abstract
| - When massive battles are staged for war movies it can be a major problem gathering historically accurate hardware for the scenes. Many classic weapons systems are unavailable for film use either because there are no more functioning examples or the equipment in question is owned by hostile states who aren't going to allow Hollywood to play with their toys. So what's a producer to do? Make the most of what you've got. If all you have is friendly hardware, then you issue it to everybody. This trope is fading with CGI able to provide any weapons system you need. Furthermore, Soviet equipment like T-34, T-55, and T-72 tanks are increasingly available for discount prices, as well as on loan from US-friendly former East Bloc states such as Poland and the Czech Republic. This can replace German equipment in World War II movies also, as the Germans and Soviets extensively studied each others' equipment: if a T-55 with cheap wooden and plastic add-ons is painted to look like a Panther, even many military buffs will be fooled. But prior to its development it was not uncommon to see German Panzer divisions equipped with repainted American M47 tanks, the Luftwaffe flying P-51 Mustangs or Soviets flying Republic F-84 Thunderjets. Japanese Zeros were often played by Texan T-6 planes. One can even occasionally see a VW Type 181 Thing/Safari/Trekker from The Seventies subbing for a World War Two Kuebelwagen, even though the latter are by no means hard to come by. Granted, most people aren't going to know the difference beyond a few military hardware aficionados. See also Just Plane Wrong, Tanks, But No Tanks and Artistic License Ships. Examples of Weapons Understudies include:
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