The UK's largest base in Afghanistan's Helmand Province has come under indirect fire from Taliban rockets for the first time in a significant change of tactics by the Islamic insurgent group.rnJane's understands the attacks took place in January and involved truck-borne rocket teams who approached the huge base, named Camp Bastion, to set up firing positions. They then abandoned the vehicles and the rockets were activated by timers.rnWhen the base was built in early 2006 it was thought that locating it in the middle of a remote desert region would increase security by making it difficult for insurgents to approach undetected. Camp Bastion is currently a base of operations for some 5,000 UK military personnel, as well as thousands of coalition and Afghan troops.rnBritish military sources say the insurgents used Chinese-manufactured Type 63107 mm rockets in the attacks. "These are available in large numbers in Afghanistan and Pakistan," said the source. "We think the Taliban are ramping up their operations in anticipation of the arrival of US 'surge' reinforcements over the next few months."
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