The Fighting Seabees

The Fighting Seabees Film Poster Country USA Directed by Edward Ludwig Release Date 1944 Language English Studio Republic Pictures Distributor Republic Pictures Main Cast Character Actor Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan John Wayne Constance Chesley Susan Hayward Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow Dennis O'Keefe

The Fighting Seabees is a 1944 American romantic war drama directed by Edward Ludwig. Produced in the midst of the Second World War, the film stars John Wayne as Lt. Cmdr. "Wedge" Donovan, and depicts a (heavily) dramatized account of the formation of the United States Naval Construction Battalions, better known as the "Seabees".

The following weapons were used in the film The Fighting Seabees:

Handguns

M1911A1

American officers use the M1911A1. Most notably, this pistol is used by Lt. Cmdr. Wedge Donovan and Lt. Cmdr. Robert Yarrow.

World War II issued Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP

Donovan holds his M1911A1.

Donovan and Yarrow armed with the M1911A1.

Luger P08

Japanese officers use the Luger P08. These pistols are possibly standing in for the Nambu Type 14.

Luger P08 - 9x19mm

Colt New Service

Some Japanese officers can be seen armed with the Colt New Service.

Colt New Service Revolver - .45 ACP

Submachine Gun

M1928A1 Thompson

Some Japanese soldiers use the M1928A1 Thompson.

M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP

Rifles

Springfield M1903A3

The Construction Battalion members use the Springfield M1903A3. While the film lacks the standard-issue M1 Garand, presumably because most, if not all, M1 Garands at the time were reserved for soldiers fighting oversees, the M1903A3 was extensively used in the Pacific theater to supplement the Garand. It was especially commonly used by rear-line and support troops, such as the Construction Battalion.

Remington M1903A3 rifle - .30-06 Springfield

Donovan fires the Springfield M1903A3.

CB recruits armed with the Springfield M1903A3.

Yump Lumkin (Ben Welden) holds the Springfield M1903A3.

Springfield M1903

Some CB recruits can be seen armed with the Springfield M1903 Mk 1.

Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06 Springfield

Multiple CB recruits fire the Springfield M1903 Mk 1. The third man in line has the rear ladder sight raised on his rifle.

Krag-Jorgensen Model 1896

Japanese soldiers use the Krag-Jørgensen Model 1896s, presumably an attempted stand-in for the Arisaka rifle series.

Krag-Jørgensen Model 1896 - .30-40 Krag

Japanese soldiers armed with the Krag-Jørgensen Model 1896.

Donovan holds a captured Krag-Jørgensen

Mauser Gewehr 1898

Japanese soldiers can be seen armed with the Mauser Gewehr 1898. Some rifles are equipped with sniper scopes and huge flash hiders.

Early Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Late Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Note a sniper scope mounting rails.

A Japanese sniper holds the Mauser Gewehr 1898 fitted with a sniper scope and a flash hider.

This rifle is equipped with a flat bolt handle.

Machine Guns

Lewis Machine Gun

Japanese soldiers use the Lewis Machine Gun without the cooling shroud. A copy of the Lewis Gun, the Type 92 light machine gun, was used by the Japanese during the war.

Lewis Gun - .303 British

Also, the Lewis Gun is the main armament of the Higgins boats.

Aircraft mounted Lewis Gun - .303 British

Two Lewis Guns can be seen mounted at the boat's bow.

Nambu Type 96

The only authentic piece of Japanese equipment in the film, Japanese soldiers use a Nambu Type 96 fitted with a bayonet.

Nambu Type 96 with 2.5X Fuji periscope sight, Type 30 bayonet, bipod and, rear monopod - 6.5x50mm Arisaka

Browning M1919A4

US Marines and the Imperial Japanese Army use the Browning M1919A4.

Browning M1919A4 on an M2 tripod - .30-06 Springfield

Japanese soldiers fire the Browning M1919A4.

American CB men fire the Browning M1919A4.

A Japanese tank crew member fires the Browning M1919A4.

Browning M1917

US Marines use the Browning M1917.

Browning M1917 machine gun with tripod and ammo box - .30-06 Springfield

Browning M2HB

CB recruits use the Browning M2HB. Training scenes were filmed at several active military bases, using authentic equipment.

Browning M2HB on M3 tripod - .50 BMG

Browning M2 Aircraft

The Browning M2 Aircraft is mounted in Grumman F4F Wildcat fighters.

Browning M2 Aircraft, Fixed - .50 BMG

The ground crew reloads Browning M2 Aircraft machine guns.

Oerlikon 20mm Cannon

The Oerlikon 20mm Cannon is used by the Seabees.

Oerlikon Cannon - 20x110mm RB

Type 97 Aircraft Machine Gun (Acetylene Mock-up)

A Japanese fighter is equipped with Type 97 aircraft machine guns, which are actually non-firing mock-ups.

The Japanese fighter used in the film appears to be a mock-up based on the cockpit of an A6M "Zero".

Hand Grenades

Mk 2 Hand Grenade

The Mk 2 hand grenade is seen used by US Marines and Construction Battalion members.

Mk 2 hand grenade

Donovan holds the Mk 2 hand grenade in his right hand.

Type 97 Hand Grenade (Mock-up)

Japanese soldiers use the Type 97 hand grenades, which are most likely mock-ups/props.

Type 97 hand grenade

A Japanese soldier pulling the pin out of a grenade with his teeth before throwing the grenade. The Type 97 hand grenade has a compression actuator so it needs to be struck against a hard surface to arm, as opposed to the traditional pin of many other grenades. Regardless, pulling out the pin of a grenade with one's teeth is both incredibly difficult and ill-advised.

Mortars

M1 Mortar

The M1 Mortars is seen used by US Marines.

M1 Mortar - 81mm

M2 Mortar

The M2 Mortars is seen used by US sailors and Japanese soldiers.

M2 Mortar - 60mm

Japanese soldiers use an M2 mortar without base plate and bipod.

Dummy Mortar

Japanese soldiers can be seen with a dummy mortar.