CHAPTER X 



Development of Computer 

 Technology 



Ralph A. Niemann 



Mr. Niemann obtained an AB in mathematics from DePauw University in 

 1941 and received an MA in mathematics from the University of Illinois in 

 1942. He came to Dahlgren from Harvard University in 1947 and served as 

 Head of the Warfare Analysis Department from 1955 until 1970. From 1970 

 through 1972, he was Assistant Technical Director of the Naval Weapons 

 Laboratory and then returned as Head of the Warfare Analysis Department 

 where he is presently employed. 



The following interview was conducted by Cynthia Rouse in Mr. Niemann's 

 office at Dahlgren on October 26, 1976. 



Were you here when the first computers arrived at Dahlgren? 



Actually, I came here with the first computer — the first large-scale computer. 

 There were so-called computers here when I arrived, but they were IBM 

 card-feed devices. They weren't the same type as modern computers. I had 

 been at Harvard and worked on what was called the MARK II Computer, 

 which was later changed to the Aiken Relay Calculator. Then I was on the staff 

 there and came down here with the computer, along with the people who built 

 it and a few others who were hired to do programming. 



What were the first computers put into operation here and what was their purpose? 



We had a couple of smaller card-feed computers which were used mainly for 

 producing ballistic tables for the Navy — bombing tables, rocket tables, projec- 

 tile tables, and that kind of thing. This was sort of a center for producing that 

 data for the Fleet, and it still is. That's what prompted the idea that with modern 

 technology advancing, computers could be built. That's what prompted the 

 Navy to go to Harvard and try to get a computer built to do so-called manual 



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