Windtalkers is a 2002 World War II film directed by John Woo and stars Nicolas Cage and Christian Slater as two USMC sergeants assigned to protect two Marines of Navajo descent (Adam Beach and Roger Willie) who serve as code talkers during the Battle of Saipan in the Pacific. The cast also included Mark Ruffalo, Noah Emmerich, Peter Stormare, and Jason Isaacs.
WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
The following weapons were used in the film Windtalkers:
Allied Weapons
Submachine Guns
M1928 Thompson
Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) uses an M1928 Thompson fitted with a 50 round drum during the opening firefight in the swamps of Guadalcanal.
Screen Used M1928 Thompson - .45 ACP. This is a hero gun held and used by
Nicolas Cage in the film.
Sgt. Enders kills a Japanese soldier in the brush with his M1928 Thompson.
Sgt. Enders fires his M1928 Thompson at the Japanese soldiers.
Sgt. Enders with his Thompson.
Sgt. Enders tries to help Bill over a log during the opening battle.
M1928A1 Thompson
For the remainder of the film, Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) carries an M1928A1 Thompson fitted with a 30 round magazine. Sgt. Pete "Ox" Anderson (Christian Slater) also uses an M1928A1.
M1928A1 Thompson - .45 ACP
Sgt. Joe Enders (
Nicolas Cage) lets loose his M1928A1 Thompson.
Sgt. Enders reloads his Thompson.
Sgt. Ox fires his Thompson.
Sgt. Enders with his Thompson.
Sgt. Ox with his Thompson. The shot is clearly reversed since Christian Slater is right handed and the ejection port is on the right side.
Ox fires his Thompson at the Japanese soldiers.
Another shot of Ox firing his Thompson.
Enders takes out three Japanese soldiers with his Thompson, firing it with one hand! Realistically, the recoil of the Thompson would make it nearly impossible to accomplish this feat without completely missing, injuring yourself, or both.
Rifles / Carbines
M1 Carbine
Both Private Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) and Private Charlie Whitehorse (Roger Willie) use M1 Carbines throughout the film.
Private Ben Yahzee (
Adam Beach) with his M1 Carbine.
Private Charlie Whitehorse (
Roger Willie) carries his M1 Carbine while hitting the beach.
Whitehorse fires his M1 Carbine.
Yahzee holds his M1 Carbine during a confrontation.
Yahzee holds his M1 Carbine as he and a Japanese soldier get into a "Mexican" standoff (inevitable for a
John Woo movie). Note that the Japanese soldier couldn't fire anyway, given the bolt was still upturned and not locked.
Multiple Marines fire their M1 Carbines and Garands.
Yahzee fires his M1 Carbine, eyes closed.
Yahzee fires his M1 Carbine during the final battle.
M1 Garand
M1 Garand rifles are the most common weapons in the hands of US Marines. Most notably seen used by Private Pappas (Mark Ruffalo) and Private Nellie (Martin Henderson).
M1 Garand with M1 bayonet - .30-06
Enders's man Tommy in Guadalcanal with an M1 Garand.
Pvt. Pappas with his M1 Garand during the battle of Saipan.
Pvt. Nellie with his M1 Garand.
Pvt. Nellie with his M1 Garand.
Pvt. Pappas fires his M1 Garand.
Springfield M1903
Some of the Marines during the opening Solomon Islands battle scene use Springfield M1903 rifles. USMC indeed fought with them in Guadalcanal, while US Army was issued with M1 Garand. It should also be noted that M1903 rifles were commonly used alongside M1 Carbines and Garands due to M1 Garand shortages and that a number of front line Marine units were still using M1903s as infantry rifles up until the end of the Second World War due to the shortage of M1 Garands.
Springfield M1903 Transitional (pre-WW2) issue - .30-06
A Marine with a Springfield M1903, fitted with an M1917 bayonet.
A Marine with a Springfield M1903.
Machine Guns
Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2
Private Charles "Chick" Clusters (Noah Emmerich) uses a Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 as his role of the support gunner in the film, although his BAR is firing on the faster auto fire rate and has the bipod removed, suggesting it is used more in the assault rifle role.
Browning Automatic Rifle M1918A2 - .30-06
Pvt. Chick lets loose his BAR.
Pvt. Chick fires his BAR.
Pvt. Chick gives supporting fire with his BAR.
Pvt. Chick bullies Yahzee for "looking like a Nip". During this scene, a continuity error is present as the bolt on his BAR is seen both locked back and closed in the scene.
Pvt. Chick fires his BAR.
Pvt. Chick fires his BAR.
A nice side shot of the BAR.
Early Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06.
Marine on the tank after Whitehorse killing sequence carries an early BAR.
Browning M1919A4
Browning M1919A4 machine guns are seen both pintle-mounted on US jeeps, mounted on M2 tripods in the hands of the infantry as well as in a coaxial mount on M4 Sherman tanks.
Browning M1919A4 - .30-06
Marines ready a Browning M1919A4 during the battle of Saipan.
A Browning M1919A4 pintle mounted on a jeep.
A Marine lugs an M1919A4 while another carries the M2 tripod. Based on the way he carries the gun, it is assumed to be a resin prop since a real M1919 is far too heavy to carry by the barrel with the bulk of the gun hanging off the shoulder.
A Marine is seen manning an M1919A4 behind Gny. Sgt. Hjelmstad (
Peter Stormare).
The M4 Sherman has the Browning M1919A4 in a coaxial mount.
Browning M2HB
Browning M2HB machine guns are seen mounted on US M4 Sherman tanks.
The M4 Sherman has the Browning M2 mounted on the hatch.
The Browning M2HB is seen as a Sherman gets hit by Japanese artillery.
A gunner with a Browning M2HB. Note how the belt box is an authentic 105 round .50 caliber version, though it appears the label has been erased and repainted.
A gunner gets killed after the tank is destroyed.
Handguns
M1911A1
Both Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) and Sgt. Pete "Ox" Anderson (Christian Slater) use M1911A1 pistols as their sidearms. One of the mistake is that the M1911A1 usually have 4 magazines as extra ammo, not two, like in the film.
Enders primes a satchel charge while holding his M1911A1. If he had any plan to use it, he'd cock the hammer and put it in his right hand.
Enders packs his M1911A1 in Yahzee's back when he disguises himself as a Japanese soldier to steal a radio.
Ox fires his M1911A1 after being stabbed by a bayonet. Slater flinches terribly in this scene.
"I can't let them take us". Ox prepares to kill Whitehorse when the Japanese overwhelm them.
Instead of killing Whitehorse, he whips him around and fires his M1911A1 some more.
Whitehorse picks up Ox's M1911A1 when a Gunto-wielding Japanese officer decapitates him and fires it, eyes closed.
A close up of Ox's M1911A1 when Yahzee picks it up and threatens to kill Enders. Note the milling on the ejection port, one of the procedures done to convert a real gun to fire blanks.
Enders reloads his M1911A1 during the final battle.
Yahzee forces Enders to turn his M1911A1 on him.
Shotguns
Winchester 1897
Gunnery Sergeant Hjelmstad (Peter Stormare) uses a Winchester 1897 "Trench" gun as his weapon in the film, although he is never seen firing it.
EDIT: In the "Director's Cut", Hjelmstad uses it during the surprise Japanese attack on the village.
Winchester 1897 - 12 Gauge
A nice shot of the barrel of Gunny Hjelmstad's Winchester 1897.
Gunny Hjelmstad with his Winchester '97.
Hjelmstad with his Winchester '97 when taking cover from friendly artillery.
Hjelmstad pumps his Winchester '97.
Hjelmstad with his Winchester '97 slung over his back.
Hjelmstad gets shot by a Japanese gunner.
Other
M1A1 Bazooka
An M1A1 Bazooka is used by Marines during the battle of Saipan. When two Marines are attempting to take out a bunker with the device, the loader is wounded and the gunner is killed, so Sgt. Pete "Ox" Anderson (Christian Slater) runs out and does a stylish "judo-roll", grabbing the launcher in the process. The wounded loader gets back up and readies the weapon, and Ox takes out the bunker single handedly. Some other Marines are also seen carrying them.
Two Marines attempt to fire an M1A1 Bazooka.
Sgt. Ox waits as the loader readies the Bazooka. Note the lack of a contact box on top of the tube, showing this to be an A1 model.
Sgt. Ox aims the Bazooka.
Sgt. Ox fires the Bazooka, with his thumb blocking the sight.
M2-2 Flamethrower
Private Harrigan (Brian Van Holt) uses an M2-2 Flamethrower as his weapon in the film. True to Hollywood Pvt. Harrigan's M2-2 Flamethrower explodes due to a single shot from an FMJ, engulfing the Private and forcing Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) puts him out of his misery with his .45. In reality the fuel inside of a flamethrower is often difficult to ignite, which is why built-in magnesium igniters are used. The gas used to pressurize the tanks is also non flammable. In real life a hit from and FMJ or lead round would most likely knock him off of his feet due the massive pressure released from the small entrance hole. Although it should be noted that had incendiary ammunition been used there is a chance of an ignition of the tank/operator.
Pvt. Harrigan torches a Japanese bunker with his M2-2 Flamethrower.
Pvt. Harrigan burns a Japanese tank with his M2-2 Flamethrower.
Another shot of Harrigan torching the tank.
Here we see the flamethrower is a rubber prop, since even empty the tank weighs roughly 30lbs and the torch seems to slightly bend.
Harrigan with his flamethrower.
Harrigan's tank ignites when struck by a round, which is extremely unlikely, unless either it is an incendiary round, or the tank is made of very weak metal.
Unknown Smoke Grenade
Marines throw unknown smoke grenades to cover the approach of Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) when he charges a machine gun emplacement to throw a satchel charge inside.
Mk II hand grenade
Mk II hand grenades are used by the Marines.
Tommy during the opening scene throws a Mk II grenade.
Pvt. Pappas (
Mark Ruffalo) pulls the pin on a Mk II grenade.
Sgt. Enders pops the primer handle off a Mk II grenade before throwing it in to kill Whitehorse (
Roger Willie).
Axis Weapons
Handguns
Nambu Type 14
A Japanese soldier tries to draw his Nambu Type 14 from his holster before Pvt. Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) stabs him with the Type 30 Bayonet of his captured Arisaka Type 99 rifle.
Nambu Type 14 pistol - 8x22mm Nambu
A Japanese soldier tries to pull a Nambu Type 14 pistol from his holster. While not much of the gun is seen, the shape of the magazine base plate confirms it as a Type 14 as opposed to a
Type 94 pistol.
Rifles
Arisaka Sniper Rifle
While not closely seen, a Japanese sniper takes out a few Marines with an Arisaka Rifle, assumed to be a scoped model to fit the sniper role. But due to John Woo logic, he is no match for Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) and a quick hip fired burst from his Thompson.
Arisaka Type 99 Sniper Rifle with scope - 7.7x58mm Arisaka
A Japanese sniper takes out Marines with an Arisaka sniper rifle.
Arisaka Type 99
Arisaka Type 99 rifles are the most commonly seen rifles in the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army. The early models contained a folding wire monopod, flip up sights with "Anti-Aircraft" bars, chrome plated bores, and a dust cover. As the war went on the quality had dropped, these late war rifles where known as "Last Ditch" rifles and were very crudely manufactured with most missing the accessories of the earlier models.
At one point in the film, Pvt. Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach) disguises himself as a Japanese soldier to acquire a radio after his is destroyed. He also takes a substitute standard ("last ditch") Arisaka Type 99 along with the disguise.
Arisaka Type 99 - 7.7x58mm
Substitute standard ("last ditch") Arisaka Type 99 - 7.7x58mm
Japanese soldiers fire their Arisaka Type 99 and substitute standard ("last ditch") Arisaka Type 99 rifles.
A Japanese soldier fires his Arisaka Type 99 after emerging from a hidden hole.
A Japanese soldier fires his Arisaka Type 99 rifle with the "anti-aircraft" sight flipped up.
The Japanese soldier in the foreground has an Arisaka Type 99. Notice the wire monopod.
A Japanese soldier crawls over to grab his Arisaka Type 99 after the Marines overwhelm the trenches.
A line up of Japanese weaponry.
Sgt. Enders does a brass check on a "Last Ditch" Arisaka Type 99 before handing it to Yahzee. Notice the non-adjustable sights and missing wooden top cover.
Yahzee with a "Last Ditch" Arisaka Type 99 while disguised as a Japanese soldier.
Another Japanese soldier with a Type 99, this one with the sights flipped up but seems to be missing the "Anti-Aircraft" lead bars that fold out from the sights.
A Japanese soldier stabs Ox with the Type 30 bayonet of his Type 99.
A Japanese soldier prepares to stab Whitehorse with his Type 30 bayonet before being ordered not to so he can be interrogated.
Machine Guns
Nambu Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun
Japanese soldiers are seen firing Type 92 Heavy Machine Guns in the film.
Nambu Type 92 Heavy Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm
A Japanese soldier chambers a Nambu Type 92 HMG. Note blank rounds on belt strip.
A Japanese soldier is seen manning a Nambu Type 92 in a weapons line up.
Nambu Type 96 Light Machine Gun
The earlier Type 96 Light Machine Gun is fired by a Japanese soldier during the invasion of Saipan.
Type 96 Light Machine Gun (minus magazine) - 6.5x50mm Arisaka
A Japanese soldier fires a Nambu Type 96 LMG during the battle of Saipan.
A Japanese soldier (played by stuntman
Simon Rhee) fires a Nambu Type 96.
Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Gun
Japanese soldiers are seen mowing down Marines with Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Guns. When trying to steal a Japanese radio, Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) uses two Type 99 LMGs to cover Yahzee as he calls in. Some have 20 round magazines.
Nambu Type 99 Light Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm
A Japanese soldier fires a Nambu Type 99 hand held.
Japanese soldiers fire Type 99s from a bunker.
A line up of Japanese weaponry.
Enders unloads a Type 99 on Japanese soldiers in the trenches.
Enders picks up and fires a second Type 99.
Japanese soldiers ambush Marines in a mine field.
A Japanese soldier kills Gny. Sgt. Hjelmstad (
Peter Stormare) with a Type 99 fitted with a Type 30 bayonet.
Other
Type 97 hand grenade
Japanese soldiers during the opening scene in Guadalcanal use Type 97 hand grenades, one of which cripples Sgt. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) and damages his ear beyond use.
A Japanese soldier primes a Type 97 hand grenade by tapping it on his helmet.
An airborne Type 97 grenade takes out one of Enders's men.
An incoming Type 97 before hitting Enders.
Type 89 "Knee Mortar"
Type 89 "Knee Mortar"s are used by Japanese soldiers during the unexpected assault on the Marines in the controlled village.
Type 89 "Knee Mortar" - 50mm
A Japanese soldier loads his Type 89 "Knee Mortar".
A Japanese soldier fires his Type 89 "Knee Mortar".
A Japanese soldier loads his Knee Mortar.
7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n. A.
During the landing on Saipan Japanese soldier are seen with a German 7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n. A. Maybe leftovers from German colonial times of the island or it stands for a Japanese Type 38 75 mm field gun.
7.7 cm Feldkanone 96 n.A..
An overflight shows the field gun.
Japanese soldiers fire the gun on the left. The shield is folded down.
Type 41 75 mm Mountain Gun
A Type 41 75 mm mountain gun is briefly seen next to the Feldkanone.
The gun on the right before firing.
Type 96 15 cm Howitzer
The Type 96 15 cm Howitzer is used by Japanese troops.
Rear view of the howitzer.
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WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
