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Charlie Wilson's War

From Internet Movie Firearms Database - Guns in Movies, TV and Video Games
Revision as of 03:52, 1 April 2015 by Ben41 (talk | contribs) (→‎Trivia)
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The following weapons were used in the film Charlie Wilson's War:

Charlie Wilson's War (2007)


Rifles

AKM

When Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) visits the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan, several of the fighters are armed with AKM's and AKMSU's. The AKs used by the Mujahadeen early on in the war were, by and large, captured from the Soviets which, given the time frame, would have made them late model AKMs or AKMS's. Though the AK/AKS-74 came into use during this period it was generally only issued to elite units like the Red Army Airborne or Spetsnaz. As noted in the movie, a great many of the weapons used by the Afghans were Egyptian or "Maadi" copies of the AKM but not noted was that Chinese Type 56-1 AKs were also provided to the 'Muj" by the CIA.

AKMRifle.jpg
The rifles are held up in celebration as Charlie (Tom Hanks) rides with the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan.

AKMS

AKMS rifles are also carried by Mujahadeen.

AKMS.jpg
The rifles are held up in celebration as Charlie (Tom Hanks) rides with the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan.

Lee-Enfield

Lee-Enfield rifles were seen in the hands of the Mujahadeen fighters.

Lee-Enfield Mk.I - .303 British. In service between 1896-1907
Lee-Enfield rifles were seen in the hands of the Mujahadeen fighters.

Machine Guns

Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B

The four-barreled Russian Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B machine gun is seen as the main gun used by the Soviet Mil Mi-24 Hind-D gunships in the film. This gun was the standard armament on the later model Hind gunships and is unique in the world of "gatling-style" weapons in that it does not require electrical power to function. It was subsequently replaced by the 23mm and 30mm cannon.

Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B 12.7x108mm
A Hind-D firing its Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B
First-person view from the cockpit of an attacking Hind-D, tracers from the Yak-B visible from the bottom of the image

Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2

What appear to be Mi-24P "Hind-F" attack helicopters are also seen with its Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30 autocannons. These models didn't enter service until after the war.

Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 30mm automatic cannon with unfired rounds - 30x165mm
What appear to be Mi-24P "Hind-F" attack helicopters are also seen with its Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30 autocannons. These models didn't enter service until after the war.

DShK heavy machine gun

The DShK heavy machine gun is briefly seen being used by the Mujahadeen in news footage. The standard Soviet heavy machine gun for almost 50 years it is shown, primarily, in the anti-aircraft configuration. This weapon is also prominent on the cover of the book on which this film is based showing the real Charlie Wilson firing one off at a refugee camp on the Afghan/Pakistani border.

DSHK.jpg
The DShK heavy machine gun is briefly seen being used by the Mujahadeen in news footage.

Other

FIM-92A Stinger

The FIM-92A Stinger is used by Mujahadeen in the film to shoot down several Hind gunships. The successor to the "Redeye" missile, this shoulder-fired weapon became the symbol of U.S. support for the Afghans during their war with the Soviets. Man portable and extremely effective it set the standard for MANPADS systems in use today. Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is presented with a used Stinger as a token of appreciation by the Mujahadeen.

File:-0976t.jpg
FIM-92A Stinger 70mm
The FIM-92A Stinger about to be used by Mujahadeen.
The trigger is pulled on the Stinger.
The Stinger is fired at the passing Hind helicopters.
Charlie Wilson (Tom Hanks) is presented with a used Stinger as a token of appreciation by the Mujahadeen.
Charlie holds the Stinger.

Type 69 RPG

Type 69 RPGs are seen on the wall in a CIA briefing room.

Chinese Type 69 RPG - 40mm
Type 69 RPGs are seen on the wall in a CIA briefing room.

MILAN

The MILAN is briefly seen used by Mujahadeen in news footage. One of the most successful MAWs for almost four decades this Franco-German anti-tank missile is mentioned, and shown, in photographs (but never actually seen being fired in combat) as the CIA ramps up its' s support for the "Muj" and includes this advanced ATGM in it inventory of supplied armaments.

Tripod-mounted MILAN launcher 115mm
The MILAN is briefly seen.

Trivia

When supposedly Russian air power is seen being taken down by Mujahadeen in the film, for some reason more than a few of the aircraft depicted being destroyed were not Russian-made, but actually appears to be stock footage of American manufactured aircraft (not known if this was intentional).

The plane destroyed here is actually a US A-6 Intruder (this is footage from the film Flight of the Intruder.)
The plane about to be shot down here is a US F-4 Phantom.
The helicopter here appears to be an American UH-1 "Huey".
The plane here is a US F-16 Falcon.

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