Image Gallery 2010

10 December 2010
Helicopter Resupply to Patrol Base Qudus

Supplying bases isn’t easy with the constant threat of Improvised Explosive Devices , But for the Afghan and Australian soldiers at Patrol Base Qudus in the Baluchi valley, Afghanistan, delivery is assured when supplies are delivered by air.

Helicopters routinely make the trip from the main supply base, Tarin Kot to the Patrol Base, a distance of less than ten kilometres, carrying frozen and perishable goods.

The trip, which takes only minutes, doesn’t seem that amazing unless you consider travelling the same distance in a truck.

By the time the road is cleared of any threats, a convoy can end up taking a day to complete the same distance and it’s the same story for many more small patrol bases and combat out posts across Uruzgan.

Australian Army mentor to the Afghan National Army, Warrant Officer Class Two (WO2) Barry Tully says the speed an efficiency of the aerial resupplies makes it far easier to maintain supply levels.

“We receive a helicopter resupply approximately every few days just to top up what we need,” WO2 Tully said

With the drop off completed in minutes, all personnel from the patrol base help to bring in the stores as quickly as possible from the landing area, and wait till the next visit.

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A resupply coalition helicopter comes into land near an Australian Bushmaster, to drop of supplies to Australian soldiers at Patrol Base Qudus, in southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 02 December 2010)
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Australian soldiers move supplies from the helicopter to a Bushmaster at Patrol Base Qudus, in southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 02 December 2010)
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An Australian Bushmaster is loaded with supplies delivered by a coalition helicopter, at Patrol Base Qudus, in southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 02 December 2010)
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An Australian Bushmaster is loaded with supplies delivered by a coalition helicopter, at Patrol Base Qudus, in southern Afghanistan.

(Date taken: 02 December 2010)
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Australian soldiers unload their Bushmaster after a resupply helicopter dropped off food for Patrol Base Qudus.

(Date taken: 02 December 2010)
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