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Keeping America's Navy
#1 in the World
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History of the Dahlgren Laboratory
Dahlgren was established in 1918 as the Naval Proving Ground, and named
Dahlgren in honor of Rear Admiral John Adolphus Dahlgren, who is considered the
father of modern naval ordnance. Prior to 1918, the Navy had operated a proving
ground at Indian Head, Maryland, which became inadequate with advances in
ordnance during World War I. A range of 90,000 yards down the Potomac River was
provided by the move to Dahlgren.
Dahlgren was then an extremely remote
area. Thus, to recruit and retain the highly specialized work force required,
the Navy provided housing, food and medical services, schools and recreational
facilities, and many other community services.
Until World War II, the
principal work at Dahlgren was to proof and test every major naval gun, along
with the rounds they deliver, for fleet use. This was done at the Main Range Gun
Line which faces down the Potomac River. While the Gun Line still performs that
vital role, the scope and depth of work at Dahlgren has grown tremendously.
Reflecting this expanded mission, and Dahlgren's transition to a broad-based R&D
capability, the name was changed in 1959 to Naval Weapons Laboratory.
Concurrently, the pace of change in the Dahlgren area has relieved the Navy of
much of its role in providing community services. Dahlgren now has a land area
of 4,300 acres that includes several miles of Potomac shoreline and a 20 mile
downriver range for projectile testing.
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