3 Para - Sangin Patrol V - Long War

Best Played As: British vs. AI or PBEM Conditions: Day

Helmand Province - August 20, 2006

On August 20, 1 Section of 1 Platoon, 'A' Company, was providing cover for a group of engineers. They were ambushed while moving through a field of maize, and within seconds 3 men were down. Section leader Corporal Bryan Budd took immediate action, and charged the hidden insurgents alone, drawing their fire. New patrols were immediately sent out from the base to evacuate the wounded and search for Corporal Budd.

After an hour long firefight, searchers found Corporal Budd's body, and the bodies of 3 Taliban around him. For his heroic and selfless actions Bryan Budd was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Historical Background:

When the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment entered Afhganistan, their primary objective was to create stability, and an atmosphere where the local population viewed the Coalition forces and Afhgan government as a desirable and realistic alternative to Taliban rule. To achieve this objective, Lieutenant Colonel Stuart Tootal, 3 Para's CO, planned to use Afghan army and police forces in a stationary defensive role, which would legitimize them with the local population and free up his British forces to respond quickly and decisively to any Taliban threat.

However, political considerations forced Tootal to establish a 'platoon house' in Sangin for the majority of 3 Para's tour. The Para's patrolled constantly by day, and fought off furious Taliban attacks at night, exhausting the soldiers, and making it impossible for them to stabilize and improve the situation.

These scenarios are attempts to represent the fierce, small unit battles that took place in Sangin, and the courage of the soldiers who fought them.