Harry Diamond Laboratories
Encyclopedia
The Harry Diamond Laboratories (HDL) began in 1940, though that name was not given to the organization until 1962. In 1992, HDL was one of seven Army laboratories merged into a new organization, the Army Research Lab.
organized a group of scientists and engineers into the Ordnance Development Division of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), to develop fuzes for non-rotating (fin-stabilized) munitions such as bombs, rockets and mortar shells. Harry Diamond, a pioneer radio engineer, was given technical direction of the program, a position he held
until his death in 1948. Proximity fuze
s were first used in combat in January 1943, and the U.S. War Department later described the proximity fuze as "one of the outstanding scientific developments of World War II
... second only to the atomic bomb" in military importance.
In 1952, the Ordnance Development Division was transferred from NBS to the Army as a research and development
(R&D) installation and named the Diamond Ordnance Fuze Laboratories (DOFL) in honor of its early leader. DOFL made significant contributions in areas such as printed circuits, casting resins, flow and temperature measurement, reserve power supplies, high-resolution radar, air navigation systems and nuclear effects studies.
In a 1962 Army reorganization, DOFL was assigned directly to the Army Materiel Command
(AMC) as a corporate laboratory; in 1963, its name was officially changed to Harry Diamond Laboratories (HDL). AMC later established the Electronics Research and Development Command (ERADCOM) as subordinate command, with HDL reporting to that command. HDL was subsequently transferred to the Army Laboratory Command (LABCOM).
In 1972, Jack Anderson reported that HDL was working on "short-time-span control of human behavior", which Anderson characterized as "Experiments to control human behavior with science fiction devices". An Army spokesman responded that the research program was looking at alternative ways for crowd control.
In 1992, the Army created the Army Research Laboratory
(ARL) by combining seven existing Army laboratories including HDL.
By the 1960s, HDL occupied a modern research facility located on 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) in Adelphi, Maryland
. It also had a test range at Blossom Point, Maryland, a 1600 acres (6.5 km²) U.S. Army installation near La Plata, Maryland
, and research facilities at Woodbridge, Virginia
.
The Woodbridge site was closed in the 1990s, after the Army decided to stop electromagnetic pulse testing there. In 1989, the commander of the HDL said that the decision to stop this testing was mainly based on the Army's need to perform more powerful testing, something not appropriate for the thickly settled neighborhood around the site. In 1997, the 580 acres (2.3 km²) became the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
.
History
In 1940, concerned about increasing warfare abroad, the National Defense Research CommitteeNational Defense Research Committee
The National Defense Research Committee was an organization created "to coordinate, supervise, and conduct scientific research on the problems underlying the development, production, and use of mechanisms and devices of warfare" in the United States from June 27, 1940 until June 28, 1941...
organized a group of scientists and engineers into the Ordnance Development Division of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), to develop fuzes for non-rotating (fin-stabilized) munitions such as bombs, rockets and mortar shells. Harry Diamond, a pioneer radio engineer, was given technical direction of the program, a position he held
until his death in 1948. Proximity fuze
Proximity fuze
A proximity fuze is a fuze that is designed to detonate an explosive device automatically when the distance to target becomes smaller than a predetermined value or when the target passes through a given plane...
s were first used in combat in January 1943, and the U.S. War Department later described the proximity fuze as "one of the outstanding scientific developments of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
... second only to the atomic bomb" in military importance.
In 1952, the Ordnance Development Division was transferred from NBS to the Army as a research and development
Research and development
The phrase research and development , according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, refers to "creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of...
(R&D) installation and named the Diamond Ordnance Fuze Laboratories (DOFL) in honor of its early leader. DOFL made significant contributions in areas such as printed circuits, casting resins, flow and temperature measurement, reserve power supplies, high-resolution radar, air navigation systems and nuclear effects studies.
In a 1962 Army reorganization, DOFL was assigned directly to the Army Materiel Command
Army Materiel Command
Army Materiel Command can refer to:*United States Army Materiel Command*Army Materiel Command...
(AMC) as a corporate laboratory; in 1963, its name was officially changed to Harry Diamond Laboratories (HDL). AMC later established the Electronics Research and Development Command (ERADCOM) as subordinate command, with HDL reporting to that command. HDL was subsequently transferred to the Army Laboratory Command (LABCOM).
In 1972, Jack Anderson reported that HDL was working on "short-time-span control of human behavior", which Anderson characterized as "Experiments to control human behavior with science fiction devices". An Army spokesman responded that the research program was looking at alternative ways for crowd control.
In 1992, the Army created the Army Research Laboratory
Army Research Laboratory
The Army Research Laboratory is the U.S. Army's corporate research laboratory. ARL is headquartered at the Adelphi Laboratory Center in Adelphi, Maryland. Its largest single site is at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland...
(ARL) by combining seven existing Army laboratories including HDL.
Locations
In 1940, the laboratory was located at Connecticut Ave. and Van Ness St. in Washington, DC. In the 1940s, it did its work on 35 acres (141,640.1 m²) in northwestern Washington.By the 1960s, HDL occupied a modern research facility located on 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) in Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi, Maryland
Adelphi is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 14,998 at the 2000 census...
. It also had a test range at Blossom Point, Maryland, a 1600 acres (6.5 km²) U.S. Army installation near La Plata, Maryland
La Plata, Maryland
La Plata is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 6,551 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Charles County.-History:...
, and research facilities at Woodbridge, Virginia
Woodbridge, Virginia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 31,941 people, 10,687 households, and 7,769 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 3,047.8 people per square mile . There were 11,026 housing units at an average density of 1,052.1/sq mi...
.
The Woodbridge site was closed in the 1990s, after the Army decided to stop electromagnetic pulse testing there. In 1989, the commander of the HDL said that the decision to stop this testing was mainly based on the Army's need to perform more powerful testing, something not appropriate for the thickly settled neighborhood around the site. In 1997, the 580 acres (2.3 km²) became the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
The Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a National Wildlife Refuge located where the Occoquan River meets the Potomac River in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. The site, about half of which is wetlands, was used for military research by the U.S...
.
External links
- College recruiting advertisement, October 18, 1966, Daily Collegian, University of Pennsylvania