120 Soldiers from the Alpha (Grenadier) Company of the Black Watch, 3rd Battalion were mobilised to a notorious part of the Upper Sangin Valley to secure a damaged Chinook helicopter that had suffered a “hard landing” on difficult ground.

Although the helicopter , from the Task Force Tallon, 82 nd Combat aviation Brigade, was carrying a number of US and Afghan troops, none of them were injured in the crash.

As a recovery team set to work preparing the chopper to be airlifted out of the area, insurgents began firing upon the soldiers.

Airstrike from US Attack Helicopters and A-10 Jets were ordered, killing several insurgents and badly wounding others. One injured Taliban was subsequently treated by 3 SCOTS medics and evacuated by helicopter to an ISAF medical facility.

Discouraged, the attackers retreated and the helicopter was carried away just before nightfall.

An hour later the men of Alpha Company followed on and returned to base.

Major Matt Munro, Officer Commanding Alpha (Grenadier) Company said: “I’m delighted that this operation went so well.  Given that we have worked so closely with the American aviators of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade throughout our seven month tour I’m pleased that we were able to play an important part in the recovery of one of their airframes [aircraft].  It was a team effort that highlighted our high-levels of preparedness and combat readiness.”

Lance Corporal Aaron Graham, 20 from Kirkcaldy, and a Section Second-In-Command in 1 Platoon, said: “This was unlike any other job we have done out here. Once again we produced the goods and were pleased to keep the Taliban firmly on the back foot”.