Title:NIGHT MORTAR FIRING, RAF REGIMENT, 2 AUGUST 2004 [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BFV 6
Other titles:BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2004 [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Members of the 1 Squadron RAF Regiment, in their camp at Basra Air Station, fire illumination rounds from a mortar position. Night scenes, shot with an image intensifier.
Description: Mortar detachments set up their positions in an open area at the camp. Control point and controller. Mortars are aligned and calibrated; brief shot of stack of mortar rounds. Briefing. Various sections complete setting elevations and make final adjustments to the mortars. Interview with Senior Aircraftman Barry Quayle, describing how the mortar positions receive their information from the control point. Interview with Senior Aircraftman Nisbett talks about his tasks, including prepping the ammunition. Interview with Squadron Leader Ash Bennett (OC 1 Squadron) - the firings are part of Operation Cosmonaut, which aims to deny enemy positions the opportunities to attack the airfield. A barrage of 81mm illumination rounds are to be fired over suspect enemy positions, both to discourage them and to assist in their capture (road blocks are set up in conjunction with the firing of the illumination rounds). Operations begin: several rounds are fired over target areas. Spotters survey the areas; further mortars are fired. Various views of mortar positions and control point.
Alternative Title:BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2004 [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:
Object_Number:BFV 6
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:2004-08-02
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Defence Media Operations Centre, RAF Uxbridge (Royal Navy Combat Camera Team) (Production company)
Gedge, Andy (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Bennett, Ash (person)
Quayle, Barry (person)
Nisbett (Senior Aircraftman) (person)
Royal Air Force, RAF Regiment, 1 Squadron (regiment/service)
Keywords: Basra International Airport, Basra, Iraq (geography)
Operation Telic, Iraq War 2003-2009 (event)
Royal Air Force post-2000 (theme)
Iraq post-2003 (theme)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: Colour
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: None
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: DVCam
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Tape length: 40; Running time: 17 mins
