Andy McNab's Tour of Duty is a British documentary television series about the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. First broadcast in June and July 2008 on ITV4, the show is presented by ex-SAS soldier Andy McNab, and is cast as an insight into the life of the Allied soldiers in these conflicts, setting aside the already well documented politics of the conflicts and giving accounts in the soldier's own personal frames of reference. The series combines first hand accounts and amateur film footage shot by the soldiers on the ground, with official archive footage from the Ministry of Defence, and reconstructions. The series was first commissioned by ITV from Flashback Productions as a 6 part series of 1 hour episodes, to be broadcast exclusively as original programming for the digital channel ITV4 in a move to increased spending on the channel's output in a bid to increase the channel's audience share, and target the channel toward a demographic of 25 to 44-year-old men.
Episode 1
Former SAS soldier Andy McNab fronts this hard-hitting series, uncovering the real truth and stories behind British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. This episode tells the story of the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment who spent four months under constant barrage of mortars, machine guns and small arms in Al Amarah, south of Baghdad. The soldiers themselves tell how they lived under the strain. Plus the US marine sniper who came under siege not only from the enemy forces but also from his fellow marines while perched on top of an oil tank in Iraq
Episode 2
Former SAS soldier Andy McNab uncovers the real stories behind British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the streets of Iraq, battles are raging where soldiers have to fight the enemy at very close range, sometimes only a few metres. Soldiers from 1 Royal Horse Artillery tell how nine men, heavily outnumbered, were left trapped inside a house shooting insurgents who were beating at the doors. Plus the story of David Bellavia, an American infantryman who killed insurgents with his bare hands in Fallujah.
Episode 3
Former SAS soldier Andy McNab fronts this hard-hitting series, uncovering the real truth and stories behind British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. In this episode, what it's like to come under surprise attack, and how troops combat such tactics. The men of 3 Para tell how they had to fight their way out of a massive Taliban ambush. And in Iraq, a medal-winning United States Marine tells how he ran straight into insurgent machine gun fire to save his men.
Episode 4
Former SAS soldier Andy McNab uncovers the real stories behind British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a fact of war that soldiers get injured and killed, but their comrades display amazing courage and take immense risks to save lives on the field. Men like Lieutenant Simon Cupples of the Mercian Regiment, who put himself at risk no fewer than five times to save his injured mates. Plus the US Marines who faced incoming fire on the rooftop in Fallujah trying to save their dying friend.
Episode 5
Former SAS soldier Andy McNab uncovers the real stories behind British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Home made bombs - called improvised explosive devices or IEDs by the military - are a constant threat, liable to maim anybody unfortunate enough to come across them. Pete Norton tells how, knowing full well the risks he was taking, took the long walk to an IED in Baghdad which then exploded injuring him badly. Plus amazing footage of a US marine being blown up by an IED.
Episode 6
Former SAS soldier Andy McNab uncovers the real stories behind British and American soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Engineers are the unsung heroes of the battlefield, often finding themselves fighting in tractors rather than tanks, and having to blow-up their way through what others go round. Engineer Donald Campbell tells how he drove his digger into the middle of a raging fire-fight, allowing troops to move on and out thanks to the bridge he had constructed.
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