COB Speicher COB Speicher formerly FOB Speicher ( Al Sahra Airfield under Saddam Hussein ) was a US Army Contingency Operating Base ( COB ) captured from the Iraqi Army during the 2003 Invasion of Iraq . It was reassigned from a Forward Operating Base to a COB because of its large size . The Installation is located near Tikrit in northern Iraq , approximately 170 kilometers north of Baghdad and 11 kilometers west of the Tigris River . The airfield is served by two main runways measuring long with a shorter runway measuring . It has been the location of the headquarters of the United States Forces - North ( USF - N , formerly Multinational Division , North , ( MND - N ) ) during the ongoing Iraq War . It is named after Commander Scott Speicher , a U . S . Navy pilot who was Killed In Action in Iraq During the 1991 Gulf War when his F / A - 18 Hornet was shot down by Captain Zuhair Dawood of the Iraqi air force . Overview . American soldiers , civilians , and contractors have had access to a variety of amenities over the course of the United States ' occupation of the base . A large , modern dining facility serves hot food every day . COB Speicher is home to an old soccer stadium where visiting bands perform today . There is a beauty salon and spa , a barber shop , cleaners / alterations , and a bazaar . Renovated Iraqi barracks , tents , and containerized housing unit s ( CHUs ) are used as housing for soldiers . CHUs are all wired for electricity and many have their own satellite television . The mail arrives daily at Speicher as opposed to only 2 - 3 times a week at outlying base camps . A large MWR ( morale , welfare , recreation ) facility contains Internet terminals , phones , big - screen TVs , PlayStations , pool tables , table tennis , libraries , and a lounge area . USO tours occasionally come to COB Speicher . The US Army left COB Speicher in October 2011 as part of the general withdrawal of US Forces . Winter temperatures can drop to the upper 20s and low 30s . Units have heaters for their rooms to keep their quarters warm during these cold months . During the summer , temperatures can get up to around 130 + degrees . Most housing ( whether a tent or containerized housing unit now have air conditioner / heater combinations . Satellite TV ( Armed Forces Network and commercial ) for sports and movies is available throughout the camp . History . Prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom , Al - Sahra Air Base was the main base of the IrAF Air Academy . The base 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 were 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 its 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 concealing 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 below 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 . Capture by United States forces . During OIF , the main runway and some taxiways were cut by bomb hits , and the large main hangar structure was blown up . The remains of the other large hangar next to it burned down in a large fire in July 2003 . The Iraqis realized already before that it was futile to hide aircraft on them and thus resorted to dispersal , while the US officers wanted Al - Sahra to be captured intact so they could use it subsequently . The original unit to take control of the base was 1 - 10th Cavalry of the 4th Infantry Division and was handed over to 4th Aviation Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division in the 2nd week of the war . The US troops found 30 dispersed L - 39 Aero Albatros , few MiG - 15UTIs , more than 40 Zlins , and at least 50 other “ light trainers . ” A small number of Jet Provost airframes – used as ground instruction airframes – were also seen , but their condition not confirmed . In addition to these aircraft also five destroyed Su - 20 / - 22s and two MiG - 25s were found at the site . COB Speicher had a large Post Exchange ( PX ) , as well as several American fast food restaurants , including Subway , Burger King , and Pizza Hut ; although these were all closed by mid October 2011 . the 89th transportation company were among the last unit to leave COB Speicher in October 2011 . Unit History . Units that have been based at COB Speicher include the ( 2003 – 2004 ) 4th Infantry Division 1 - 4 Aviation , 4th Infantry Division 2 - 4 Aviation , 42nd Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) , 101st Airborne Division ( Air Assault ) , elements of the 1st Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) , 3rd Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) , 4th Infantry Division ( Mechanized ) , 25th Infantry Division ( Light ) , 13th Corps Support Command , 287th Transportation Company ( HET ) , 50th Main Support Battalion ; Company B , 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team , 434th Main Support Battalion , 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment , HHC , Company B , Company D , 57th Signal Battalion , [ 141st Medical Company ( GA ) Connecticut Army National Guard unit , Combat Aviation Brigade , 10th Mountain Division , 555th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade , 232d CSB and others . During 2004 - 2005 12th Chemical Company , 701st MSB 1st Infantry Division supported transportation and logistic units based at FOB Speicher supported US units in Kirkuk , Mosul and 5 subordinate bases . The 467th Engineer Battalion from the U . S . Army Reserves were stationed here under both the 42nd Infantry Division and 3rd Infantry Division between 2004 and 2005 . The 1404th Transportation Company ( PLS ) from the Arizona Army National Guard was stationed there in 2003 under the 4th Infantry Division . The 232nd Corps Support Battalion of the Illinois Army National Guard , 323rd Maintenance Company ( DS ) , 454th Transportation Company from the U . S . Army Reserves , and elements of USAF 1058th Air Expeditionary Force Transportation Company of the 13th Corps Support Command of the Multi - National Corps , Iraq . Elements of the 3rd Squadron of the Tennessee National Guard ' s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment were stationed at COB Speicher under the 13th Sustainment Command ( Expeditionary ) as convoy security units from February 2010 until July 2010 . Elements of the Ohio National Guard ' s 16 Engineering Brigade were stationed here from 2003 through 2005 and helped bring the structures and roadways of the base to livable conditions . Elements Of the Kentucky National Guard ( 2113th Transportaion Company ) were stationed at FOB Speicher from 2004 though 2006 . 88th RRC was stationed here from 2004 to 2005 . HHS / 6 - 27 FA ( HET ) was stationed at COB Speicher from October 2005 to September 2006 and conducted a handover with the 1461st CBT HET of the Michigan Army National Guard was stationed here , and provided support for the troop surge in the stabilization of Iraq during 2006 - 2007 . 2007 - 2008 , the 111th Engineer Brigade of the West Virginia Army National Guard was headquartered within the " Badgerville " section of COB Speicher . Serving under the 25ID and later the 1AD , the 111th Engineer Brigade conducted engineer missions throughout Multi - National Division North ( MND - N ) .