Title:OPERATION CAHOOT, BASRA, OCTOBER 2005 [Allocated Title]
Film Number:BFV 277
Other titles:BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2005 [Allocated Series Title]
Summary: Coverage of a small scale operation during which soldiers of 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Wales conduct a search on a suspect premises in southern Basra, during which hidden weapons are unearthed.
Description: Soldier brings cups of coffee to colleagues waiting by Land Rover as vehicles muster prior to operations. Soldiers gather their equipment and assemble by their Land Rovers; Warrior is also seen. Vehicles move off. Target house in Basra: ladders are used to gain access over the wall; the gate is then opened. Troops gather outside as the platoon leader talks with the owner of the house. Interior of house: soldiers split up and begin the search. They leave numbered A4 sheets on the ground as location markers. Outside, others climb up to gain access to the roof; one adjusts his helmet (his face is covered). Further interior scenes as the search continues; gun is seen on the floor, next to marker sheet "4". Other items, including an ammunition clip and a grenade, are displayed. Paperwork is also confiscated. Gun found under bed is made safe. Large posters of Moqtada al-Sadr adorn the walls. Boxes and cupboards are searched. Street scenes outside: Land Rovers are parked up; dogs bark at soldiers crouching on guard. Inspection of outer walls of target house. Inside, further weapons (firearms) are found. Living area is searched thoroughly. Suspect is restrained and taken prisoner, as the confiscated weapons (including a grenade launcher) are inventoried. The bagged weapons are removed from the house.
Daylight the following day. Major Mark Wheeler from 1st Battalion the Royal Regiment of Wales gives an account of the operation, which was acting on intelligence that a known individual was gathering weapons and bomb making equipment. He notes that three men were detained and a large amount of weapons, equipment and documentary evidence was also found.
Alternative Title:BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2005 [Allocated Series Title]
Colour:Colour
Digitised:
Object_Number:BFV 277
Sound:Sound
Access Conditions:IWM
Featured Period:
Production Date:2005-10-22
Production Country: GB
Production Details: Defence Media Operations Centre, RAF Uxbridge (Royal Navy Combat Camera Team) (Production company)
McIvor, Mac (Production individual)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Wheeler, Mark (Major) (person)
British Army, Royal Regiment of Wales (24th/41st Foot), 1st Battalion (regiment/service)
Keywords: Basra, 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: 27 mins
