article_snippet.sent: The helicopters are able to provide vital close air support for ground troops pinned down by the opposition.
article_snippet.sent: SAS veteran Robert Henry Craft told the Daily Mirror: 'The amount of ammo expended shows how British troops in Afghanistan were fighting for British troops in Afghanistan lives every day. '
article_snippet.sent: That so many 9mm rounds were used shows how close the fighting was at times'.
article_snippet.sent: Afghan conflict claimed 453 UK lives.
article_snippet.sent: One former SAS solider, not pictured, said British troops were fighting for British troops on a daily basis .
highlights_snippet.sent: New figures show that seven rounds were fired every minute at the Taliban .
  