Description
Object description
Members of Z Company, 45 Commando, discover a huge arms cache in an Afghan compound nicknamed "The Alamo", due to arched structure of the main building in the compound. (The discovery was on 22 June; the scenes of Engineers sorting out the weapons take place the day after.)
Content description
Royal Marines prepare to board Chinook helicopter at Bagram airbase, ready to take part in Operation Buzzard; in the background, a Globemaster aircraft takes off. Aerial shots from Chinook helicopter, in flight over Afghanistan; both agricultural areas and more desolate terrain are seen. A convoy drives along a desert road below. After searching a house, Marines discover a massive arms cache: the owner of the house, a scarf covering his head, is led out under arrest. In the courtyard of the house, a Commando shows some of the arms found, including grenades and plastic explosives, laid out on a the ground. With a torch, he enters a storehouse which is filled with dozens of boxes of ammunition, mortars, mines, RPG rounds and other items; he highlights the various types of ordnance. Outside, other ordnance is stacked high; the Commando guide describes recoilless rifle rounds and 120mm mortar rounds; one of the former is displayed out of its case. Back at the house, a 12.7mm Dushka heavy machine gun in good condition, mounted on a tripod is found. Marine gives an account of how Z Company, acting on intelligence from a local man, discovered the compound. The Marines, having been refused entry, stormed the compound, discovering the suspects (some of whom got away). More views of the arms cache: grenades, mortar rounds, boxes of .303 cartridges, mines, charges etc. Boxes of ordnance are carried and stacked in the compound. Marines check the roof area. Another tripod-mounted gun is displayed. Some of the haul is inspected. (Colour bars for one minute.) Further views inside the storerooms, where recoilless rifle rounds, still in their cases, are stacked from floor to ceiling. Outside, a Marine pumps a well in an attempt to raise water. More weapons are found and displayed, including a heavy duty gun, a mortar, and various grenades and detonators. High angle shots, taken from the roof, offer impressive views of the captured equipment. A dog in the compound is given water; chickens wander freely in the yard. Further inspections by Commando Engineers are carried out. Final shot on board a Chinook in flight; sitting next to the door gunner is a woman (civilian ?) with a camcorder.
Physical description
Beta-SX (Sony)