Camp Bastion
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| Camp Bastion | |
|---|---|
| Helmand Province, Afghanistan | |
| Type | Forward operating base |
| Built | 2006 |
| In use | 2006 - Present |
| Controlled by | United Kingdom |
| Garrison | 2000-3000 troops |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–present) |
Camp Bastion is the main British military base in Afghanistan. It is situated northwest of Lashkar Gah, the capital of Helmand Province.
It is the largest British overseas military camp built since World War II.[1]
Built in early 2006, the camp is situated in a desertic area, far from population centres. Four miles long by two miles wide, it has an airstrip and a field hospital and full accommodation for the 2000 men stationed there.[2] The airstrip can handle C-130 transport aircraft; Apache and Chinook helicopters are forward-deployed at the Heliport.
In November 2006, Tony Blair visited Camp Bastion, and, while addressing a gathering of British troops, described it as "an extraordinary piece of desert" "where the fate of world security in the early 21st century is going to be decided."[3]
A 2,350 metre long runway, to be built by December 2007, will allow RAF C-17s to land at Camp Bastion. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ "Building Camp Bastion", Channel 4, 24 February 2006. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ Whitaker, Raymond. "Camp Bastion: Welcome to Helmand", The Independent, 03 December 2006. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ Wintour, Patrick. "Bleak Camp Bastion - and a vision of roses and saffron", The Guardian, November 21, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
- ^ New runway takes shape at Camp Bastion. Ministry of Defence (27 Jul 07). Retrieved on 2007-09-25.
[edit] External links
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