Defence Force releases footage of deadly firefight

[Ykato]

Defence Force releases footage of deadly firefight
www.stuff.co.nz/national/8791032/Defence-Force-releases-footage-of-deadly-firefight

[suthg]

A surprise they have released this.

What is scary is the find on one of the bodies (in the wound) in a mortuary back in NZ of a live grenade...

The inquiry was critical of the defence force's mortuary practises, after a high-explosive grenade and two bullets were found on the body of one of the three soldiers killed by the IED explosion.

An initial search for munitions had been undertaken before the bodies were flown to Bagram where they were processed by defence staff, NZ Police and the US Army Mortuary Affairs Section.

While an x-ray scan would have been desirable, none was available, and a physical search had not found the explosive because of the severity of the injuries.

The grenade was eventually discovered by a pathologist at Christchurch Hospital during a post-mortem examination.

The safety bail and firing pin were still intact but it was still a dangerous situation and policies had been improved to ensure it did not occur again.

Scary!

[nige]

Interview with the Minister of Defence regarding the report.
www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2558556/inquiry-recommends-training-be-improved.asx

[phil]

www.nzdf.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/public-docs/2013/final-summary-restricted_dse_coi_baghak_narrative_reopen_redact_eaw-comms-version-2.pdf

www.nzdf.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/public-docs/2013/coi-report_baghak_redact_reopen_final.pdf

Unfortunately they haven't posted the 45 minute video of the press conference, CA went through the COI findings, and stepped through the action using maps to show the disposition of forces which illustrated the action far better than simply reading the report.

[phil]

And for a different take on it:

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10890834

[ngatimozart]

I'm unsure what to think about that. Is it a media beat up? Sour grapes? Or is it a valid argument? One thing was that when I was in and you were given a legal order you obeyed it whether you liked it or not. I wasn't present during the firefight, nor do I have access to all the evidence, so I can't say with any certainity who has the right of it. But this I will say; the enemy had the high ground and the OC made a tactical decision to send troops up to that high ground. He's the boss and it was his call and the military, especially in a firefight, is not run by committee. If you can't take a joke you shouldn't've joined.

[corsair67]

And now for the 'unsanitised' footage - with added 'wannabe gansta ho' voice-over.........


www.stuff.co.nz/national/8888869/Unedited-footage-of-fatal-firefight-leaked


I think it's funny that the c-bomb is being thrown around more by the female soldier than anyone else.

[flyjoe180]

Language aside, it was interesting to see the full unedited footage. By the sounds of it, whomever leaked the film is going to be in big trouble if they are a serving NZDF member.

[ngatimozart]

I remember when I was in both services the language was pretty colourful and in a firefight appropriate language is the least of their concerns. The shelias can swear just as well as the jokers. Some WAAFs and WRENs I served with had very extensive vocabularies, so to me the language is not a valid issue. However Flyjoe is very correct about his comment regarding the consequenses if a serving NZDF member is involved in the leaking. Will certainly stuff up their promotion for a while, so I really hope a serving member is not involved. I also have ethical issues about serving members leaking material like this to the media.

[ngatimozart]

NZDF have released two Court of Inquiry reports on the last five NZ combat deaths in Afghanistan. The firt one is 50 pages and the secons a summary of 12 pages. Both are pdf files.

www.nzdf.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/public-docs/2013/coi-report_baghak_redact_reopen_final.pdf

www.nzdf.mil.nz/downloads/pdf/public-docs/2013/final-summary-restricted_dse_coi_baghak_narrative_reopen_redact_eaw-comms-version-2.pdf