OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 1) [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 1) [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BFV 187
  • Other titles: BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2005 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Scenes as soldiers prepare for house searches in Al-Amarah.
  • Description: START 00:00:00 Bars. 00:00:45 Soldier sat in the back of a Snatch Land Rover; he opens the door. 00:01:03 Soldiers stand outside a camouflaged Snatch Land Rover. Long line of Land Rovers with soldiers standing around; views from outside and in. One of the Land Rovers has a set of ladders attached to the bonnet. 00:02:56 Briefing by rear of Land Rover, discussing the putting on of "Robocop gear", the defensive armour that they are using. 00:03:31 Arrest training: soldiers in helmets stand around before storming a "house" (made of cloth barriers) and arresting a suspect. Second training assault sustains a "casualty". 00:06:06 Night footage shot with image intensifier; very grainy. Soldiers stand by Land Rovers. Interior of Snatch Land Rover (still very grainy). Flashing light illuminates the interior of the vehicle during the journey; extended scene as the soldiers wait, talking amongst themselves. 00:14:12 Rear door is finally opened and the soldiers disembark. They approach the rear gate of a house, break it down and enter, shouting "Coalition Forces!" as they burst in and storm the premises. Camera follows the soldiers as they move through the house. Soldiers search the roof; one man is apprehended and sits with his hands on his head, under guard. 00:20:00 Radio check is made. Soldier makes notes on a clipboard. The prisoner sits patiently on the ground. 00:21:33 (Normal Camera). A search of the house uncovers a possible mortar tube and a bipod. Sacks are searched by torchlight, containing orange boiler suits. A picture of Moqtada al-Sadr is on the wall, with a dagger tucked behind it. Search of the house continues. More posters on the wall. Items are found including a stick of dynamite and some batteries. Soldiers search is thorough and everywhere is inspected, including behind pictures and clocks, and under carpets. Family items are found. 00:28:43 Scenes inside a kitchen; there is a gun (toy ?) on the table. Piles of clothing and sacks on the floor. The kitchen is searched - some suspected detonation cord and other potential bomb-making equipment is found. 00:31:59 Image intensifier shots: soldiers inspect an outbuilding. Section waits by Land Rover outside the house. 00:32:40 Normal camera view (quite dark) of suspect item found within the house (another mortar tube ?). Ultra-violet light is used to check the item. Radio report is made back to base. 00:34:21 Display of captured items: dagger, sword and sheath, single stick of dynamite, batteries, flail. Items are put into evidence bags. 00:35:35 Interview with section leader who describes "the detention and search operation in this particular alpha, code named x-ray". He also discusses further detentions in other properties. "ATAC is currently on task." 00:37:04 Member of the Royal Engineers search team describes the finds. 00:37:27 Interview with third team member about the finds. 00:39:06 View from ground showing British sniper on roof of house (early morning). On the ground, children watch. Foot patrol near large pool of water. Exterior of suspect house in daylight. Soldiers stand around as neighbours watch. 00:41:10 Close-up of rocket propelled grenades found in the house. Soldier keeps watch, gun raised (posed for camera). Outside, Land Rover with small trailer pulls up. Soldier stands with mortar tube, which he puts in the trailer with the rest of the evidence, separating the non-evidential material in the trailer. Evidence is stacked on board. (Box is loaded on marked "GHQ Jordan Armed Forces". 00:46:45 Section get into Land Rover and depart. Other soldiers leave the house (one has a King's Own Royal Border Regiment glider shoulder flash). They get into a second vehicle. Guard stays at door of searched house. 00:49:18 Interior of Snatch Land Rover on the return journey. Gunner on top cover, viewed from below. 00:50:54 Five suspects, blindfolded and with plastic ties on their hands, are kept under guard (Camp Abu Naji ?) END 00:54:34
  • Alternative Title: BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2005 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BFV 187
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 2005-05-15
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Defence Media Operations Centre, RAF Uxbridge (Royal Navy Combat Camera Team) (Production company)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army, Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's), 1st Battalion (regiment/service) British Army, Royal Engineers (regiment/service)
  • Keywords: Al-Amarah, Iraq (geography) Operation Telic, Iraq War 2003-2009 (event) British Army 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: 54 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BFV 187

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    BFV 188 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 2) [Allocated Title]) BFV 310 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 3) [Allocated Title]) BFV 311 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 4) [Allocated Title]) BFV 312 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 5) [Allocated Title]) BFV 313 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 6) [Allocated Title]) BFV 314 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 7) [Allocated Title]) BFV 318 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 8) [Allocated Title]) BFV 319 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 9) [Allocated Title]) BFV 320 (OPERATION TITANIUM, IRAQ, MAY 2005 (TAPE 10) [Allocated Title])
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