The three CH-47C Chinooks of the Aviazione dell'Esercito (Italian Army Aviation) that were deployed in 2005 to Afghanistan needed armed protection during their transport missions, so three with door guns armed AB212 (Anti-Surface Warfare) helicopters of the Marina Militare (Italian Navy) were tasked with that job. Weird to see those Navy Hueys deployed in a country with hardly any water. On a rare day, no sand dust was in the air, so the great Hindu Kush mountain massif could be seen.