The One That Got Away (1996)

The One That Got Away DVD Cover Country United Kingdom Directed by Paul Greengrass Release Date 1996 Main Cast Character Actor "Chris Ryan" Paul McGann "Andy McNab" David Morrissey Vince Phillips Nick Brimble "Dinger" Steven Waddington "Legs" Lane Sam Halpenny "Stan" Simon Burke "Mark" Hannes Muller Small Bob Steve John Shepherd

The One That Got Away is the 1996 ITV dramatization of Chris Ryan's 1995 account of the Bravo Two Zero mission from the first Gulf War directed by Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Ultimatum, Green Zone). His book was released after Andy McNab's book, but his movie came out three years before the BBC's dramatization of Bravo Two Zero. The book and film were highly critical of McNab's leadership before and during the mission. Both Ryan and McNab were criticized for publishing the real names of the three troopers who perished while themselves still hiding behind pseudonyms. A third book about the mission by "Mike Coburn" ("Mark" in the film) was published in 2004, despite opposition from the British government.

The following weapons were used in the film The One That Got Away:

Colt AR-15 Sporter-1

Most of members of Bravo Two Zero including Chris Ryan (Paul McGann), Andy McNab (David Morrissey), Vince Phillips (Nick Brimble), Dinger (Steven Waddington), Stan (Simon Burke) and Mark (Hannes Muller) carry Colt AR-15 Sporter-1 rifles fitted with Cobray CM203 flare launchers. In reality, Dinger, Stan and Mark were equipped with FN Minimi light machine guns.

Colt AR-15 Sporter-1 - 5.56x45mm

Dinger with his Colt AR-15 Sporter-1.

Chris Ryan fires his Colt AR-15 Sporter-1.

Chris Ryan drops his bergen. Note the LAW attached.

A good shot of the right side of the receiver.

Chris Ryan opens up on the Iraqi APC.

M16A1

"Legs" Lane (Sam Halpenny) carries a what appears to be an M16A1, also with a Cobray CM203 flare launcher. Big Bob (Alexander Morton) is seen loading one in the end.

Colt M16A1, fitted with CM203 flare launcher - 5.56x45mm

"Legs" with his M16A1.

"Legs" (right) fires his M16A1 during the checkpoint battle. The forward assist can be seen in this shot.

Big Bob loading an M16A1 back at base.

FN Minimi (Prototype)

Small Bob (Steve John Shepherd) carries the prototype version of the FN Minimi. It can be identified as such by the downward sloping skeleton stock, the unhooded front sight, the more rounded and tapered handguard, and the FN FAL type carry handle. In reality, Dinger, Stan and Mark were also equipped with Minimis.

FN Minimi Prototype - 5.56x45mm

Small Bob with his Minimi. The downward sloping stock of the Minimi prototype can be seen here. The same weapon will be used three years later in the BBC's dramatization of the mission.

Small Bob runs with his Minimi during the checkpoint firefight. He was previously seen firing a MAG, and will later be seen firing a MAG.

FN MAG 58

Small Bob's Minimi turns to, and back from, an FN MAG 58 machine gun during the firefight at the checkpoint. Iraqi forces are also showing equipped with MAGs.

FN MAG 58 - 7.62x51mm NATO

The Quartermaster (David Clatworthy) works on an FN MAG.

An FN MAG mounted on the Iraqi APC.

Small Bob fires his MAG during the checkpoint firefight.

Small Bob makes his last stand.

An Iraqi soldier mans an FN MAG.

Cobray CM203 Flare Launcher

Every member of Bravo Two Zero except for Small Bob has a Cobray CM203 mounted underneath his rifle.

Cobray CM203, mounted under an M16A1 - 37mm flare

The cocking lever on the CM203 can be clearly seen in this shot.

Chris Ryan fires a grenade at an oncoming APC. (Going frame-by-frame, the CM203 doesn't actually fire, a flash comes up from a source underneath the launcher.)

Vektor R4 (mocked up as an AK-47)

The majority of the Iraqi forces in the film carry Vektor R4s mocked up to resemble AK-47s, a common practice for films shot in South Africa. They can be distinguished from genuine AK-47s by their straighter 5.56x45mm magazine, the more slanted bottom edge of the milled receiver and the shape of the lightening cut above the magazine well. They are mocked up as both solid, and folding stock variants.

Vektor R4, with 50 round magazine - 5.56x45mm

Iraqi troops with their R4s.

This R4 turns into a real AK variant in the very next shot (see below).

Unidentified AK-47 Variant

An unidentified AK-47 variant (possibly a replica) is seen in the background in some shots. It can be differentiated from the blank firing Vektor R4s used during the majority of the film by the curvature of its 7.62x39mm magazine.

AK-47, type III - 7.62x39mm

This AK was an R4 in the previously shot. (See above.)

M72 LAW

Chris Ryan is equipped with an M72 LAW rocket launcher, which he keeps after the team is discovered and they abandon their gear.

M72 LAW - 66mm

Chris Ryan takes out on oncoming jeep.

ZU-23-2

ZU-23-2 mounts are seen throughout the film.

ZU-23-2 - 23x152mm

Trivia

Casspir APC

Since filming was done in South Africa with the help of the South African National Defence Force, South African Casspir APCs were used as Iraqi APCs. The Casspir is the ancestor of the Buffalo MRAP.

Right-Hand Drive

Vehicles in South Africa, like most former British colonies, are right-hand drive. Vehicles in Iraq, however, are not.