The Steel Helmet

The Steel Helmet (1951)

The Steel Helmet (1951) was the first American movie to depict the Korean War in a feature film. This was also the breakout film for writer/director Samuel Fuller, who went on to direct such notable war films as Merrill's Marauders and The Big Red One. The production was also the first (but not the last) to use the Santa Monica Mountains as a stand-in for Korea. The film is a meditation on race, bigotry, tolerance, and morality in wartime.

The following weapons were used in the film The Steel Helmet:

M1 Garand

Throughout the film, American GIs carry an M1 Garand.

M1 Garand - .30-06

Short Round (William Chun) finds an M1 Garand.

Short Round rousts Sgt. Zack (Gene Evans).

Sgt. Zack is seldom seen without his M1 Garand and cigar stub.

Sgt. Zack and Lt. Driscoll (Steve Brodie) disagree about tactics.

Sgt. Zack returns fire against a North Korean sniper.

M1 Carbine

Throughout the film, American GIs carry a World War II era M1 Carbine.

M1 Carbine

Browning Automatic Rifle

The GIs use Browning Automatic Rifles.

Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06

1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle

Short Round collects 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle from dead snipers and carries them throughout the film.

1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle

North Korean infantry charge with the 1891 Mosin Nagant Rifle

Mk 2 hand grenade

Throughout the film, American GIs carry an Mk 2 hand grenade.

Mk 2 hand grenade

M1928A1 Thompson

Throughout the film, US GIs carry the M1928A1 Thompson submachine gun.

M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine and early 'simplified' rear sight that would be adopted for the M1 Thompson - .45 ACP

Note the bolt actuator on top of the receiver.

Note the simplified rear sight.

File:Helmet16 sm.jpg

Browning M2HB

Throughout the film, American GIs carry a Browning M2 machine gun.

Browning M2HB - .50 BMG machine gun on M3 tripod

Model 17 Stielhandgranate

Throughout the film, a North Korean major menaces the squad with a Model 17 Stielhandgranate

Model 17 Stielhandgranate "Potato Masher" high-explosive fragmentation hand grenade

Sgt. Tanaka and Pvt. Baldy (Richard Monahan) clown around with the potato masher.

Note the clip.

M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)

Throughout the film, Sgt. “Buddha Head” Tanaka (Richard Loo) wields a M20 "Super Bazooka"

M20 "Super Bazooka" (3.5" Rocket)

Sgt. Tanaka gets the kill.

Maxim 1895

Throughout the film, North Korean infantry fire a Maxim 1895 machine gun.

Maxim 1895

PPSh 41 - 7.Burp Gun

A North Korean infantryman charges with a PPSh-41 “Burp Gun.”

PPSh-41 Chinese “Burp Gun”

The PPSh against the column next to the BAR.