Episode 1 – Ambush
In Afghanistan and Iraq you never know when the enemy will strike. In this episode we find out what it’s like to come under surprise attack and how our troops combat such tactics. We discover the soldiers’ experience through interviews with troops from the 3rd Parachute Regiment telling us about the dramatic day they got ambushed in Zumbelay, Afghanistan. Drawn into a trap and surrounded from all sides the Para’s ran from trench to trench under immense incoming fire. Their testimony is supported by that of two journalists who were embedded with the unit at the time. The show also features the incredible experiences of a Navy Cross awarded US marine who fired an enemy RPG back at them after being ambushed at the Battle of Tarmiya.
Episode 2 – Face To Face
Modern combat is not all about long-range missiles and hi-tech kit. In the streets of Iraq, battles are raging where soldiers are fighting the enemy at very close range, often at only a few metres. We find out what it’s like to fight against a man when you can hear him taunt you and see the whites of his eyes. Interviews with soldiers from 1 Royal Horse Artillery reveal an amazing story that left nine men heavily outnumbered, trapped inside a house gunning down insurgents who were beating at the doors. We also tell the story of David Bellavia, an American infantryman who killed insurgents with his bare hands in Fallujah. Bellavia is now running for US Congress.Episode 3 – Under Siege
Iraq and Afghanistan have their Alamo moments as well. Sometimes a soldier must defend against enormous odds and huge amounts of fire. When there’s nowhere else to go there is no choice but to fight. We tell the amazing story of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment who spent four months under constant barrage of mortars, RPG’s, machine guns and small arms in Al Amarah, south of Baghdad, Iraq. How does a soldier live under this strain? We find out from the soldiers themselves. We also hear from the US marine sniper who came under siege not only from the enemy forces but also from his fellow marines whilst perched on top of an oil tank in Latifiyah, Iraq.Episode 4 – Man Down
It’s a fact of war, soldiers get injured and killed. And as we know this is happening today in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, corpsman and other soldiers are displaying amazing courage and undertaking immense risk to save their fallen comrades. We find out about the bond between soldiers and the intense training that allows our troops to save lives in the field. This episode features the brave soldiers of The Mercian Regiment. Men like Lieutenant Simon Cupples who put himself at risk to save his injured mates, not just once but an incredible five times! We also discover the story of US Marines as they battle against their wounds and incoming fire on the rooftop of a Fallujah building to save their dying friend and fellow marine.Episode 5 – Hidden Enemy
Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are the dirty words that haunt the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. These home made bombs litter the streets, maiming anybody who should be unfortunate to come across them. We speak to those whose job it is to diffuse these hidden death traps. Men like Pete Norton who took the ‘long walk’ to an IED in Baghdad knowing full well the risks he was taking for his men. The IED exploded and Pete was badly injured. Without allowing this to defeat him he instructed his men to safety and ultimately earned himself the George Cross, the highest medal for bravery with the enemy not present. The show also features amazing soldier-shot footage of the moment US Marine Dave Webb got blown up by an IED. We run through the intense footage with him and discover what it’s really like to get blown away.Episode 6 – Courage Under Fire
When bullets are flying all around you and the job needs to be done, the men get separated from the boys. We meet Donald Campbell, an extraordinary young engineer who fearlessly drove his digger into the middle of a raging fire-fight. His courage allowed the rest of the troops to move on and out thanks to the vital bridge he constructed. Engineers are the unsung heroes of the battlefield. Often finding themselves fighting in tractors rather than tanks, these men and women blow their way through what others must go around. And this episode features the incredible story of Pathfinder Mark Wilson in Musa Qaleh, Afghanistan. He speaks to us about the day he had to improvise a ladder from a bed and climb into the line of fire to save a fallen soldier. The first American to win a Medal of Honour in the ‘war on terror’ was a tough talking engineer from the 11th Engineer battalion. We reconstruct the day that this engineer laid down his life to protect his fellow soldiers and ultimately became an American hero.Promo Banner