Royal Marines: Mission Afghanistan

42 Commando Royal Marines and their tough tour in Helmand Province during Op Herrick 14 is the subject of a new six-part series on Forces TV.

Royal Marines: Mission Afghanistan was produced, directed and filmed by award-winning director and cameraman Chris Terrill – the only civilian to have won a Royal Marines green beret.

Chris was embedded with 42 Commando, Lima Company, during their six-month deployment from May to August 2011.The series follows the unit as they are tasked to protect the small village of Loymanda against a resurgent enemy.

Dropped by helicopter into a remote and isolated patrol base called Checkpoint Toki, Lima Company has to patrol an area riddled with IED’s and crawling with insurgents, described at the time as the most dangerous square mile in the world.

Chris Terrill of Uppercut Films said: “The Royal Marines are not alone in the defence of Loymanda. Whilst they are doing their best to draw enemy fire they rely on the Royal Engineers to clear IED’s; the Female Engagement Teams to reach out to the Afghan women; and the extraordinary talents of the working dogs trained to sniff out explosives.

“But this was a cruel tour and not only did 42 Commando lose the lives of seven men, but the incredibly dangerous work left nearly fifty marines with life-changing injuries.”

The six episodes of Royal Marines: Mission Afghanistan will be broadcast on Forces TV on Fridays, starting on Friday 15th August at 9pm (UK).

Each new episode of Royal Marines: Mission Afghanistan will also be shown on Sundays at 9pm (UK).

Forces TV on Sky Channel 299 and on Virgin 244 and Freesat 652.