OPERATION TELIC, IRAQ, 2003: 40 COMMANDO ROYAL MARINES BRIGADE RECONNAISSANCE FORCE IN ACTION (COMBAT CAMERA TEAM TAPE) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: OPERATION TELIC, IRAQ, 2003: 40 COMMANDO ROYAL MARINES BRIGADE RECONNAISSANCE FORCE IN ACTION (COMBAT CAMERA TEAM TAPE) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BFM 372
  • Other titles: COLLECTION OF ROYAL MARINES TAPES [Allocated Title]
  • Summary: Members of 40 Commando Royal Marines Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF) outside Basra.
  • Description: Royal Marines' Land Rovers on desert roads en route to Basra: a wrecked Mitsubishi minibus lies nearby. The patrol parks up: Marine uses his underslung grenade launcher to fire at a (very distant) target. A Milan anti-tank missile position is set up by the roadside: protective cover is removed from the missile tube and it is attached to a low tripod mounting. The missile is pointed at the road ahead, which is scanned with monoculars. The potential target turns out to be an Iraqi civilian car which drives up with white flags flying. The occupants (a large family with several women and children) get out and lie by the roadside while the driver liaises with the platoon leader via translator; the family are allowed to proceed. Map of the outskirts of Basra is studied. Night footage, shot with image intensifier; illumination flares are fired and the distant buildings of Basra are scanned. The BRF Land Rovers proceed along the road (still in the desert) towards Basra, WMIK crews keeping watch. A line of BV206 tracked vehicles passes, travelling in the same direction. (Note on tape box indicates that this was post-bombardment.) Daylight on a misty morning: the Land Rovers are parked up by the roadside as a line of Challenger tanks and other armoured vehicles of 7th Armoured Brigade drive past. (Sequence is interrupted bay ca 60 seconds of colour bars.) Further armoured vehicles of various types drive past in a long convoy. (Note on the tape box indicates that the Brigade was moving east after attacking Iraqi armour.) WMIK Land Rovers of the BRF in a line at the side of the road: their gunners fire volleys of shots. Camera angle changes to reveal that the target is a water-filled gully - there is no visible hostile activity although the volley continues for some time and involves Commandos firing their personal weapons, and also snipers. Spotter using binoculars guides the firing. (This is prior to Operation James, the attack on Abu al-Khasib.)
  • Alternative Title: COLLECTION OF ROYAL MARINES TAPES [Allocated Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BFM 372
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM Attribution: © Crown copyright. IWM (BFM 372)
  • Featured Period: 2001-2025
  • Production Date: 2003-03
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Royal Marines Video Production Unit (Production company) Kukor Morgan, Lee (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: Royal Navy, Royal Marines, 40 Commando (regiment/service) British Army, 7th Armoured Brigade (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Basra, Iraq (geography) Iraq War, 2003 (event) Iraq 2003-2009 (theme) Royal Marines (theme)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour Sound format: Sound Soundtrack language: English
  • Technical Details: Format: Mini-DV Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Tape length: 90; Running time: 26 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BFM 372

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