Product Description

Green: Enter without explosives or firing unless enemy targets are identified. Amber: Enter firing. No explosive entry. Red: Explosive entry using a grenade or charge. Enter firing at will. What happened in Helmand’s Sangin Valley in the spring of 2007 was nothing short of extraordinary. After the last gasp defence of the platoon houses by the Paras that preceded them in theatre, the soldiers of the Royal Anglian Regiment arrived in Afghanistan charged with taking the battle to the enemy. Despite brutal, debilitating conditions, the tour that followed became a bloody lesson in how to conduct offensive infantry warfare. Over a six-month tour of duty, the 'Vikings' battlegroup unleashed hell in heavy, relentless fighting that saw teenage soldiers battle toe to toe against hardcore Al Qaeda and Taliban warriors at unprecedented levels of ferocity. The stories that emerged from the Sangin Valley, defined by bravery, comradeship, endurance and, above all, aggression, are remarkable So much so that Sandhurst manuals were re-written to incorporate the lessons of the campaign. But the fight was far from one-sided. May 2007 saw the Anglians suffer the highest number of British military casualties in any single month since the end of World War II. And those that did return home came back changed by the intensity of the experience. In Attack State Red, Colonel Richard Kemp, a former Commanding Office of 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment, and Chris Hughes, the Daily Mirror Security Correspondent, tell the story of the Royal Anglian's deployment for the first time. Combining the strategic insight of 3 Para with the adrenaline charge of Sniper One, they have produced the most dynamic, substantial and visceral account of the war in Afghanistan that's ever been written.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6890 in Books
• Published on: 2009-09-03
• Binding: Hardcover
• 496 pages

Review
'An unputdownable account of a British battle group on the offensive' ANDY MCNAB --ANDY MCNAB

Attack State Red is certain to become a military classic --Mail on Sunday

The first page of this extraordinary book hits you like a Taliban ambush --Sunday Express

About the Author
Colonel Richard Kemp is a former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment and later commanded all British forces in Afghanistan. He was advisor to the Prime Minister on international terrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan, for which he was awarded the CBE. Although an infantryman, he invaded Iraq in a Challenger tank in 1991 with British forces in the US 3rd Army, and has spent much time in that country since the 2003 invasion. He has served extensively on the ground in most other campaigns the British have been involved in over recent years including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. Chris Hughes is Security Correspondent for the Daily Mirror and has spent considerable time with British forces on the Afghan frontline. He was embedded with the Royal Anglians for several weeks at the height of the tour described in this book. He covered the aftermath of 9/11 in New York and has for the past five years reported on the ensuing wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon.

Customer Reviews

A graphic and realistic look at life on the front line.
I've read many war books in my time and I can say this is the most realistic I've ever read. The pace from the outset is fast and hard hitting.

Having served in Afghanistan, it really takes me right back to the green zone in Helmand province. If you want to know what it feels like to be pinned down by enemy fire, or what it feels like for a soldier slogging it out with the Taliban, this is a must read. I couldn't put it down. A Graphic and realistic look at life in the front line.

One of the best
This is without doubt one of the finest books about the war in Afghanistan. The secret lies in its simplicity - Col Richard Kemp and Chris Hughes set out to tell the story of the soldiers of the 1 Royal Anglian Battle Group and have achieved it superbly. They have not been side-tracked by the politics of the situation or become embroiled in any of the equipment issues, they have simply stuck to their task. Their research is excellent and they bring all the soldiers to life. At times you could be forgiven for thinking you have picked up a thriller from the fiction shelves as you are lifted from your armchair and plopped down in the middle of a battle. Unputdownable is an over-worked word in the world of books but in this case it is appropriate. The only times I put it down were either through sheer exhaustion to marvel at the courage of these young soldiers or, like them, to have a smoke and a brew to try to slow down the old heart rate. We are fortunate to have young soldiers of this calibre and even more fortunate that the closest we get to Afghanistan is through the pages of excellent books like this. Ross Kemp's television series on the Royal Anglians gave us a taste of what they endured, but this book takes us right into the Green Zone with them. It is only when you turn towards the back to the Operational Honours and Awards that you see that yet again a fine British regiment is under-decorated for its gallantry and sacrifice.

One of the Best Accounts of Contemporary Combat I've Ever Read
This is one of the most gripping and visceral accounts of modern combat I've ever read. From the very first sentence I was absolutely hooked - the writing is sharp, the story gritty, and the countless tales of bravery and humility literally made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Not only is Attack State Red an amazing testament to the courage and heroism of the soldiers of 1st Bn The Royal Anglian Regiment; it is a tribute the honour and bravery of every serviceman and woman sent overseas to defend our freedom.

If you decide to buy this book, stand-by for a sleepless night...you won't be able to put it down.