film · 2018

12 Strong

12 Strong tells the story of the first Special Forces team deployed to Afghanistan after 9/11; under the leadership of a new captain, the team must work with an Afghan warlord to take down the Taliban.

11 locations11 scenes

ActionDramaHistory

In runtime order

as the film shows them

Timecode not recorded

Los Lunas volcano in the Cat Hills volcanic field near Los Lunas, New Mexico

Action

6,000-foot hillsides stood in for Afghan village battles; the Bescham village set was built in open space with SPFX creating massive bombing areas

El Cerro de Los Lunas (Bescham Village set)

12 Strong · 2018

San José de la Laguna Mission at Laguna Pueblo

Action

Afghan village set

Laguna Pueblo

12 Strong · 2018

Check hours before visiting

Gilman Tunnels carved through rock in the Guadalupe River Canyon, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico

Action

Combat sequence in the dunes

White Sands National Park

12 Strong · 2018

Action

Converted to represent the Afghan village of Dehi where the team marched through

Laguna Pueblo (Village of Dehi set)

12 Strong · 2018

View from afar

Action

Final battle sequence (Thurgood Canyon)

White Sands Missile Range

12 Strong · 2018

View from afar

Action

Helicopter insertion into Afghanistan; the 'Alamo' adobe compound where ODA-595 first meets General Dostum, furnished with Afghan carpets, teapots, and weaponry

West Mesa Sand Dunes (Northern Alliance post)

12 Strong · 2018

Action

Nelson's operations against Taliban forces -- combat sequences with air support across the 275-square-mile gypsum dune field

White Sands National Park

12 Strong · 2018

Front view of the historic San Miguel de Socorro Church in Socorro, New Mexico

Action

ODA-595's helicopter arrival in Afghanistan to meet General Dostum; eight days of filming ended here on January 26, 2017

Socorro

12 Strong · 2018

Action

The climactic Tiangi Gap horseback battle; art department prepped the site for 6 weeks with 55 vehicles, 8 Russian tanks, artillery, and technicals across a set spanning 6 football fields

Thurgood Canyon, White Sands Missile Range

12 Strong · 2018

View from afar

Action

The Cobaki and Shulgareh cave command posts; steep cliffs gave dramatic views. Cast traveled by Gator vehicles and a 5-ton military truck called 'The Beast'

Iron Duke Mine, Orogrande

12 Strong · 2018

Action

The Karshi-Khanabad ('K2') Uzbekistan military base set with 20 Quonset huts, guard towers, fencing, and military vehicles; Chinook and Black Hawk helicopters filmed here

Shooting Range Park (K2 base set)

12 Strong · 2018