18 June 2009: Soldiers from B Company, the Black Watch (3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland) waiting to take part in Operation Panchai Palang (Panther's Claw) in the Babaji district of Helmand province, southern AfghanistanPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian18 June 2009: British soldiers from B Company onboard a helicopter, taking part in an air assault to establish Forward Operating Base Wahid in Helmand provincePhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian19 June 2009: Soldiers from B Company on their first morning at what will become FOB WahidPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian
20 June 2009: Soldiers with B company go on patrol from FOB WahidPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian20 June 2009: Soldiers at FOB WahidPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian20 June 2009: A soldier with a face painted on his uniformPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian20 June 2009: Soldiers at FOB WahidPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian21 June 2009: B Company soldiers on patrol in a Viking APC in a bazaar about 800 metres from the basePhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian21 June 2009: Soldiers from A Company in a bazaar near the basePhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian21 June 2009: Night falls and shooting starts at the bazaarPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian22 June 2009: Soldiers provide cover while others clear improvised explosive devices (IEDs)Photograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian22 June 2009: Soldiers check for and clear IEDs. The white flag in the background is TalibanPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian23 June 2009: Soldiers on an eight-hour patrol from the base to search compounds for suspected snipersPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian23 June 2009: B company soldiers search compounds, but find the Taliban have moved on. Photograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian23 June 2009: Soldiers search compounds for snipersPhotograph: Sean Smith for the Guardian25 June 2009: A controlled explosion of 8 IEDs found near FOB WahidPhotograph: Sean Smith25 June 2009: A controlled explosion of 8 IEDs found near FOB Wahid. Photograph: Sean Smith25 June 2009: Troops use a smoke screen to move towards the patrol base after taking fire. Photograph: Sean Smith27 June 2009: At the patrol base. Photograph: Sean Smith27 June 2009: Coming under fire whilst on patrol.Photograph: Sean Smith28 June 2009: Relaxing at the patrol base. Photograph: Sean Smith19 July 2009: US troops from 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade exercise in a mortar pit at FOB Apache, which is under construction in NawaPhotograph: Sean Smith21 July 2009: British troops and US Marines accompany Afghan National Army troops on a patrol, crossing a riverPhotograph: Sean Smith21 July 2009: US Marines accompany Afghan National Army troops on a patrolPhotograph: Sean Smith25 July 2009: British troops cool off in a canal after moving south from FOB Jakers to start a temporary patrol base in a clinicPhotograph: Sean Smith25 July 2009: A British soldier at FOB Jakers. The troops are part of a Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) in Nawa province, HelmandPhotograph: Sean Smith
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