Chronology 1 5 



Station locomotive for hauling heavy ammunition, April 1920. 



processing ballistic data, and this led to the arrival of the MARK II Aiken Relay 

 Calculator at Dahlgren in 1947. Even though crude by today's standards, this 

 computer allowed much greater speed and volume of scientific calculations 

 than had previously been possible either by hand or with desk-top calculators. 



After World War II, the proof and testing of ammunition continued at 

 Dahlgren as the Navy replenished its ordnance supply. However, the Labora- 

 tory lost a large portion of its professional staff as most of the reserve officers 

 returned to civilian life. The few officers that did choose to remain at Dahlgren 

 in a civilian capacity, together with the civilian scientists and engineers who 

 stayed on, formed a competent nucleus that would in later years drive major 

 research and development at the Laboratory. 



The Korean War in the early 1950's again increased the proof and testing 

 work at Dahlgren, and during the lull that followed the war, plans were 

 considered for closing the Laboratory. On March 16, 1956, the following small 

 article appeared in the Washington Evening Star: 



A cutback of 180 civilian employees is scheduled at Dahlgren Naval Proving 

 Ground by June 30 — a result of the new age of guided missiles, rockets, and nuclear 

 weapons. . . . The proving ground's main mission is the testing of conventional 

 guns, ammunition, and aircraft armaments.* 



Fortunately, during this period the Navy began to consider the possibility of 

 a large computing center and sponsored development of the Naval Ordnance 

 Research Calculator. This machine, built by IBM for one dollar plus cost, was at 

 the time the fastest computer in the world, and Dahlgren was selected as the site 

 for its installation. With the increased computing capability came new scientific 

 work, new facilities, and some influx of scientific personnel to operate and 

 apply the computer facility. 



' At the time of the proposed cutback, Dahlgren had 1.^10 employees. 



