Camp Shorabak
| Camp Bastion | |
|---|---|
| Helmand Province, Afghanistan | |
| Type | Forward operating base |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | United Kingdom |
| Site history | |
| Built | 2006 |
| In use | 2006 - Present |
| Battles/wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–present) |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 2000-3000 troops |
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 desert 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.The airstrip is reputed to be named Chinte Lines after the mythological beasts that guard burmese temples and gave rise to the term Chindit.
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 and 28 metre wide runway, built by December 2007, allows RAF C-17s to land at Camp Bastion.
As of September 2008, 16 Air Assault Brigade is the in theatre brigade to be relieved shortly by 3 Commando Brigade.
[4]
References
- ^
"Building Camp Bastion". Channel 4. 2006-02-24. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Whitaker, Raymond (2006-12-03). "Camp Bastion: Welcome to Helmand". The Independent. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Wintour, Patrick (2006-11-21). "Bleak Camp Bastion - and a vision of roses and saffron". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "New runway takes shape at Camp Bastion". Ministry of Defence. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2007-09-25.
External links
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