Camp Mirage
| Camp Mirage | |
|---|---|
| Part of Al Minhad Air Base | |
| Dubai | |
 Camp Mirage
|
|
| Coordinates | 25°01′37″N 055°22′15″E / 25.02694°N 55.37083°ECoordinates: 25°01′37″N 055°22′15″E / 25.02694°N 55.37083°E |
| Type | Forward logistics facility |
| Site information | |
| Controlled by | Canada |
| Site history | |
| In use | 2001-2010 |
| Battles/wars | Afghan War |
| Garrison information | |
| Garrison | 225-250 Canadian Forces personnel |
Camp Mirage is the codename for a former Canadian Forces forward logistics facility located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The facility was established in late-December 2001 and, though not officially acknowledged by the Canadian Forces, is considered an "open secret". According to CTV sources, the base was closed in November 2010.
It was established in December 2001 to support Canadian Forces operations in southwest Asia, namely Afghanistan. The exact location of Camp Mirage and the nature of its mission(s) are not officially acknowledged by the Canadian Forces or the Government of Canada, however, it has been widely reported that the facility is located at Al Minhad Air Base, operated by the United Arab Emirates Air Force.
Camp Mirage was originally used by the Long Range Patrol Detachment Southwest-Asia using CP-140 Aurora maritime-patrol aircraft, starting in December 2001, a time later CC-130 Hercs arrived. Strategic airlift aircraft in the form of C-17 Globemaster III and CC-150 Polaris operated from CFB Trenton and other air bases in Canada to Camp Mirage to drop off and pick up cargo. This cargo was then transferred onto tactical airlift aircraft in the form of C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for the final flight to Kandahar International Airport in Afghanistan. This final flight was believed to take a route approximately 400 nautical miles (740 km) east southeast over the Gulf of Oman until passing east of the Iran-Pakistan border before turning north over Pakistan airspace for the remaining 500 nautical miles (930 km) to Kandahar. The base also included aircraft maintenance facilities, sleeping areas, a cafeteria and a ball-hockey rink. The annual throughput at the base was reported to be 3,600,000 kilograms (7,900,000 lb) and as many as 32,500 personnel per year. The Canadian garrison at Camp Mirage ranged between 225 and 250 personnel, with ground personnel rotated every six months and CC-130 Hercules aircrew replaced every eight weeks.
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Wikipedia