Camp Bastion

1. Camp Bastion is the main British military base in Afghanistan.
   
   
2. It is located in the south of the country in Helmand Province.
   
   
3. The location of camp was specifically chosen to be in a remote desert area far from population centers. The purpose of this was to allow clear vision to spot attackers.
   
   
4. Camp Bastion is the largest British military camp that has been built since World War II. It is approximately 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) by 2 miles (3 kilometers) in size.
   
   
5. Camp Bastion was constructed by the 39 Engineer Royal Engineers in early 2006, although significantly extended in 2010.
   
   
6. Facilities in Camp Bastion include an airfield (the 5th busiest UK-operated airport, which is also used by elements of the US military), a field hospital, accommodation for 2,000 mean and women, and, a controversial detention facility holds 80 to 90 Afghan detainees as of mid-2013.
   
   
7. Camp Bastion adjoins a US base, Camp Leatherneck, and an Afghan National Army (ANA) base, Camp Shorabak.
   
   
8. Camp Bastion was visited in 2006 by then British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
   
   
9. Camp Bastion has been subject to a number of Taliban attacks. The most severe of these, a Taliban raid on September 14th 2012, resulted in the deaths of two US Marine Corps (USMC) service personnel, the destruction of six USMC AV-8B Harrier IIs, damage to a further two USMC AV-8B Harrier IIs, destruction of three refueling stations, and damage to six soft-skinned aircraft hangars.