Image Gallery 2009
14 May 2009
Bomb making and ammunition caches found
Soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF – 1) left in the early hours, a day after marking Anzac Day to commence Operation Zamarai Silawel, 15 kilometres east of their main base at Tarin Kowt. The operation saw an Australian Operational Mentor and Liaison Team and their Afghan allies reinforced by elements of the MRTF – 1.
The four-day operation was concentrated on conducting cordon and searches of local compounds (Qualas). These searches yielded several caches of explosives and ammunition. These caches were searched and their contents destroyed in an explosion controlled by Australian Engineers.
The soldiers also discovered and destroyed two Improvised Explosive Devices.
As well as destroying insurgent weaponry, the soldiers were able to provide medical assistance to a number of local villagers, who sought out the Australians and asked for their help.
| 20090427adf8185016_0099 Australian soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF- 1), establish a cordon around an Afghan Quala (mud brick complex) prior to the area being searched for insurgent weapons and explosives. (Date taken: 27 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0095 Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, Commanding Officer of the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, joins his soldiers on the ground during Operation Zamarai Silawel in Uruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0104 (Right to left) Sapper Michael Eden and Sapper Thomas O'Connor, Australian Army Engineers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Forces, 1st Field Squadron, search the interior of an Afghan Quala for hidden insurgent weapons caches. The engineers are participating in Operation Zamarai Silawel in Uruzgan Province, southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0146 Australian engineers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, operating in conjunction with the Afghan National Army and Australian Mentors, uncover an insurgent weapons cache, hidden in a local dwelling during Operation Zamarai Silawel. The Operation was conducted in the Mirabad region of southern Afghanistan. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0151 (Front) Corporal Jamin Nest removes an AK47 round, part of an insurgent weapons cache found during Operation Zamarai Silawel, conducted in the week following Anzac Day in Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0158 An Australian soldier inspects a 12.7mm round found in a cache of ammunition hidden by insurgents in a local dwelling in the Mirabad region, about 15 kms east of the main Australian base in Uruzgan Province during Operation Zamarai Silawel. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0192 Sapper Michael Eden moves his mine detector over the floor of an Afghan Quala during Operation Zamarai Silawel. Australian and Afghan National Army engineers were responsible for the detection and destruction of insurgent weapons and explosive caches during this mission in the Mirabad region. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0225 (Left to right) Australian explosive ordnance experts, Corporal Ryan Ireland and Sergeant David Austin inspect a cache of Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) rounds as they prepare them for destruction during Operation Zamarai Silawel in the Mirabad region of Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090428adf8185016_0236 Corporal Ryan Ireland (left) and Corporal Jamin Nest (right) prepare a stack of recently discovered insurgent RPG rounds along with small arms ammunition for destruction. The engineers blew up the weapons, denying the insurgents the opportunity to deploy them against Coalition and Afghan security forces. (Date taken: 28 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090429adf8185016_0089 Australian Army Medic Corporal Charles Stevenson checks the vital signs of an Afghan villager who approached his patrol during Operation Zamarai Silawel in the Mirabad region of Uruzgan Province. (Date taken: 29 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090429adf8185016_0091 A local Afghan boy shyly checks out an Australian patrol during Operation Zamarai Silawel. (Date taken: 29 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090429adf8185016_0115 (Right to left) Corporal Ryan Ireland and Corporal Thomas Collins prepare an explosives robot to inspect an Improvised Explosive (IED) that had been uncovered during Operation Zamarai Silawel. The robot allows Australian Engineers to render the IED inert at as safe distance. (Date taken: 29 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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| 20090429adf8185016_0127 Australian engineers watch their robot approach an insurgent Improvised Explosive Device during Operation Zamarai Silawel in the Mirabad region of Uruzgan Province. The robot and the armoured protection offered the engineers Bushmaster vehicle minimise the chance of injury as these soldiers deal with the indiscriminate weapon. (Date taken: 29 April 2009) Low-Res | Hi-Res |
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