[Wittmann 44]

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I'm about halfway through this book about the 3^rd parachute battalion’s tour of ffice:smarttags" />Afghanistan in 2006. This is one of Britain’s elite units and made the last mass combat jump of the British army during the battle for the Suez canal in 1956. 3^rd para were stationed in the supposedly pacified Helmond province and were only there to back up local units. The reality was completely different – they were attacked literally every single day by an increasingly well organised Taliban. Snipers, roadside bombs, mass attacks on isolated outposts. The wild west with the cowboys having superior firepower but outnumbered by the Indians.

With inadequate body armor and poor equipment constantly breaking down casualties mount very quickly. “Lightly” wounded men are regularly sent back on patrol. This is an absolutely cracking book. The writing is functional but this is a great story of courage under fire and the thin red line at its best.

If you liked Black Hawk Down (book) you’ll probably like this.