Apache

Soviet Army 20, 63, 83, 84, 112, 136, 193

Sun 102

Taliban 1, 4, 5, 6, 9, 52, 72, 95, 208, 322

adaptation to conditions of Afghanistan 22–3

Apache, fear of and approach to 7–8, 40, 49, 308, 354

bravery 74, 84–5

capture of leaders 2

casualties 80, 81–2, 213–14, 216–17, 224–5, 227, 228, 235, 235, 236, 249–50, 251, 342

Chinook and 8

clothing 84

drug trade, connection to 82–4

experience of fighters 84

fall of regime 19

fighting strength 150–1

fire fights 39–40, 73–82, 118–26, 145–50, 209–25, 227–32, 241, 244, 249, 251, 252, 257, 258–60, 266, 268, 276, 277, 305–6, 315, 335, 342, 344

Garmsir 144, 346

intensity of fighting 20–2

Islamic extremists and 82, 83

Jugroom Fort 239–40, 241, 244, 249, 250, 251, 252, 257, 258–60, 266, 268, 276, 277, 305–6, 315, 330, 335, 342, 344, 346

leadership 82–3

observe Camp Bastion movements 162–3, 205

prisoners, treatment of 6, 7, 8, 111, 247–8, 330

snipers 177–8

spotters 73

suicide bombings 95–6

supply chain 143, 153, 155, 194–9

tactics 84, 96, 162–3, 205

Tier One 82–3

Tier Three 83–4, 96

Tier Two 83, 96

weapons see weapons, Taliban

Thomas, Brigadier Jerry 153, 195, 257, 278–9, 342, 345

Thorpe, Corporal Peter 68

Tony (Darwin) 101, 103, 104, 110, 127, 130, 132, 141, 171, 172–3, 175, 178, 179, 183, 185, 233, 236, 239, 241, 250, 285, 289, 299, 316, 320, 321, 334, 335, 336, 353

Topman 120, 121, 146, 180

Uruzgan 19, 20, 153

United States 31–2

air support 2, 32, 147, 197, 198, 209, 210, 213, 217, 227, 241, 270, 271, 273–4, 275, 284, 285, 286, 298, 338

Apache crews 175, 186

Apache helicopter, develop 29–33

bases 169–70

weapons, Apache helicopter, see Apache AH

Mk 1

weapons, Taliban

107-mm Chinese rockets 68, 137

AK47 84, 139, 144, 229, 305

anti–aircraft guns 140, 180

Dushkas (14.5–mm Soviet ZPU) 140–1, 171, 175, 180, 217

HN15 135

IED (improvised explosive device) 3

landmines 193

Man Portable Air Defence Systems

(ManPADs) 135, 139

mortars 20, 72–4, 144

NVGs 204

rockets 20, 117, 119–20

RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) 2, 20, 84, 117, 139, 144, 146, 171, 174, 221, 223, 224, 229, 255, 258, 259, 261, 265, 266, 296, 298, 305, 306, 321, 335

SA14s 135

SA7s 135, 136

SAMs (surface-to-air missiles) 43, 60, 61, 84, 96–7, 134–9, 141, 171, 186, 220, 268, 269

Stinger missile 135, 137, 138, 217

Wombat (Weapon of Magnesium

Battalion Anti Tank) 68, 144

Wigley, Jonathan 152

Wright, Marine Gary 96

You Tube 43

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Photographs not credited below have kindly been supplied by the author. While every effort has been made to trace the owners of copyright material reproduced herein, the publishers would like to apologise for any omissions and will be pleased to incorporate missing acknowledgments in any future editions.

FIRST PLATE SECTION

Pages 2 and 3:

Camp Bastion: Johnny Green/ PA Archive/ PA Photos.

The Camp Bastion Apache flight line: Lt Col Felton.

Apache Gunner’s Cockpit: AgustaWestland.

Ed Macy: Lt Col Felton.

Pages 4 and 5:

Cockpit pilot’s view: SSgt Carl Bird.

The cannon spitting out 10 rounds a second: Image by Corporal Mark Ballantyne RLC; © Crown Copyright/MOD. Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery office.

The Apache’s CRV-7 Flechette rockets: Image by Corporal Mark Ballantyne RLC; © Crown Copyright/MOD. Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery office.

The Apache’s M230 30mm underslung chain gun: Image by Corporal Mark Ballantyne RLC; © Crown Copyright/MOD. Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery office.

Ed and Trigger with Hambly reconnecting Ugly 51’s gun: Si Hambly.

Hellfire at the back, rockets in the sangar and 30mm HEDP being loaded by Si: Si Hambly.

The infamous Rocco: Rocco Seffredi.

Page 6 and 7:

A Taliban commander talks on a radio carrying an RPG launcher and spare rockets: AP Photo/ Zaheerudding Abdullah.

The IRT pair returning from a mission empty: Gerban Van Es.

Arming Teams 3 and 4: Si Hambly.

SECOND PLATE SECTION

Page 1:

Ammo Sgt Kev Blundell paying his respects on Christmas Day: Sgt Kev Blundell.

A message for the Taliban at Koshtay from arming point 2: Si Hambly.

Ed and Carl’s Hellfire page: SSgt Carl Bird.

Pages 2 and 3:

An Afghan National Policeman overlooking the Lashkar Gah Green Zone: AFP/ Getty Images.

Rockets fired in quads: © Crown Copyright/MOD. Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.

Hellfire fired by Ugly Five One and guided by Ugly Five Zero at Jugroom Fort: © Crown Copyright/MOD. Reproduced with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office.

Pages 4 and 5:

Mountains that surround Now Zad and the Green Zone: LCpl Mathew Ford RM.

The rescue team for Jugroom Fort: Sgt Garry Stanton, RAF.

The rescue briefing in the desert: Sgt Garry Stanton, RAF.

Lt Col Rob Magowan MBE RM – the loneliness of command: Sgt Garry Stanton, RAF.

On the wings of the Apache ready to go: Sgt Garry Stanton, RAF.