| Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan (2019)
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Film poster
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| Country
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 Australia
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| Directed by
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Kriv Stenders
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| Release Date
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August 8, 2019
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| Language
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English
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| Studio
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Screen Queensland
Screen Australia
Saboteur Media
Red Dune Films
Deeper Water Films
Sunjive Studios
THN Nominees
Hoosegow Productions
Ingenious Media
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| Distributor
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Transmission Films
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Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan is a 2019 war movie which dramatises the actions of D Company, 6th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment on 18th August, 1966 during the Vietnam War. After resisting a Vietcong artillery attack on the 1st Australian Task Force base in Nui Dat, Delta Company of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment lead by Major Harry Smith is sent out to scout the nearby rubber plantation at Long Tan in order to root out the source of the mortar attack. What was supposed to be a routine patrol quickly devolves into a desperate fight for survival for the scattered Australians as more than a thousand Vietcong fighters descend on their position.
Not to be confused with the similarly named docu-drama, The Battle of Long Tan, which chronicles the same historical battle.
The following weapons were used in the film Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan:
Pistols
M1911A1
Major Harry Smith (Travis Fimmel) carries an M1911A1 as his sidearm during the action at Long Tan.
World War II Colt M1911A1 - .45 ACP.
A M1911A1 sits on Major Smith's desk.
During a close-quarters engagement, Major Smith draws his sidearm.
Smith readies his M1911A1 for another enemy rush.
Rifles
AK-47
The AK-47 is one of the main rifles carried by Vietcong forces throughout the film. Sgt. Bob Buick (Luke Bracey) picks up an abandoned AK-47 and is seen using it later.
Final Production version of the III AK-47 - 7.62x39mm
A Vietcong soldier falls with AK-47 in hand. Note the missing cleaning rod.
Sgt. Bob Buick (
Luke Bracey) with a captured AK-47 slung over his bag.
Several Vietcong soldiers holding AK-47s while under artillery barrage.
Sgt. Bob standing to with his captured AK-47. The fire selector is set to semi.
Several Vietcong soldiers proning with their AK-47s. This appears to be a reversed shot as the charging handle/ejection ports are on the left side instead of the right.
A Vietcong trooper rushing out of the brush wildly firing his AK-47.
L1A1
The L1A1 is the main weapon of the Australian Defence Force soldiers, often referred to as the "SLR" ("Self-Loading-Rifle"). These rifles appear to be early-British L1A1s due to the wooden furniture as well as long vent holes on the handguard, as opposed to genuine Aussie FALs that have more-rounded handguards with smaller round vent holes.
L1A1 SLR with wood furniture - 7.62x51mm NATO. Although this model features wood furniture, it has the contoured black fiberglass carry handle which identifies this as a later model L1A1 which has been fitted with after-market furniture.
An ADF soldier prones with his L1A1 when 11 Platoon comes under fire.
"One round left!" An ADF soldier aims his L1A1 without a loaded mag, but still a round left in the chamber.
An reserve soldier stands to with his SLR when the 1st Australian Task Force base at Nui Dat is put on full alert.
"Aim. Breathe." An Australian soldier aims his L1A1.
2nd Lt Geoff Kendall (
Travis Jeffrey) desperately holds his empty SLR like a club as they brace for another Vietcong wave.
Armoured infantry disembark from M113 APCs with their L1A1s.
M16
The M16 appears being carried by many of the Australian troops. In one scene, a Vietcong soldier is seen firing a captured M16.
The original M16, the first version, firing in a 20-round magazine, adopted in large numbers by the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. This has the original 3-prong flash hider. It would later be replaced by the upgraded M16A1 - 5.56x45mm
Pte. Paul "Largie" Large (
Daniel Webber) looks on in horror after he negligently discharges his M16 rifle during the mortar attack on the 1st ATF base.
Maj. Smith (
Travis Fimmel) inspects and loads Pte. Large's M16 after dressing him down for the latter's ND incident. During this scene, Pte. Large states his preference for carrying an M16 over an L1A1 due to the former's lower weight.
A trio of Vietcong soldiers take firing positions around 11 Platoon, the left one using a (presumably) captured M16.
Maj. Smith takes aim with his M16.
Sgt. Bob Buick (
Luke Bracey) with his issued M16 as he is on the radio.
Mosin Nagant M91/30 Sniper Rifle
A Mosin Nagant M91/30 Sniper Rifle with an attached PU 3.5x scope is used by a Vietcong sniper to ambush 11 Platoon.
Full-length, Mosin Nagant M91/30 Sniper Rifle with Russian PU 3.5x sniper scope (this example is one of the repurposed SVT-40 scopes, 91/30 PU scopes had consistent tube diameter as the mount rings were shorter) and down turned bolt handle - 7.62x54mm R
A Vietcong sniper sets his Mosin rifle aside in a hut's attic.
The rifle barrel pokes out from the straw hut.
The sniper takes aim through the PU scope.
SKS/Type 56
Vietcong troops in the film carry a mix of SKS and Norinco Type 56 rifles with underfolding bayonets.
Russian Simonov Type 45 aka the Russian SKS rifle - 7.62x39mm. The Russian SKS has a milled receiver and a blade bayonet.
Norinco Type 56 Carbine - 7.62x39mm
A Vietcong patrol wanders around the Long Tan plantation, some with slung SKS rifles. The lead scout seemingly has an original Russian SKS with a blade bayonet
A trio of Vietcong soldiers take firing positions around 11 Platoon, the one in front holding a SKS.
A Vietcong soldier fires his SKS from a prone position. This one has a "pig sticker" spike bayonet, making it a Chinese Type 56 carbine.
Pte. Large encounters a pair of female auxiliaries with SKS rifles slung on their backs. Various militias participated in the Battle for Long Tan in casualty-clearing and resupply roles for the Vietcong.
A Vietcong soldier fires his SKS at Australian helicopters.
Sturmgewehr 44
Several Vietcong troops are seen with StG-44 rifles. While this may seem like a curious choice, in fact, many old Wehrmacht firearms such as the MP40, MG34 and Karabiner 98k had been seized by Soviet forces during WWII and later redistributed to their communist allies in the early years of the Cold War, including North Vietnam during the Indochina conflicts.
Sturmgewehr 44 - 7.92x33mm Kurz
The Vietcong soldier on the far left with his StG-44 as the rest of his platoon retreats.
A Vietcong soldier carries his StG-44 into battle.
The soldier fires his StG-44.
Submachine Guns
Owen Submachine Gun
Australian Radio Telephone Operators (RTOs) and some Platoon Sergeants carry the Owen Submachine Gun.
Owen Mk I Submachine Gun - 9x19mm
An Australian scout raises his Owen Gun.
A soldier sets his Owen Gun down during a lull in the fighting.
Machine Guns
Browning M2HB
Browning M2HBs are seen mounted onto Australian M113 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs).
Browning M2HB on vehicle mount - .50 BMG
M113s with mounted Browning M2s from 3 Troop, 1st APC Squadron roll toward Long Tan.
Lt. Adrian Roberts fires his M2 at defending Vietcong infanrtry.
Another APC commander fires his M2. In the actual battle, many of the M113s lacked gun shields due to logistical shortages and the APCs themselves being in various states of disrepair, therefore risking the gunners to direct enemy fire.
Goryunov SG-43
A Goryunov SG-43 on a Sokolov mount is used by a Vietcong heavy machine gun team.
Goryunov SG-43 Machine Gun On 'Sokolov' mount with shield - 7.62x54mm R
A Vietcong gunner fires the SG-43 while his assistant helps to feed the belt.
Shot of the gunner through the shield's viewport.
The Vietcong MG team relocates their SG-43 toward the Australian's field HQ.
M60
The M60 is used by Australian machine gunners. Royal Australian Air Force Bell UH-1 "Huey" door gunners are also seen with mounted M60s.
M60 machine gun with bipod folded - 7.62x51mm NATO
A RAAF Huey with a mounted M60 machine gun on the side doors.
A close-up of the Huey's door-mounted M60.
Pte. Eglinton hip-fires his M60 at the sniper's hut.
The door-gunner of Albatross-1 fires his mounted M60.
Grenades
M18 Smoke Grenade
Several red and yellow versions of the M18 smoke grenade are used by ADF troops during their engagement at Long Tan.
M18 smoke grenade - Yellow.
A thrown (and apparently faulty) M18 smoke grenade fizzles out and eventually fails to produce any red smoke.
2WO Jack Kirby prepares another red M18 smoke grenade for the incoming air drop.
Pte. Large (
Daniel Webber) prepares to throw a yellow M18 smoke grenade.
M26 hand grenade
Sgt. Bob Buick (Luke Bracey) uses a M26 hand grenade.
M26 High-Explosive Fragmentation hand grenade
Sgt. Bob Buick readies a M26 grenade.
Type 67 stick grenade
A sack of Type 67 stick grenades are seen lying abandoned in a hut.
Type 67 High-Explosive Fragmentation stick grenade
A satchel of Type 67 stick grenades lie at the bottom of the hut.
Artillery/Launchers
OTO Melara Mod 56
Royal New Zealand Artillerymen are seen using OTO Melara Mod 56 artillery guns (known in Commonwealth service as the "L5 pack howitzer") to support D Company.
A L5 howitzer ready to fire. Note the lack of gun shield.
An artilleryman picks up a 105 x 372mm R shell.
The battery of L5 pack howitzers firing.
A L5 firing in slow-mo, giving us a detailed look at its massive muzzle blast.
Granatwerfer 34 Mortar
Vietcong soldiers are seen using a Granatwerfer 34 Mortar during their opening attack on the Australian base at Nui Dat. The Australian artillery coordinators refer to them as "82s".
8-cm Granatwerfer 34 (GrW 34)
A Vietcong mortar team cower around their mortar piece as New Zealand counter-battery fire rages around them.
The mangled, bloodied mortar piece is seen when the advance party investigates the site.
RPG-2
A Vietcong soldier uses a RPG-2 during the battle for the plantation.
RPG-2 with PG-2 rocket - 40mm
A Vietcong soldier readies his RPG-2.
He is later killed mid-reload, dropping the RPG-2 on his own body.
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