| Saving Private Ryan
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Film Poster
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| Country
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 United States
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| Directed by
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Steven Spielberg
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| Release Date
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1998
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| Language
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English
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| Studio
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Amblin Entertainment
Mutual Film Company
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| Distributor
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DreamWorks Pictures (United States)
Paramount Pictures (International)
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Saving Private Ryan is a 1998 World War II film directed by Steven Spielberg that stars Tom Hanks as a US Army Ranger captain who leads a squad of men into Normandy to bring home a paratrooper from the 101st Airborne Division who had just lost his three brothers in combat. The film was especially notable for its unflinching depiction of the D-Day landing on Omaha Beach.
The following weapons were used in the film Saving Private Ryan:
See the Discussion for more details on non-firearms weapons used in the film.
WARNING! THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS!
Rifles & Carbines
M1 Garand
The M1 Garand is the standard issue rifle used by the majority of U.S. soldiers in the film, most notably being the primary weapon of U.S. Army Rangers Private Stanley Mellish (Adam Goldberg), Private Adrian Caparzo (Vin Diesel), 29th Infantry Division Technical Fifth Grade Corporal Upham (Jeremy Davies) and briefly carried by Private Daniel Jackson (Barry Pepper) and Technical Fourth Grade Medic Irwin Wade (Giovanni Ribisi). U.S. Army 101st Airborne Paratroopers including Sergeant Hill (Paul Giamatti), Private James Frederick Ryan (Nathan Fillion) and Private James Ryan (Matt Damon) carry M1 Garands as their main rifle. Saving Private Ryan is also one of few films that correctly depicts the easily identifiable "ping" sound the Garand makes after the last round is fired and the en bloc clip is ejected. In some scenes, soldiers can be seen holding their Garands with relative ease, making these Garands most likely lightweight prop models.
M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle with leather M1917 sling - .30-06
An M1 Garand prop rifle with M1 bayonet used in the film during the D-Day scene. The stock still has sand stuck in it from the beach.
A U.S. soldier carrying an M1 Garand rather easily with his right hand during the landing on Omaha Beach. In reality, the Garand weighed 9 1/2 lbs and the rifle seen in the screenshot is likely a lightweight replica.
Private Stanley Mellish (
Adam Goldberg) fires his M1 Garand at a German bunker.
*PING!* - Private Adrian Caparzo (
Vin Diesel) fires his M1 Garand. The ejected empty en bloc clip can be seen in this shot.
Mellish and Caparzo approach a German bunker on Omaha Beach with their M1 Garands.
Mellish fires his M1 Garand at a fleeing German soldier.
"Look! I washed for supper!" - A U.S. soldier of low morals holds an M1 Garand with cuts in the stock for an ammo pouch to sling through like an M1 Carbine. This is a strange stock for a Garand. Also note how he can easily hold it with one hand since it is lighter than a real Garand.
Caparzo, Mellish and Corporal Timothy Upham (
Jeremy Davies) with their M1 Garands.
Behind Reiben, Wade (
Giovanni Ribisi) briefly holds an M1 Garand before passing it to a Paratrooper.
Captain John H. Miller (
Tom Hanks) pulls the trigger groupings out of M1 Garands marking dead G.I. graves so they are rendered useless should any Germans try to capture them.
U.S. paratrooper Trask loads up his M1 Garand before the battle in Ramelle. Note how he has to slap his bolt shut, while the bolt is supposed to snap forwards automatically after the clip is loaded, bad field conditions can cause the mechanism to fail, in which case slapping the operating handle will shut it easily and safely.
*PING!* - Private James Ryan (
Matt Damon) firing his M1 Garand.
Mellish fires his M1 Garand and then claims it jams, despite the fact it is clearly still in battery.
Cpl. Upham (
Jeremy Davies) points his M1 Garand at a group of fleeing German soldiers including Steamboat Willie.
Cpl. Upham with his M1 Garand.
M1 Carbine
The M1 Carbine appears as the main weapon of Technician Sergeant Mike Horvath (Tom Sizemore), which is fitted with a double magazine pouch strapped to the buttstock. At least one Paratrooper of the 101st Airborne under Sergeant Hill’s command carries a M1 Carbine in Neuville. Lieutenant Briggs appears to have a M1 Carbine shot up at Omaha Beach.
"Gather weapons and ammo!" - TSgt. Mike Horvath (
Tom Sizemore) with his M1 Carbine on Omaha Beach, Dog Green Sector.
TSgt. Horvath firing his M1 Carbine.
Horvath with his M1 Carbine as Dog One is opened.
Horvath racks the bolt on his M1 Carbine before facing the German machine gun nest.
TSgt. Horvath with his M1 Carbine.
A U.S. paratrooper taking cover behind a wall with his M1 Carbine during the sniper ambush. Note that it would be more accurate for this paratrooper to be seen with an M1A1 Carbine, a variant of the M1 Carbine that features a folding stock and is commonly issued to paratroopers, however in the case of the operation in France, many Paratroopers lost their gear during and after the jump and tended to scavenge or trade with different military units for weapons available to them.
M1A1 Carbine
Several paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division, including Private Goldman (Raffaello Degruttola), a paratrooper runner, Michaelson (Ryan Hurst) and Private First Class Toynbe (Dylan Bruno) carry the folding stock variant M1A1 Carbine.
Paratrooper M1A1 Carbine - .30 Carbine
A paratrooper kills a German tank crewman with his M1A1 Carbine and then holds the hatch open with it. (Close inspection reveals the hatch appears to be made of lightweight material and easy to move)
M1903A4 Springfield
The squad's sharpshooter, Private Daniel Jackson (Barry Pepper), carries the sniper variant of the M1903 Springfield, the M1903A4 Sniper Rifle. The differences include the deletion of the front sight, and the addition of a scope. Jackson is heard quoting religious scriptures before firing his weapon. There is also a notable scene where Jackson shoots a German sniper through that sniper's own scope, a feat similar to one accomplished by Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock during the Vietnam War. However, in this film, the bullet drop at 400yds would make it impossible to clear all the scope lenses, while Hathcock was far closer to his target, as well as looking down at said target (Hathcock was on a hill, while the enemy sniper was at the base). Jackson clearly has trouble cycling the gun throughout the film due to him being left-handed and the gun being built for right-handed shooters.
M1903A4 Springfield sniper variant with M84 scope - .30-06
-Be not Thou far from me, O Lord. Pvt. Daniel Jackson (
Barry Pepper) aims his M1903A4 Springfield.
Pvt. Jackson fires his M1903A4.
Jackson fits an 8x Unertl scope on his M1903A4 to face the German sniper (although he doesn't zero it to the gun, which would make his incredible shot even more impossible). Here, he is seen adjusting his scope for elevation, even though he claims it is for windage. Also, his hand is the only thing moving, the front of the scope never twists.
-O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me. Jackson takes aim at the German sniper with his M1903A4.
Jackson with his M1903A4 during the standoff. Note that he's using a different scope than the 8x Unertl he uses in most other scenes.
Cpl. Upham looks through Jackson's rifle scope and despite which way he turns it, the reticle is always perfectly centered.
An angle view of the M1903A4 Springfield as Jackson covers the Paratroopers over the Tiger Tank.
Jackson ejects a shell (which is clearly a blank) from his M1903A4.
Jackson holds his M1903A4 Springfield after firing more than 5 rounds without reloading. Note how the free-bolt safety is clearly on in this shot.
Faulty Scope
During the bell tower sequence, Jackson's Unertl scope appears to be very off from where the bullets hit, as a result of the effects simulating the bullet impacts not being aligned in any way with the camera filming the action.
Jackson clearly led his target but the gun still shot too far left and likely hit this soldier by luck.
This shot went
way left and
way low.
This shot went
way right and
way low.
Karabiner 98k
As common with the German forces as the M1 Garand is with the Americans, the Karabiner 98k bolt-action rifle is the standard-issue weapon of the German military. SS Grenadiers during the battle in Ramelle line up armed almost entirely with Kar98k rifles, including 'Steamboat Willie' (Joerg Stadler), who mortally wounds Cpt. Miller with his 98k rifle. Also note how most of the rifles lack the hooded sights and cleaning rods which usually indicates Russian captures.
Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser
Heer soldiers armed with Kar98k rifles and MP40 submachine guns during the standoff.
SS Grenadiers run to the bridge in Ramelle armed with Kar98k rifles. The device behind the soldier in the foreground is a 60cm SW-36 searchlight on an Sd.Ah.51 trailer.
'Steamboat Willie' (Joerg Stadler) fires his Karabiner 98k.
Steamboat Willie's Kar98k recoils after he shoots a paratrooper.
Steamboat Willie chambers his Kar98k. You can see the bullet in the chamber and the ejected brass flying in front of his fellow soldier's face.
Karabiner 98k Sniper Rifle
A Heer sniper is armed with a Karabiner 98k sniper rifle fitted with a Zeiss ZF42 scope with a rubber light blocking eye cover (which despite goof reports, is at proper eye relief with him resting his eye on it) and covered in makeshift burlap camouflage. He mortally wounds PFC Adrian Caparzo (Vin Diesel) before being killed himself by Private Daniel Jackson (Barry Pepper). Jackson shoots this German sniper through his scope, a reference to a shot made by legendary Marine Corps sniper Carlos Norman Hathcock II during the Vietnam War.
Karabiner 98k sniper rifle with Zeiss ZF42 scope - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A Heer sniper aims his Karabiner 98k sniper rifle.
Submachine Guns
M1A1 Thompson
The M1A1 Thompson aka the "Tommy Gun" or "fast gun" is carried by Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks). The Thompson is also used by other soldiers as well as Paratroopers, notably Pathfinder Captain Fred Hamill (Ted Danson) to end a standoff between Miller's squad and a group of German soldiers they had stumbled upon. Corporal Fred Henderson (Max Martini) and some Paratroopers under his command also carry the Thompson submachine gun in Ramelle.
Capt. John H. Miller (
Tom Hanks) removes his M1A1 Thompson from its clear protective bag. The clear material is PLIOFILM, an early plastic wrap that was more temperature resistant than other plastic wraps but fully ceased production after WWII, as it involved harmful chemicals that caused health issues for factory workers.
Cpt. Miller covering a German machine gun bunker with his Thompson.
Captain Fred Hamill (
Ted Danson), on the left, and one of his men holding freshly fired M1A1 Thompsons.
Miller reloads his Thompson before the battle in Ramelle, despite having been clearly seen reloading it the scene before when facing the half-track. This could be due to nervous habit.
Capt. Miller (
Tom Hanks) with his Thompson at the ready.
Miller fires his Thompson through the driver's viewport of a "Tiger" tank.
Capt. Miller firing his Thompson.
Cpl. Fred Henderson (
Max Martini) fires his Thompson at a German through the wall. Note the holes are perpendicular to the wall but Henderson is at an angle.
MP40
The MP40 is also used by German forces, notably in the scene where Miller's squad stumbles upon a group of German soldiers, as well as during the defense of the bridge at Ramelle.
A German beach defender fires his MP40 on Omaha Beach, hiding behind an MG42 nest.
A Heer soldier armed with an MP40 during the standoff.
An SS Grenadier armed with a RPzB 54 has an MP40 slung over his back.
An SS Grenadier blind-fires his MP40 in the room before being taken down by Pvt. Mellish.
An SS Grenadier armed with an MP40 leads a charge during the battle of Ramelle while Cpl. Upham hides nearby.
An SS Grenadier armed with an MP40 charges a paratrooper but gets a rifle butt to the face before he can use it.
Machine Guns & Automatic Rifles
M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle
As the squad's support gunner, Private First Class Richard Reiben (Edward Burns) carries an M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle or "B.A.R." as his main weapon. The B.A.R. Reiben carries is not his originally issued one, which he claims he lost during the start of the D-Day landing to keep from drowning, and has the bipod removed, making it more into an assault rifle instead of a light machine gun. Further supporting this theory is how he fires it on the faster of the B.A.R.'s two full-auto fire modes, instead of the more efficient slow auto-fire used for support. Reports have said that, like the M1 Garands in the film, this B.A.R. was lightened for easier use by the actors, making it far easier to shoulder fire the weapon as an assault rifle.
M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06
Private First Class Richard Reiben sets the bullets in his magazine by tapping it on his helmet and then loads it into his B.A.R.
PFC. Reiben gives supporting fire on an MG42 nest with his Browning Automatic Rifle.
Reiben (
Edward Burns) with his B.A.R. while talking to his squadmates.
Reiben with his B.A.R. during the standoff.
Reiben with his B.A.R. while in the town.
Reiben racks the charging handle on his B.A.R. before being driven out as bait for the company of mechanized SS.
Reiben with his B.A.R. at the ready.
Reiben hip fires his B.A.R. on rapid auto-firing mode. It's amazing he can see what he's shooting at with his helmet so low on his face.
A shell-shocked Capt. Miller watches Reiben fires his B.A.R.
Browning M1919A4
The Browning M1919A4 or "Browning .30 caliber" machine gun is briefly seen being lugged by a U.S. soldier during the Omaha Beach scene. This machine gun is also among the weapons used by the defenders during the final battle at Ramelle. With only two machine guns available at Ramelle, one M1919A4 is manned by Airborne paratrooper Pvt. Parker (Demetri Goritsas) in the bell tower with Private Jackson and the other is manned by Corporal Fred Henderson (Max Martini) with Private Stanley Mellish (Adam Goldberg) as his assistant feeding and reloading. Both guns eventually run out of ammunition, their users being killed. The gun in the tower has a disintegrating belt and Mellish's gun has a fabric belt.
Browning M1919A4 on M2 tripod - .30-06
A U.S. soldier is seen lugging a Browning M1919A4 machine gun during the assault on Omaha Beach.
Cpl. Fred Henderson (
Max Martini) and Pvt. Stanley Mellish (
Adam Goldberg) load their Browning M1919A4 in preparation for battle. Note how it is loaded with a fabric ammo belt.
Henderson firing his Browning M1919A4, the fabric belt is seen.
Henderson firing his Browning M1919A4 with Mellish feeding him.
Pvt. Parker (Demetri Goritsas) firing his Browning M1919A4 from a bell tower. This machine gun is loaded with a disintegrating link belt.
Close-up of the disintegrating ammo belt. Note that the belt is loaded with blank crimp-nosed rounds.
Parker moves his M1919A4. Despite Parker saying he's out of .30 caliber, the ammo belt is still loaded on the left.
MG42
Known by the Allies as "Hitler's Buzzsaw", the German MG42 was perhaps the deadliest machine gun of World War II. Its extreme high rate of fire is accurately portrayed in the film. Its most notable appearance is during the Omaha Beach sequence, being fired from large pillboxes and sandbag positions overlooking the beach. Two pillboxes housing the MG42s are called 'Schnabelstand' and they were only used for observation and target spotting, not MG emplacement. However, there were none of these bunkers on the real Omaha Beach. The MG42 is later seen mounted on a lafette tripod, when Miller's squad encounter a German machine gun nest.
A German beach defender firing the MG42 from his nest during the D-Day scene.
An MG42, mounted on a lafette tripod, still smoking from the recent firefight.
MG34 Panzerlauf
During the final battle, SS Tiger tanks (in reality mocked-up T34s) can be seen armed with MG34 Panzerlauf machine guns, mounted coaxially next to the main gun and in the bow of the hull next to the driver's compartment.
MG34 Panzerlauf with stock fitted - 7.92x57mm Mauser
An MG34 (circled in red) bow-mounted on a "Tiger" tank (actually a visually modified T34).
Pistols
Colt M1911A1
The Colt M1911A1 pistol is seen in the hands of TSgt. Horvath (Tom Sizemore), Pvt. Jackson (Barry Pepper), and Capt. Miller (Tom Hanks). Horvath uses it to threaten PFC Richard Reiben (Edward Burns) when he wants to abandon his squad, later throws it during a melee scuffle in the final battle. Captain Miller is seen firing it at one of "Tiger" tanks as he sits wounded on the bridge in one of the film's most memorable moments.
A large muzzle flash is emitted from Jackson's Colt M1911A1.
Pvt. Daniel Jackson (
Barry Pepper) fires his M1911A1 into a German filled trench.
Pvt. Jackson draws his M1911A1 when his squad first confronts Steamboat Willie (Joerg Stadler) and checks the magazine, which is clearly empty.
A wounded Capt. Miller fires his M1911A1 at an advancing "Tiger" tank. Note how his pistol is clearly out of battery, but in perfect working order in the next shot.
Miller fires his M1911A1 at the advancing tank.
Miller in amazement after seeing the tank blow up after shooting it with his M1911A1 (which was actually blown up by a P-51 Mustang). In this sequence, the pistol was only loaded with six rounds instead of the fully-loaded seven which is not unusual since soldiers don't always 'top off' their magazines in the middle of a war zone after firing one or more rounds previously. It is also likely that since there are too many camera angle shots of Miller firing his pistol, the camera shot for the seventh round may be unused or misplaced.
Walther P38
During the final battle in Ramelle, an SS Panzergrenadier can be seen using a Walther P38 when confronting TSgt. Horvath and is killed but still manages to wound him with it.
Walther P38 - World War II dated with black grips - 9x19mm
An SS Panzergrenadier fires his Walther P38 at Horvath.
Launchers
M1A1 Bazooka
The M1A1 Bazooka is used in some scenes. It is first seen in the hands of a U.S. soldier under the command of Captain Fred Hamill (Ted Danson). Later we see Private James F. Ryan (Matt Damon) using an M1A1 Bazooka to destroy a German half-track. In preparation for the battle of Ramelle, the inventory shows two Bazookas available, one of them bring the same one carried by Ryan and later used by TSgt. Horvath (Tom Sizemore) during the final battle to destroy a Marder III self-propelled gun. The second Bazooka was briefly picked up by Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) before being commandeered by Horvath in an attempt to destroy a "Tiger" tank, but the rocket is deflected off the tank's heavy armor.
Private James F. Ryan (
Matt Damon) with the M1A1 Bazooka after destroying a German half-track.
TSgt. Horvath prepares to fire the M1A1 Bazooka at a Marder III.
Capt. Miller attempts to use an M1A1 Bazooka before Horvath takes it.
Horvath fires a shot at the Tiger tank, but it deflects off due to the combination of the rocket hitting the tank at a bad angle and the tank's heavy armor.
Raketenpanzerbüchse 54
During the final battle, one of SS Grenadiers can be seen carrying a Raketenpanzerbüchse (RPzB) 54 rocket launcher, better known as the "Panzerschreck", and fires at a group of retreating U.S. troops, sending one paratrooper through a glass window. Another Grenadier is also seen with a RPzB but is killed by Pvt. Ryan.
RPzB 54 "Panzerschreck" rocket launcher - 88mm
An SS Grenadier carrying a RPzB 54 during the final battle. Note that the shield has slipped and is crooked.
The same Grenadier aims his RPzB 54. The shield is now back in place.
An SS Grenadier runs out with a RPzB 54 before being pointed out and killed by Pvt. Ryan.
M7 Rifle Grenade Launcher with M9A1 Rifle Grenade
During the Omaha Beach scene, we can briefly see an M1 Garand mounted M7 Rifle Grenade Launcher being used to fire an M9A1 Rifle Grenade after the German line has been broken.
M7 rifle grenade launcher
An M9A1 grenade about to be fired from the M7 launcher of an M1 Garand. Note that this is likely a lightweight prop, as the stabilizer fin of the grenade has slid up the tail section to be directly behind the warhead.
An M9A1 grenade fired from the M7 launcher of an M1 Garand. While the combination of overcharged M3 grenade launcher cartridge and the heavy 19-ounce grenade was unpleasant, direct fire from the shoulder was safely possible.
Grenades
Mk 2 Hand Grenade
During the attack on the German machine gun nest, Miller's squad uses Mk 2 hand grenades to take out all but one of German soldiers throws the grenades back at them, though thankfully miss. Later, during the final battle in Ramelle, several Mk 2 hand grenades are tossed into a disabled German tank, killing the crew.
Mk 2 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
PFC. Reiben hands Cpl. Medic Irwin Wade a Mk 2 grenade before rushing the machine gun nest.
A Mk 2 grenade is seen on this paratrooper's vest.
Paratroopers prepare to throw their Mk 2 grenades into the Tiger tank.
Model 24 Stielhandgranate
During the final battle, Private Stanley Mellish (Adam Goldberg) and Corporal Fred Henderson (Max Martini) get two Model 24 Stielhandgranates thrown at them while manning one of M1919A4 machine guns. Thankfully the two are able to grab and toss the grenades clear before they detonate.
Model 24 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
Corporal Fred Henderson (
Max Martini) is hit in the chest with a Model 24 Stielhandgranate.
Others
M1 Flamethrower
During the Omaha Beach scene, Private First Class Doyle (Glenn Wrage) uses the M1 Flamethrower to clear a German bunker overlooking the beach, turning the occupants into human torches. A group of U.S. soldiers are ordered to let them burn. During the opening of the scene, a flamethrower operator gets hit in the napalm tank and gets blown up along with his comrades around him.
A U.S. soldier with his M1 Flamethrower, seconds before being lit up by a single 7.92mm round.
PFC. Doyle (
Glenn Wrage) readies his flamethrower to burn the pillbox.
Doyle's flamethrower clears out the bunker with a burst of flame. How this burst of flame is so large in unknown. It may be possible that within the confines of the narrow cement hallways in the bunker, it amplifies the blast.
M1A1 Bangalore Torpedo
Captain John H. Miller (Tom Hanks) aids some soldiers in employing M1A1 Bangalore Torpedos to clear the barbed wire seawall (which would have actually been made of concrete, wood timbers, and pebbles). This is an homage to Major General Norman "Dutch" Cota who fearlessly encouraged his men to use the Bangalores to clear the seawall.
Crate containing M1A1 Bangalore Torpedoes
U.S. soldiers bring up M1A1 Bangalore Torpedoes to clear the seawall.
U.S. soldiers passing up Bangalores. Note how the side reads "Bangalore M1A1".
A soldier lights the fuse on the Bangalore while Capt. Miller holds it.
"FIRE IN THE HOLE!". The torpedo is detonated to clear the seawall..
2 cm Flak 38
A 2 cm Flak 38 is used by several SS Grenadiers during the final battle at Ramelle and delivers devastating 20mm Flak rounds on U.S. paratroopers.
2 cm Flak 38 in single mounting - 20x138mmB
The 2 cm Flak 38 being fired at the paratroopers.
20mm shells kick out of the 2 cm Flak 38.
The crew turns their 2 cm Flak 38 to Cpt. Miller's position.
The crew begins to reposition the gun before being flanked by Reiben's B.A.R.
M2 Mortar
During the final battle at Ramelle, Private Ryan (Matt Damon) and Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) arm 60mm M2 Mortar shells by banging them against the steel launching base of the mortar tube and throw them like hand grenades at advancing SS soldiers, scoring several kills. This scene is based on the real life tactics of Medal of Honor winner Charles "Commando" Kelly, who really used 60mm mortar shells as grenades during a firefight in Italy.
Pvt. Ryan (
Matt Damon) arms a 60mm M2 Mortar shell by his hand.
15 cm TbtsK C/36 naval gun
A 15 cm TbtsK C/36 is positioned in a German bunker at Omaha Beach.
15 cm TbtsK C/36 naval gun in a Regelbau M272 casemate at the Longues-sur-Mer battery, France.
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