. Waters for the priest.

SIG-Sauer P226

The real life favored handgun of the Navy SEALs, the SIG-Sauer P226 is seen in the hands of Doc and Silk, (Paul Francis and Charles Ingram).

Sig Sauer P226 9x19mm

Doc crawls towards the village.

Doc wields his SIG during the final shootout.

Silk fires his SIG when his M1A runs dry.

Colt M1911A1

The Colt M1911A1 appears in the hands of two senor officers of the Nigerian Militants.

M1911A1 .45 ACP

The officer far left has what looks like a Colt 1911.

The second in command charges the fleeing SEALs with his 1911.

He then tells his men to keep fighting.

Beretta 92FS

A Beretta 92FS is seen in the hands of a militant officer.

Beretta 92FS - 9x19mm.

The Sgt? far right has a 9mm Beretta.

Remington 870

The team’s forward scout, Lake (Johnny Messner) carries both a Remington 870 and a M4A1. The shotgun is equipped with an extended magazine tube, a side saddle shell holder, and a strange compensator(I believe this is a "duckbill" attachment. It makes the shot spray into a horizontal pattern.) The squad’s designated marksman, Flea (Chad Smith), takes the shotgun after Lake is shot, but the weapon was dropped and Flea switched back to his M4A1.

Remington 870 12 gauge

Lake (Johnny Messner) leads the way with his Remington 870 at the ready.

Lake runs through the jungle with his Remington 870.

As Kendricks hugs goodbye, Lake covers the area with his Remington shotgun.

Lake gives Zee that "what the fuck are we doing?" look.

As Lt. Waters shouts orders, Lake takes cover with his Remington 870 slung over his back.

M67 Hand Grenade

All of the SEALs carry and use M67 hand grenades throughout the mission.

M67 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade.

Lt. Waters pulls an M67 grenade from a pouch during a shootout with the rebels

M18A1 Claymore

The team’s demolition man, Red (Cole Hauser), carried three M18A1 Claymores into the field with him. He uses two to ambush the militants and later uses it to hold back enemy troops.

M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mine

Red sets up his final Claymore as a volley of gunfire hits the log.

M61 Vulcan

At the climax of the film, a pair of F/A-18A Hornets are launched to provide close air support for the SEALs, the Hornets being armed with M61 Vulcans as secondary armament, though the Hornets engage the rebels with air to ground missiles instead of their guns.

M61 Vulcan 20mm

As an F/A-18A Hornet launches from the carrier USS John C. Stennis, the firing port for the M61 Vulcan is visible near the nose of the aircraft