OPERATION DRAGONFLY, BASRA CITY, 15 NOVEMBER 2005 [Allocated Title]

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  • Title: OPERATION DRAGONFLY, BASRA CITY, 15 NOVEMBER 2005 [Allocated Title]
  • Film Number: BFV 278
  • Other titles: BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2005 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Search operations in Basra. Scenes alternate between being shot with image intensifier and with standard full-colour vision.
  • Description: START 00:00:00 Bars 00:00:50 Search dogs are prepared in the darkness. 00:01:21 View of jetty where two assault boats are moored. 00:01:35 Further preparations on shore; personal kit is checked and soldiers are briefed. 00:02:17 On the jetty, soldiers get into the assault boats, which set off. Shots on board one of the boats on the Shatt al-Arab, followed by further general views both at the jetty and on board. 00:06:20 On board again; pilot steers the boat out on the Shatt al-Arab, following the lead boat. Soldiers sit on board, their helmets fitted with night vision image intensifier equipment. The boats travel down the river. 00:09:11 Landing rehearsals: boats approach the shore and the troops disembark at speed. (Cameraman is told to "watch your camera"). They assemble on the bank. 00:10:37 A further boat arrives and troops disembark, followed by several more. Various views of the Shatt al-Arab and of the boats, including further landings. 00:18:21 After the rehearsal, views on board a moving boat as it passes under a bridge on the way to the search location. 00:20:58 Boat comes into land and troops disembark. They make their way swiftly on foot through the streets towards the target house (shaky camerawork as the cameraman runs). Soldiers continue through the streets; they pass a house which is already being searched (soldiers can be heard ordering the occupants to get down on the ground). 00:23:20 Platoon leader makes radio check to inform that the target house for his platoon has been reached; they make entry and make their way through the house, searching in every room. 00:25:02 Courtyard of the house is also checked, and the occupants are searched. . 00:25:45 Search of house yields an AK-47 hidden beside a sideboard and a pistol on a table. 00:26:10 Search of outbuildings; locked door is found, as are two people hiding in another outbuilding. They are searched (one is a woman, necessitating a female search officer). Outbuildings and courtyard are inspected by torchlight. 00:31:28 (Normal vision.) Soldiers enter house. 00:31:42 (Image intensifier.) Search of courtyard continues. Soldier keeps watch on the street outside as a support vehicle arrives. Search dogs stand by. Various shots: Land Rover, assault boat. 00:34:50 (Normal vision.) Search operations at target house continue; inventory of items seized is made. Kitchen is searched by soldiers wearing blue gloves. Various items including pots and canisters are checked, and suspicious items are bagged. Books and papers are also inspected. Close-up of pistol and magazines of AK ammunition and of the AK-47 rifle discovered during the search. 00:42:31 (Image intensifier.) Search operation by torchlight in the yard continues. 00:42:50 (Normal vision.) Bedroom search; mattresses are removed and the bedframe inspected. Evidence is bagged. 00:43:41 Soldiers on guard in the streets. 00:43:59 (Image intensifier.) Search dog on street. Soldiers stand by. 00:44:27 "Soft knock" on the door of a neighbouring house, requesting entry for search purposes (the soldiers wait patiently, but advise the tenants that forced entry may be used). 00:47:02 Eventually, the tenants open the door (without force being used) and the tenants are interviewed using interpreter. 00:47:25 (Normal vision.) Soldiers enter the house. 00:47:43 (Image intensifier.) Exterior wall of courtyard is scaled by soldiers. In the street, vehicles are searched. 00:51:01 (Normal vision.) Search of second house continues; a digital telephone and cabling is discovered. 00:51:21 (Image intensifier.) At the end of the operation, assault boat pulls up at riverbank and soldiers climb on board. Assault boats on the Shatt al-Arab. END 00:51:55
  • Alternative Title: BRITISH MILITARY OPERATIONS IN IRAQ, 2005 [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: Colour
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: BFV 278
  • Sound: Sound
  • Access Conditions: IWM
  • Featured Period:
  • Production Date: 2005-11-15
  • Production Country: GB
  • Production Details: Defence Media Operations Centre, RAF Uxbridge (Royal Navy Combat Camera Team) (Production company) Dawson, Rick (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations: British Army (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: 51 mins
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    BFV 278

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    BFV 285 (OPERATION DRAGONFLY, BASRA CITY, 15 NOVEMBER 2005 (SHORT EDIT) [Allocated Title])
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