How The Largest Surviving WW2 Military Base Was Shut Down | Camp Bastion | Spark

Camp Bastion a fortress built to fight the Taliban for 8 years the PowerHouse of UK and US military operations in Afghanistan now Britain's biggest military base since World War II is closing a town the size of reading with a massive infrastructure Airport Hospital fast food restaurants it's got to be dismantled bolt by bolt and sent back to the UK as I say imagine building all that and then deciding to put it in the box and take it home again that's a lot of work what's left will be handed over to the Afghans they need to go you know what you guys get up to when it's a long lonely night in Afghanistan and they've only got four months to do it that's really annoying someone's just dumped that but with 300 troops leaving every week all the military hardware being shipped out bastian's defenses will be stripped down to the last man St by so it's a deadly race to get everyone out on time good morning Afghanistan we're going to open bfbs radio station at camb Bastian in Afghanistan with just about the most positive tune you could have p [Music] wake up W up last 25 don't it time found this so wake up wake up there's so many things for us to do things that we could it's so take your time don't let me rush you please I know walk up all night I can do anything anything anything one man is charged with the immense task of bringing this town home leftenant Colonel Lawrence Quinn a former bomb disposal expert 32 years in the army with tours of Duty in Northern an Ireland Iraq and Afghanistan the colonel came here in 2006 to build Bastion now he's back to take it apart I've moved house 15 16 times in the Army you know and so my wife and I got a really slick drill you know count the kids one 2 yep got them all right get in the car you know and pack it all up it's pretty it's pretty slick in 2006 in the middle of a desert the British built Camp Bastion what started as a few tents and 57 men soon grew into a city with three districts the British in Camp Bastion the Americans in Camp lean and the Afghans in Camp shabach it has an airport the size of Gatwick with a 130 million pound Runway and over 600 flights every day Bastion is is kind of the jewel in the crown closing Bastion is a key piece and I get to do it you know and that just doesn't happen very often for an infrastructure officer and to have your own town that you can play with it's just great pity I'm taking it down a secret date has been set for the Handover to the Afghan forces Bast day code name bday Colonel Quinn has 4 months 120 days to close the base we've been biging this up all day uh we've got to get a song on for him Sergeant Alex Wilco is going to be 30 today he's working away at the biow wash and uh please can we have a bit of rose voice and car wash well it's so appropriate Sergeant Wilkey this is for you 40% of the equipment in Camp Bastion is being flown back to the UK all vehicles go through the biowash a process that can take up to 4 days per vehicle you might not ever get rich liit is better than diing a [Music] what's left is either auctioned or sold as scrap to the locals but before it leaves the wire it goes to a special place to be demilitarized Sergeant Yuri Hill a former professional Cricket player from Jamaica just just clear this area for us so you can get in 10 years in the Army four tours of Duty two in Iraq and two in Afghanistan he is the gatekeeper at warlike scrap most of this has come off the ground from the the guys who are out on the ground yet so it just come here and weed demilitarize it that's my job to just smash them up so all this get cut up private contractors are hired to help demilitarize equipment and sell it outside the wire they employ local Afghans to do the hard graft the Taliban have a history of infiltrating Coalition bases so Yuri has to be vigilant for my piece of my I always have someone watching over them ensuring that they're cutting every bits and pieces anything that could be used against us our correlation forces in the future so nothing escaped this [Applause] compound you're getting rid of the tubes once they're crushed yes and then these these I'm just going to smash them up some more take the the trigger mechanism off yeah yeah and and the sites so they don't look and then just go like a weapon General waste and it just go General waste how much works that that is a lot of [Music] work the popcorn machine destroys out ofd Ammunition by cooking the bullets till they explode that's that's the actual um round going off exploding and being contained and then come out as scrap sell it as um [Music] brass ammunition too big for the popcorn machine quiet is dealt with stop by in a different way [Music] fting all military hardware is being repatriated to the UK [Music] but getting rid of Weaponry in a war is a dangerous game in 2012 14 Taliban managed to breach the fence and get on to the runway the attackers were carrying automatic rifles rocket propelled grenade launchers suicide vests and were wearing US army uniforms the firefight lasted 3 hours when it was over two US Marines were dead along with all but one of the insurgents the perimeter fence is critical to [Music] Bastion [Music] [Music] Rifleman Fox is 30 years old this is his first posting biggest threat we have at the moment is vehicle born suicide ID yeah that's the biggest threat so is that often does that happen much um recently yeah I think there's been one or two cases but um luckily there was no fatalities no casualties obviously just the one guy who decided to blow himself up yeah this is two kids on the on the BM they're just chucking stor and stuff there you are I'm sure most of the Scrappers just come just to try and Salvage some some metal from the fences and stuff but I don't know it could be that the getting the kids to do it cuz they know that we won't sort of harm the kids or anything just to kind of test our reactions and things like that so the insurgents are sending kids it's possible it wouldn't be the first time no it wouldn't be the first time like in the last couple of days we've had quite a lot if they're behind it we don't know but there's been a lot of incidents where kids have just came over the BM and just started pull pickets out the ground and all we can do is shout at them and fire flares for the men on the watchtowers things are only going to get more dangerous with 50 troops being repatriated daily bastion's military might is depleting but these men on the perimeter fence are here to the last one [Music] fire with just over 3 months to go the clock is ticking come come on look at this this is a tier 2 wall look at this wall Colonel Lawrence Quinn the man responsible for packing up B and handing it over to the Afghans right we haven't just horsed this in look at that line there look at that concrete line there the concrete walls aren't like this like bad dental work you know it's been done properly it's a really huge concrete wall and it's important that you get the foundations right and you and you and you don't have gaps that fragments can fly through so this place has been built really well you know we've cared about it so I'm really proud of this base I've been here long enough now I think I'm going to be handed over with the rest of the infrastructure they'll sign sign for me I think along with the generators and toilet processor right we're going to leave the barriers in here leave the barriers in between the aircraft and those little shelters at the front those are actually recyclable so you need to send those back to the UK um and obviously you can see from this side there's a lot of murals here and there's been and there's a lot of talented people if you look at that one down there that's a phenomenal that's a phenomenal bit of art all the squadrons that come through have painted their own thing on on a piece of wall some are really amazing um but unfortunately our policy is to paint out all um any form of graffiti or artwork um just to make sure there's no offense caused by anything that might be on the walls and you know our culture may not be the same as those of the Afghans and things that we might find reasonable might they might not do it's a great [Music] shame I built one of these in Lego you know [Music] military kit that isn't being repatriated ends up at warlike scrap they're making sure it's it can't be drive again look at this walk why are they doing that cuz we can't seems to be gifting stuff to the to the locals that's that's why we cut it up smash it up as much as as we can that's the rules do you know what that is I don't know I it's it's from higher so they make the decisions I've just read orders and and and and follow it basically yui's orders also state that wire must be cut into 30 cm lens to prevent it being used by insurgents to make bombs yeah you're going to have to cut these man before I can receive them cut them yeah so how just cut them straight on the middle I know I don't ask me how you going to do it cuz it's the same it's the same story we've got here right I only have three guys so you I send some guys down cut here what I don't want to do is take them off you and then me run off and not come back yeah and then I left in trouble that's what I can't do you know I mean so the units have to cut them from now on cuz I'm not taking any more wires or cables what I do I need this here or no no I'm looking push bikes push bikes I hav got any do you think this is a car boot sale or what [Music] huh with half of the 10,000 strong Army already repatriated and troops leaving daily life is changing for the Brits at Bastion there's no more chicken m it's finished no more chicken at its height Bastion served over 34,000 meals a day in three massive canteens have you all cleared this because of the risk of insurgents poisoning the food also supplies have flown in from abroad and every week bastion's appetite is [Music] voracious they're now down to one canteen and some of the luxuries are running [Music] out with the drive to get everything out by the deadline Camp Bastion is tightening its belt we keep talking about austerity austerity is out now that the word has gone it's now expeditionary what does that mean then it's a red reduction in the comfort that we're that we're uh that used to please don't winge at the end of the day we still have airon we got Wi-Fi we've got comfortable accommodation we've got hot food I mean we're almost in luxury Commander wants me to mention this and it pains me to say this because um I even cringe when I think about it we must ensure our soldiers are changing their socks and pants um you laugh I cringe and I have to mention it um the commander is getting into that level of detail so make sure as section commanders and indeed troop seniors that we are ensuring um that we change our socks and pants um I'll leave it at that if you can own that [Music] [Applause] one we bu this city on now I haven't really done the weather today CU it feels a little bit irrelevant but I have to remind you if you are in Afghanistan Camp Bastion today Highs are 40° uh heat stress index is 24.5 uh Bastion in the summer one of the hottest places on Earth the one thing they can't afford to ration here is water but with bday looming they've had to close the water bottling plant and ship it back to the [Music] UK so they've stockpiled 8 million bottles to see them through to the [Music] end the military used private contractors to take tents down and clear the land Parcels a key part of the remediation process is um getting the units out of their accommodation out of the facilities they're in and we do that through a process called a board of officers or a boo and um obviously I get my staff to do that and uh Captain Dog Barkley is a guy I get to do most of the the board of officers the booze he's kind of like the lead shock troop of the infrastructure Branch all your wooden furniture needs to go just get your RSM to get a grip of them come and get that razor wire please as long as we keep the contractor moving and fed with all the stuff without having to pause we'll get out on time love the Rockery but can we get rid of it it is like riding a tiger and the tiger tries to turn around and bite you every day so you got to push it back onto track do the lights still work all hardstanding buildings are being left for the Afghans this is a building designed by NATO to provide um training against ID so how do you how do you search to make sure you're safe you know searching tunnels stitches culs that kind of a [Music] thing can those pigeons get out can those pigeons get out probably not they'll probably die in me can we leave the door open for no I'm going to lock it sir can they get out through the top they get out some they're [Music] fine dogs are moving under the month they've moved some of the search dogs already down to white and green I feel sorry for these dogs look at that don't get to take their coat off I've got our black Lab at home no near is obedient Boris I've got a rockweiler I've got a lam so I called him scooter were you a mod back in the day no never a mod mods are for pretty boys more of a a rude boy I'm into the old making Scar and stuff like that the specials really yeah Northern soul and a Hoy boy you probably M me at school didn't [Music] you [Music] coming all the clubs are been [Music] closed this place great Wes of Bastion are being returned to desert but there's still a logistical mountain to climb before [Music] bday there are just two months left till Bastion gets handed over to the Afghan forces 70% of the British troops have left along with 2/3 of the heavy Weaponry the man in charge of the move is leftenant Colonel Lawrence Quinn he's been an infrastructure specialist for 32 years but first and foremost he's a soldier how's that that's actually a bit off so have you botom Center the white PCH no I was a for the top there you a for the top of the right patch in which case that's bang on good stuff I I suppose I try for Perfection you know I recognize that uh um I never quite achieve it's like being a piper you know I wanted to be a really good Piper but I realized I've got no sense of timing no sense of Rhythm and I've got no no ear for [Music] music there's something vile in my chanter so I just be the best I could be at it you know um which probably be a core member of the band uh because I really enjoy [Music] [Applause] [Music] it while the British are packing up to leave the Afghans over in Camp sharak are still at [Music] War these recruits are being mentored by British and American soldiers it's going to take a bit of time to get me through but as you can see they work this training Mission started by nato in 2009 means that Afghanistan now boasts a security force of 350 50,000 the Afghans in shabach have limited resources and with their allies leaving soon they are desperate to hold on to as much military and logistical Hardware as [Music] possible a delegation of Afghans is on its way to visit Camp Bastion the the base they are soon to inherit Colonel Kos is Quinn's counterpart head of infrastructure in Shak this whole equipment Support Facility has its own set of generators uh that facilitate power to all to all these buildings yes to all these equipment support buildings we did have a plan to extend this high voltage system to run all of Bastion but we decided not to in the end perhaps we'll do that next time we come [Laughter] [Music] back keep it for you oh thank [Music] you take me with you when you go down to the river so is that going to be left behind yes some gym equipment will be left behind it's the only place I know where I can forgive her there a lot of chocolate sponge pudding take me with you when you go I'm tired of living life on hold for yeah I was just saying sir that you have spent more on this on this base camp pum looks very nice good infrastructure so from every point so very good thank [Applause] you just want to take everything that's great you know and they and they really like it you know they like what we've done in the place fantastic that's [Music] why warlike is closing in 6 days the individual units are responsible for getting rid of their own scrap so the pressure is on yeah I think it's dead now what does that say are you going to let locals dispose that no so you got to take them back excuse me dude it says 5K in here not 20 what's this A what the hell you do with this look at his ice now it's that heavy he just buckled in the middle yeah see what happen when you don't follow them around that's what happened it just Chuck it on the floor you had a busy day here very very I think the closer we get to the end the busier it is really yeah today been really today I mean it's nonstop the guys go for lunch come straight back and it's straight into [Music] it with less than a week till warl closes there's a scramble to get rid of Kit even out on the perimeter just check things make sure they're getting rid of all their their junk for the warlight scrap shots Captain Dog Barkley has 36 watchtowers to get ready for the Afghan Handover hello guys you right sir just going to have a quick look around we're not going on to the top deck hello buddy you're right yes it's not too bad not too when you're bugging out just take all the maps down everything off the walls mate that's good stuff like this you need to get rid of there's a lot of just laying around things like that need to go mate any made Furniture if it's not Das we need to get rid of the problem you've got is warlock scrap shuts yeah and once warlight scrap shirs it's going to be three days time it's going to be an absolute nightmare to get rid of it off tomorrow [Laughter] so Le comes with a jacuzzi this one right cheers guys let's go to the next one there's only only 22 [Music] [Music] left don't want to see FHM on the walls mate basically I want it as when you're going to walk out you know what you guys get up to when it's a long lonely night in Afghanistan all right so let's get them out what we can what the other I just don't want to inight anything really they come here and they'll they'll see that and they'll just um I don't know get the wrong impression of us and it's it's we got to abide by their culture really so it's just taking them all day let playing the game nice and clean good to see do the lads like being at the town I think they do cuz um you don't get the you can do uh what you want there's no one picking you up for your dress and stuff like that although you should be dressed appropriately but they can relax a little bit but obviously they' got an important job to do um and they're they're looking out for their threat all the time and they will remain right until the last minute when we get out with the threat of a Taliban attack before bday the British are flying dummy missions to give the impression of a fully operational base but in reality bastion's armor is getting thinner by the [Music] day there's just over a month till bday when Camp Bastion is finally handed over to the Afghans forces are down to 1500 troops and much of the military hardware is gone now the primary objective for the British is to make a clean exit without any loss of life but just 70 M away from Bastion the Afghan security forces are head to-head with the Taliban and they've already lost 4,400 men just this [Music] year on route to the perimeter Colonel Quinn is Keen to show Colonel Kosen the VIP block good morning welcome to my home built by the foreign and Commonwealth office the British have decided to leave it for the Afghans as a token of Goodwill and everything in these rooms is staying so they all have television up at night it all comes on automatic when it gets dark Dix is obviously planning for his next career as an state agent yeah it's all of same also that PR much Rel all [Music] right you see the incinerators we're leaving we're leaving the incinerators behind how about the radar um no the Radar's going [Music] for the last British troops to leave Bastion will be the ones defending the towers this will be the most vulnerable part of the Handover it's a much bigger perimeter than the Afghans are used to defending the guards have asked that we don't go onto the very top deck one one so one at the bottom here and then one at the very top sir he's asking in the big light projectors yeah so we have the generators that the minute along the perimeter do you have like CCTV cameras all over this place got CCT you haven't no so there are integral assets basically [Applause] [Music] after 5 months Sergeant Yuri Hill is shutting up shop so far it's over two 2 and A2 million kilos of material being disposed through the world like I think me and the lads did awesome job out [Music] here [Music] y looking empty now good feeling is it yeah smashed it it's done is that a tear I see running down your CH never never I would never oh my God you don't know how happy I am so Yuri worst case scenario this country doesn't you know manage to hold back the Taliban how how would you feel it it it would of course yeah it would it would be sad because we come here and we we help them so much and and then to see the Taliban take over it will be a sad a sad sight you know hey we tried Happy Days see you tomorrow after 13 years of war Britain's most expensive overseas military base is coming to an end it's going to get a little bit emotional I'm trying not to get emotional but it is my last show from our studios here in Camp Bastion just keep safe keep up the good work and I'll catch you on bfbs [Music] [Music] soon [Music] the memorial War before us has become a Bastion for our Collective memory of Those whom we have lost during this Campa pign its rightful And Timely transfer from this land to ours will ensure that the memories of a foreign field are brought home in the right way and will endure for future generations of soldiers sailers and [Music] Airmen [Music] what [Music] how am I going to get this stuff in here normally my wife packs my bag I'm utterly useless at this so I'm just kind of ramming it all in hoping it'll go in there somewhere we're we're down to I think it's about 720 military people here in in Bastion and um and you walk around and you can walk around you know a long way through b not see a soul so um fortunately we've got a very secure perimeter which is great but uh it's radically different place it's sad to see it go because it really is the end of such a major part of a British operation there's a piece of History being written and to have a be able to write one or two words in the book of History it's just it's awesome yeah so in that way it's it's really great and not only that I'm U I'm coming to the end of my career and um and they've given me a job in in headquarters Army lovely job but it just won't compare with his um so really I suppose this this is yeah this is a highlight of of my career I've only waited 31 years for it or 32 years really for [Music] this 7 years after he first set foot in Camp Bastion Colonel Quinn is [Music] leaving we were leaving here really proud of what we've done in southern Helmand and I'm really proud of what we achieved here in in Camp Bastion so yeah it's been a heck of a [Music] challenge the Brits are leaving Afghanistan with more schools better roads and Tighter security around some of the Cities but elsewhere the Taliban are stronger than ever and determined to retake helmond [Music] over the next few days the last of the equipment gets sent home Camp Bastion is now a shadow of its former self the only thing remaining 300 British troops ready for the final [Music] Handover [Music] they're here with all their equipment weapons everything ready to go so we're just now in a position where we're basically just waiting for them to command their guys onto the trucks and then start occupying the uh towers with just seven hours left before the Brits are due to be out of Bastion the Afghan Army are gearing up for the Takeover and the Souther packet is now moving [Music] through 200 soldiers are on route to secure the perimeter the key to basan marks the formal transfer of the estate Bastion back to Afghan [Music] ownership as the British step down the Afghans immediately take their place but without the Hightech surveillance equipment the towers are more at risk so the Afghans are stationing 10 men in each one twice what the British had the Taliban have threatened to attack the base on bday so Apache helicopters constantly Patrol the skies [Applause] [Music] an hour later and Bastion is in the hands of the Afghans six Apache helicopters fly overhead securing the runway as the final 30 troops leave and the very last man Wing Commander Matt radel has the honor of bringing the Union flag home Britain's biggest military campaign since World War II is over [Music]

Channel: Spark

Views: 3,864,915

Keywords: Afghanistan war, Closing down, Combat, Combat zone, Defense cooperation, Defense infrastructure, Global politics, Guerrilla warfare, International relations, Manpower, Military aircraft, Military base, Military communication, Military intelligence, Military vehicles, Peace process, Spark, Tactical retreat, War documentaries, War effort, Withdrawal process

Id: Icd-4O1q2Jo

Length: 47min 8sec (2828 seconds)

Published: Wed Jun 24 2020