The Boys in Company C

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The Boys in Company C (1978)

The Boys in Company C is a 1978 Vietnam War satire that focuses on a group of young US Marines from their initiation into boot camp through their yearlong tour in Vietnam. The film co-starred Stan Shaw, Andrew Stevens, James Whitmore Jr., Michael Lembeck and featured the acting debut of R. Lee Ermey, who played a boot camp drill instructor. The film was directed by Sidney J. Furie, who went on to direct several more Vietnam War-themed films including Purple Hearts and Going Back.

The following weapons were used in the film The Boys in Company C:

M16A1 Rifle

M16A1's are the most frequently seen rifles in the film. Used by American and ARVN forces in the film, this particular model is highly anachronistic for the time period depiction (the majority of the film is set in 1968). Also anachronistic is the use of the 30 round "banana clip" magazine.

M16A1 with 30 Round magazine - 5.56x45mm

Tyrone Washington (Stan Shaw) engages in bayonet drills with his M16A1 during boot camp.

Alvin Foster (James Canning) holds the M16A1 during boot camp.

The recruits with their M16A1's during rifle drills for Gunnery Sgt. Loyce (R. Lee Ermey).

Tyrone (Stan Shaw) holds the M16A1. The rifle is anachronistic for the time period of the film, as well as the use of the 30-round "banana" magazine.

ARVN troops armed with the rifle.

On the left, Captain Collins (Scott Hylands) holds the rifle.

M16 (SP1)

Some of the Marines in the film appear to carry the M16 (SP1) rifle noted by its "slab-side" receiver. Just as seen in 1978's Apocalypse Now (which was also filmed in the Phillipines around the same time), the use of the M16 is an error as the original M16 was never used by the US Army or any other branch of the US Military other than the Air Force. By the time the movie takes place (1969), all M16's that were being used by the entire US Military were already replaced by the M16A1 as seen above.

M16 (SP1) fitted with A1-style birdcage flashhider (to imitate M16A1) and 30-round magazine - 5.56x45mm.

The African-American Marine in the middle appears to carry an M16 instead of the A1 of the other troops.

M60 Machine Gun

The M60 machine gun is carried by several US Marines in the film, notably by Billy Ray Pike (Andrew Stevens) and Vinnie Fazio (Michael Lembeck). It's also seen mounted on US armored vehicles.

M60 GPMG - 7.62x51mm NATO

M1911A1

The M1911A1 is seen held by several Marine officers and NCO's including Lt. Archer (James Whitmore Jr.), Gunnery Sergeant Curry (Noble Willingham) and Captain Collins (Scott Hylands).

Browning M2HB Heavy Machine Gun

Several Browning M2HB heavy machine guns are seen in the film mounted in US Armored Personnel Carriers. Tyrone Washington (Stan Shaw) is notably seen pointing an M2 at an inept officer.