K-2 Air Base
Encyclopedia
K-2 Air Base is a former Iraqi Air Force
base in the Salah al-Din Governorate of Iraq
. It was captured by Coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
Originally, 13 airfields were re-built by British contractors, and on all of them also a number of hardened aircraft shelters was built. Subsequently companies from Yugoslavia - previously engaged in building bridges in Iraq - became involved. Due to their specific construction of these airfields - which included taxi-ways leading right out of Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) and laid diagonally to the runways - they became known as "Trapezoids" or "Yugos".
The facilities were divided into two categories: "surface" and "underground". The "surface" facilities were actually the "softest", and included maintenance hangars of metal construction, and HAS of concrete construction. In total, the Yugoslavs have built no less but 200 HAS on different airfields in Iraq during the 1980s.
The protection of each HAS consisted of one meter thick concrete shells, reinforced by 30 cm thick steel plates. There was only one entrance and this was covered by sliding doors, made of 50 cm thick steel armoured plate and concrete. The HAS' were usually built in small groups - seldom more than five, with each group sharing the same water and power supply, besides having own backup gasoline-powered electrical generator, and each HAS being equipped with a semi-automatic aircraft-refuelling system.
In addition, underground facilities that could shelter between four and ten aircraft on average were constructed. In order to build these the Yugoslavs used equipment and construction techniques identical to that use in underground oil-storage depots, additionally conealing the extension and the true purpose of the whole project. The underground facilities were all hardened to withstand a direct hit by a tactical nuclear bomb, buried up to 50 meters bellow the ground and consisted of the main aircraft "hangar" (consisting of two floors in several cases, connected by 40ts hydraulic lifts), connected with operations, maintenance, and logistical facilities via a net of underground corridors.
In late April 2003 the United States Marine Corps 404th ASB (Aviation Support Battalion) located at K-2, the facility being designated Camp Lancer
The big news at for TF3-66AR at Camp Lancer, the first week of September 2003 was the graduation of the first class of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. The infantry company, Bravo Company, 1-22 Infantry had been training the initial force for the past few weeks. The Lancers finished a weeklong mission in the town of Ash Sharqat, an hour's drive north of the base camp. Ash Sharqat is a town friendly towards the United States and US soldiers enjoy helping the locals to improve their living conditions. The civil affairs team has been active helping to repair and restore schools and clinics both there and in Bayji. Progress continued on the containerized housing units, and TF3-66AR hoped to move in soon. Living conditions improved daily.
In November 2003, during Ivy Cyclone II, a series of strategic operations conducted across Task Force Ironhorse, and throughout other operations, many soldiers assume traditional infantry roles. For the members of 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, conducting convoy security, raids and patrols are everyone's responsibility. Ever since 4th Infantry Division entered theater as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, soldiers from every job field have been called on to perform frontline duties in places where there are no frontlines. Filling in as security on convoys and missions has just become another part of regular duties for the computer technicians.
By late 2003 a number of contractors have started moving in. These include Washington Group, Bechtel and Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR). When KBR moves in, you know that's the place to be. They make sure their employees are living as well as can be. Parsons has been in contact with KBR for sharing Dinning facilities, well water for showers and the Rec Center (gym, movie theater, game room, etc.). By the end of January 2004 it will almost be like a mini city. Each one of these companies bring with them about 100 employees a piece. They each have different missions. The CEA (Captured Enemy Ammunition) project provides Bomb Disposal. The Washington Group is working on a project that involves the Tigris River. There are so many contract companies in Iraq, you never hear of them in the news. All doing various missions; restoring oil, water, electric, phones, destruction of unexploded ordnance. You name it and there most likely is a company here restoring it.
Current aerial imagery shows most of the airfield to be abandoned, a small aircraft ramp area and a few structures remain in use with some helicopters parked in front of hangars.
Iraqi Air Force
The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
base in the Salah al-Din Governorate of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. It was captured by Coalition forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
Overview
K-2 Airbase is located in Northern Iraq. The airfield is served by one runway 9,870 feet long. The airbase is named after the K-2 oil pipeline pumping station. Not much is known about the base, however it was established near the pumping station on the oil-pipeline into Turkey sometimes in the 1930s, it became known as a Mirage F.1EQ base in the 1980s. It was one of several Iraqi Air Force airfields in the mid-1970s which were re-built under project "Super-Base" in response to the experiences from Arab-Israeli wars in 1967 and 1973.Originally, 13 airfields were re-built by British contractors, and on all of them also a number of hardened aircraft shelters was built. Subsequently companies from Yugoslavia - previously engaged in building bridges in Iraq - became involved. Due to their specific construction of these airfields - which included taxi-ways leading right out of Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) and laid diagonally to the runways - they became known as "Trapezoids" or "Yugos".
The facilities were divided into two categories: "surface" and "underground". The "surface" facilities were actually the "softest", and included maintenance hangars of metal construction, and HAS of concrete construction. In total, the Yugoslavs have built no less but 200 HAS on different airfields in Iraq during the 1980s.
The protection of each HAS consisted of one meter thick concrete shells, reinforced by 30 cm thick steel plates. There was only one entrance and this was covered by sliding doors, made of 50 cm thick steel armoured plate and concrete. The HAS' were usually built in small groups - seldom more than five, with each group sharing the same water and power supply, besides having own backup gasoline-powered electrical generator, and each HAS being equipped with a semi-automatic aircraft-refuelling system.
In addition, underground facilities that could shelter between four and ten aircraft on average were constructed. In order to build these the Yugoslavs used equipment and construction techniques identical to that use in underground oil-storage depots, additionally conealing the extension and the true purpose of the whole project. The underground facilities were all hardened to withstand a direct hit by a tactical nuclear bomb, buried up to 50 meters bellow the ground and consisted of the main aircraft "hangar" (consisting of two floors in several cases, connected by 40ts hydraulic lifts), connected with operations, maintenance, and logistical facilities via a net of underground corridors.
United States Military Use
Among the targets struck during the 1991 Gulf War was the critical K2 pipeline junction near Bayji [Beiji] that connects northern oil fields, an export pipeline to Turkey and a reversible north-south pipeline inside Iraq.In late April 2003 the United States Marine Corps 404th ASB (Aviation Support Battalion) located at K-2, the facility being designated Camp Lancer
The big news at for TF3-66AR at Camp Lancer, the first week of September 2003 was the graduation of the first class of the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps. The infantry company, Bravo Company, 1-22 Infantry had been training the initial force for the past few weeks. The Lancers finished a weeklong mission in the town of Ash Sharqat, an hour's drive north of the base camp. Ash Sharqat is a town friendly towards the United States and US soldiers enjoy helping the locals to improve their living conditions. The civil affairs team has been active helping to repair and restore schools and clinics both there and in Bayji. Progress continued on the containerized housing units, and TF3-66AR hoped to move in soon. Living conditions improved daily.
In November 2003, during Ivy Cyclone II, a series of strategic operations conducted across Task Force Ironhorse, and throughout other operations, many soldiers assume traditional infantry roles. For the members of 3rd Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, conducting convoy security, raids and patrols are everyone's responsibility. Ever since 4th Infantry Division entered theater as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, soldiers from every job field have been called on to perform frontline duties in places where there are no frontlines. Filling in as security on convoys and missions has just become another part of regular duties for the computer technicians.
By late 2003 a number of contractors have started moving in. These include Washington Group, Bechtel and Kellogg, Brown and Root (KBR). When KBR moves in, you know that's the place to be. They make sure their employees are living as well as can be. Parsons has been in contact with KBR for sharing Dinning facilities, well water for showers and the Rec Center (gym, movie theater, game room, etc.). By the end of January 2004 it will almost be like a mini city. Each one of these companies bring with them about 100 employees a piece. They each have different missions. The CEA (Captured Enemy Ammunition) project provides Bomb Disposal. The Washington Group is working on a project that involves the Tigris River. There are so many contract companies in Iraq, you never hear of them in the news. All doing various missions; restoring oil, water, electric, phones, destruction of unexploded ordnance. You name it and there most likely is a company here restoring it.
Current aerial imagery shows most of the airfield to be abandoned, a small aircraft ramp area and a few structures remain in use with some helicopters parked in front of hangars.