The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland Battle Group deployed on Op HERRICK 10 to Afghanistan for six months during the summer of 2009. Its role was that of Aviation Assault Battle Group and its main task was raiding into insurgent-held areas in both Helmand and Kandahar Provinces. The Battle Group was dubbed the ‘flying squad’ by the media as it took the fight to the Taliban with aggressive helicopter assaults. The book follows the Battle Group’s progress starting with pre-tour training and deployment. It describes, using first-hand accounts, the thirteen Battle Group operations including the Sangin Valley raids and the one wave assault at the start of Operation PANTHER’S CLAW. Also covered are the fighting patrols in Kandahar Province in an area known as the ‘heart of darkness’.
