A Bridge Too Far

The following guns were used in the movie A Bridge Too Far:

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Mauser 98K

Mauser Karabiner 98 (98K) was the standard weapon for all German ground forces during World War 2.

Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm

German Soldiers defend the Nijmegen Bridge with their K98 - 7.92x57mm

German Soldiers fight for the Nijmegen Bridge with their K98 rifles - 7.92x57mm

German defenders of the bridge with the K98 - 7.92x57mm

A boy drafted into the Wehrmacht fights the Americans with his K98 - 7.92x57mm

Lee-Enfield No 4 Mk 1*

Used by all British Troops, mostly the Grenadier Guards in the Armored Column as well as the British 1st Airborne Division when they were trapped in Arnhem. The No 4 Mk 1* rifle was also seen in the hands of the Polish Airborne brigade troops. Colonel John Frost (Anthony Hopkins) was also seen using a No.4 rifle during the later stages of the battle for Arnhem.

Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk1 .303

British troops from the XXX Armored Corp. advance with a variety of weapons including the No 4. Mk 1. - 303

British 1st Airborne Brigade in Arnhem use No 4 Mk. 1 Rifles - .303

British 1st Airborne soldier in Arnhem using No 4 Mk. 1 Rifle - .303

M1 Garand

Used by American troops.

M1 Garand .30-06

Major Julian Cook (Robert Redford) of the 82nd Airborne leads his soldiers carrying an M1 Garand .30-06

Major Julian Cook (Robert Redford) hunkers down with his M1 Garand .30-06

M1 Carbine

Used by American Soldiers and mounted on jeeps and other vehicles. Most notably seen when James Caan pulls one out of it's Jeep mount when he is hiding from a German Patrol in the Forest. Also used by Elliott Gould when leading the charge to capture a bridge.

World War Two Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WW2, shown with khaki sling and Magazine pouch for buttstock

Col. Robert Stout (Elliott Gould) leads paratroopers to capture a bridge. Stout carries a correct World War 2 era M1 Carbine - .30 carbine. Actually there was no Robert Stout. The character is based on Colonel Robert Sink, commander of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, which was about to seize the Son River bridge when the Germans managed to blow it up just before they got there.

Exhausted 101st Airborne MP points the way with his M1 Carbine - .30 carbine. Note that though the "L" peep sight is correct, the bayonet lug is Korean War Issue.

Korean War Era M1 Carbine, late 1945 issue, usually referred to as the Korean War Era M1 Carbine, since it saw the most US military action in that campaign- .30 carbine. Also there are no Wartime photographs of Soldiers carrying this model Carbine during World War 2, however occupation troops have them. It has the adjustable rear sight and a bayonet lug.

Sgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) readies his M1 Carbine - .30 carbine. The M1 Carbine is a Post World War 2 variant with a bayonet lug and an adjustable rear sight.

Closer shot of Sgt. Eddie Dohun with his anachronistic Korean War vintage M1 Carbine - .30 carbine

M1A1 Paratrooper Carbine

A Folding stock version of the M1 Carbine, this should have been more prevalent amongst the American Airborne troops, however only a few samples are ever seen in the film, most notably during large scenes of massing troops.

M1A1 Carbine - .30 Carbine.

American 101st soldier on the far left runs with an M1A1 Carbine - .30 carbine

M1911A1

Used throughout the movie, especially by James Caan when threatening a 101st Airborne combat surgeon (Arthur Hill) in order to get him to treat his wounded lieutenant (Nicholas Campbell). And also by Roy Urquhart when he blows away a German soldier passing a house window. Actually left-over WW1 M1911 Pistols in .455 Webley & Scott Auto were issued to the British Forces chambered in .455 Webley for the Royal Navy/Royal Air Force, but lend-lease .45ACP M1911A1s were commonly issued to paratroopers and commandos.

M1911A1 .45 ACP

Sgt. Eddie Dohun (James Caan) threatens the Colonel (Arthur Hill) to convince him to treat his friend.

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M1911 .455 Webley issued to RAF Pilots

British 1st Airborne General Roy Urquhart (Sean Connery) fires an M1911A1 - .45ACP. His junior officers also carry M1911s which is odd since being British ARMY officers, they would be issued Browning Hi-Powers.

M1A1 Thompson

Seen only briefly during some of the massing troops scenes, the M1A1 Thompson has a peculiarly small roll in the film. The vast majority of Americans are armed with M1 Garands and M1 Carbines, which is unusual, since during many of the battles, nary an M1A1 Thompson can be seen, which is inaccurate.

M1A1 Thompson SMG - .45 acp

101st soldier runs across with an M1A1 Thompson, but none are seen during the battles in the movie - .45acp

Another 101st Airborne soldier runs off with an M1A1 Thompson - .45acp

Browning Automatic Rifle

82nd Airborne Soldier with a modified BAR prepares to assault the Nijmegen Bridge - 30.06

Browning M2 HB

Used by British Armored troops mounted to their Lend Lease Sherman Tanks.

Grenadier Guard fires his Browning M2 - .50 Cal (Note: In the movie, the sound effect for the .50 cal gun is that of an MG42!

Sten Mk5

The standard submachine gun for British and Polish Airborne units. Differentiated from earlier models by the wooden vertical foregrip and wooden stock.

Sten Mk5 as used by British Airborne.

Sten Mk5 as used by British 1st Airborne.

Sten Mk5 used by British Paratroopers.

British Paratrooper yells for Col. Frost to run, carrying a Sten Mk5 - 9mm

No2 Portable Flamethrower

Used in the attack on the German bunker on the Arnhem bridge this weapon, known as the "Lifebuoy" for its' resemblance to a lifesaver, was the standard British flamethrower.

No2 Portable Flamethrower as used by British Airborne.

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British 1st Airborne Soldier with the No.2 Portable Flamethrower. Note the "Life Saver" shape of the fuel reservoir.

PIAT

Projectile Infantry Anti-Tank Used throughout the movie by British and Polish airborne units (who were similarly equipped) this weapon fired a 3 lb. hollow charge warhead via means of a powerful spring which ignited it's propellant. The weapon had a powerful recoil which necessitated it being fired prone since any other position would knock the user flat down. Seen especially during the repulse of the initial German assault on the Arnhem bridge.

PIAT Anti Tank Projectile

British 1st Airborne prepares to defend Arnhem with PIATs

British 1st Airborne uses a PIAT

Bren gun

Bren gun, .303

British Grenadier Guards fight with a Bren Gun - .303

Vickers Machine Gun

Used by British soldiers when the armored convoy is ambushed.

British Grenadier Guards fight with a Vickers - .303

Karabiner 98 Sniper

Used by designated Marksmen and Snipers in the German Armed forces.

German soldier aims his K98 Sniper rifle.

MP40

Used by German troops.

MP40 9mm

Closeup of an MP40 - 9mm

A British 1st Airborne soldier use a captured MP40 during the battle for Arnhem - 9mm

Lieutenant General Wilhelm Bittrich's (Maximilian Schell) guards carry MP40 SMGs - 9mm

MG42

Used by German troops

Carried by retreating German Soldiers - MG42

MG34

The most commonly seen MG used by German troops in the film.

German Soldier in the woods scans for US Paratroopers with his MG34.

More Fighting with the MG34.

German Panzer Grenadier (wearing anachronistic West German 1960s experimental Cammo pattern) aims his MG34.

There are a LOT of anachronisms in this movie regarding Wehrmacht equipment. Also note the barely-disguised Leopard I tank that's supposed to be a WWII-era Panzer variant. -MT2008

Barely disguised Leopard Mk 1

In deference to MT2008's observation! ;)

Some seen with a muzzle brake on the guns, some without. But other than the paint job, it is an unaltered Leopard Tank from the 1960s.