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The Battle at Lake Changjin (2021)

The Battle at Lake Changjin (Chinese: 长津湖) is a 2021 Chinese war film nominally about the 1950 Battle of the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War from the prospective of Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) forces. Funded directly by the Chinese Communist Party to mark the 100th anniversary of the CCP's founding, its portrayal of historical events is heavily skewed (if not outright fiction) in an attempt to portray the historical Chinese Pyrrhic victory (at best) as an unqualified success. It was released on September 30, 2021.

It is the most expensive Chinese film ever produced and the highest-grossing Chinese film of all time. A sequel, The Battle at Lake Changjin II, was released on February 1, 2022.

The following weapons were used in the film The Battle at Lake Changjin:

Handguns

Mauser C96

A Mauser C96 pistol is used by Wu Qianli (Jing Wu) as his sidearm.

Pre-War dated Mauser C96 "Broomhandle" Commercial Version - 7.63x25mm Mauser

Colt M1911A1

The M1911A1 is used by US troops.

Pre-War Colt M1911A1 - Commercial Model known as the "Colt Government Model" - .45 ACP. This has a deep Colt factory blued finish, common for commercial variants before and after the war.

A US tank crew seen with an M1911A1.

M8 Flare Pistol

M8 Flare Pistols are fired by the PVA to signal the beginning of their assault on Sinhung-Ni.

M8 Flare Pistol - 37mm

Rifles

Mauser Puška vz. 98/22

Some Chinese soldiers can be seen with Vz. 98/22 Czech Mauser‎ rifles.

Czech BRNO Vz.98/22 Mauser - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Arisaka Type 38

The Arisaka Type 38 is used by PVA riflemen, including Wu Wanli (Jackson Yee). The use of a Japanese rifle would have been historically accurate as the PVA was equipped with a variety of weapons including ex-Japanese rifles during the fighting in December 1950.

Arisaka Type 38 rifle - 6.5x50mmSR Arisaka

Ping He (Dongjun Han), the 7th Company's sharpshooter, aims an Arisaka Type 38.

M1903 Springfield

The M1903 Springfield is used by both PVA and American forces. Large numbers of Springfield rifles were indeed distributed to China during World War II. American forces are depicted as using infantry versions of the Springfield, which is inaccurate. By 1950, the Springfield had been mostly withdrawn in frontline service, with the only users of the Springfield being primarily American snipers. South Korean forces, however, made extensive use of the Springfield.

Springfield M1903 Mk 1 - .30-06

A US soldier with an M1903 Springfield.

M1 Carbine

The M1 Carbine is used by US Army soldiers. Wu Wanli later uses a captured M1 Carbine during the PVA assault on Sinhung-Ni.

M1 Carbine - .30 Carbine

US soldiers with M1 Carbines.

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand is used throughout the film by US Army soldiers and Marines. Captured M1 Garands are later used by PVA soldiers.

M1 Garand - .30-06

A PVA soldier with captured M1 Garand.

Submachine Guns

Sten Mk II

Wu Qianli (Jing Wu) and most PVA squad leaders and officers are armed with the Canadian variant of the Sten Mk II submachine gun.

Sten Mk II submachine gun - 9x19mm

M3 "Grease Gun"

US officers and tank crewmen are armed with the M3 "Grease Gun". Captured M3 Grease Guns are later used by PVA soldiers.

M3 "Grease Gun" - .45 ACP

A US soldier with an M3 "Grease Gun".

A US tanker blind-fires an M3 "Grease Gun".

Machine Guns

ZB26 Machine Gun

The ZB26 Machine Gun is used by PVA troops during the battles with US forces.

ZB26 Light Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm

Bren Gun

The 7.92mm version of the Bren Gun is seen as PVA troops of the 9th Army prepare to deploy to Korea.

Bren Gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser. This variant of the Bren was manufactured by Inglis in Canada and was supplied to the Chinese army during WWII.

Type 99 Light Machine Gun

The Japanese Type 99 Light Machine Gun appears to be the primary machine gun used by the 7th Company in the film.

Type 99 Light Machine Gun - 7.7x58mm Arisaka

M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle

The M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle is used by US forces throughout the film. Some are also captured by the PVA.

M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle - .30-06. This is a late-war version with an added carry handle.

Captured M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifles and Browning M1919A6s.

Type 24 Heavy Machine Gun

The Type 24 Heavy Machine Gun is used by the PVA as their primary heavy machine gun.

Type 24 Heavy Machine Gun - 7.92x57mm Mauser

Type 30 Heavy Machine Gun

A Type 30 Heavy Machine Gun is mocked-up to resemble a Browning M1919A4.

Type 30 machine gun, a Chinese copy of the Browning M1917 - 7.92×57mm Mauser

Browning M1919A4 on an M31C pedestal mount, for comparison - .30-06 Springfield

A Type 30 is mounted on a US tank's pintle mount. The only major modification appears to be the removal of the water cooling jacket and addition of a perforated barrel.

Browning M1919A4

Genuine Browning M1919A4s are used by American forces as support weapons.

Browning M1919A4, fitted with bolt latch - .30-06

Browning M1919A6

The Browning M1919A6 is seen among weapons captured by the PVA.

Browning M1919A6 - .30-06

Captured M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifles and Browning M1919A6. The Browning M1919A6 may be a mock-up, as the barrel differs in size and shape from the genuine M1919A4 also seen in the same image.