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| Engineer Research and Development Laboratory | |
|---|---|
 ERDL (1948) pattern | |
| Active | 1947–1967 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | US Army |
| Type | Military R&D organization |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
The Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (ERDL) was a United States Army Corps of Engineers research facility located at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.[1][2]
The ERDL performed research and development related to earthmoving, industrial engines and turbines, fuels handling, environmental control, electric power and propulsion, direct energy sources, detectors, bridges and marine craft, mine warfare, fortifications and obstacles, camouflage and deception, water purification, nuclear weapons effects, materials, and environmental testing.[3][2]
The Army established its first engineer board at Willets Point, New York, now Fort Totten, in 1870. Around the turn of the century, the engineer board was transferred to Washington Barracks, DC, where it was disbanded in 1920. It was replaced by the Board on Engineer Equipment, which was set up the following year in 1921, at Camp Humphreys, Virginia, now Fort Belvoir. This was the forerunner of the Engineer Board, which guided the research and development activities of the Corps of Engineers from 1933 to 1947. Initially, the Board occupied two temporary buildings near the present Wallace Theater. Its mission continued to expand, however, and the Engineer Board moved into the current facilities in 1942.[4]
The Engineer Board's laboratory elements were re-designated as Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, or ERDL, on 1 March 1947.[5][6][7] The change in name was made to clarify the status of the scientists and technicians at the installation. The Engineer Board continued to function as the directive and policy-making body for the ERDL.[8][2][4] By 20 October 1947, all functions of the Engineer Board laboratory elements were transferred to ERDL. Additionally, the ERDL was under administrative supervision by the Director of Research and Development of the Engineering Center, operated through the Engineer Board, and technical supervision remained with the Office of the Chief of Engineers (OCE).[5][2]
The ERDL was released from assignment to OCE and transferred to the newly created US Army Materiel Command (AMC), 1 August 1962. The ERDL was in turn assigned to AMC's US Army Mobility Command (MOCOM).[9][10][2] About two years later, ERDL was made subordinate to MOCOM's US Army Mobility Equipment Center (MEC) on 1 July 1964.[11] Previously, the ERDL reported directly to the Commanding General, US Army Mobility Command (CG, MOCOM).[11]
Among other things, the ERDL was responsible for the creation of the ERDLator water treatment device in World War II, the ERDL woodland camouflage pattern in 1948, and the updated M1950 lensatic compass.[7]
The ERDL also established the first US Army research group dedicated to night vision systems in 1954, called the Research and Photometric Section.[12]
| Mobility Equipment Research & Development Center / Command | |
|---|---|
 MERADCOM logo | |
| Active | 1967–1984 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | US Army |
| Type | Military R&D organization |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
| Insignia | |
| MERDC logo (1967) |  |
| MERDC logo (1975) |  |
| MERDC logo alternate (1975) |  |
The ERDL was re-designated as Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) on 1 September 1967.[13] MERDC also served as the Directorate of Research and Engineering for US Army Mobility Equipment Command (MECOM).[14][2]
The center performed research, development and evaluation necessary for the procurement and support of the major mobility items managed by the command. In it, five assigned commodity groups—materiel transportation and handling, troop support, construction – and providing technical support and assistance to equipment users.[14][2]
Facilities available to MERDC included a test area of 820 acres (3,300,000 m2) on the west side of Shirley Highway, a part of the Fort Belvoir complex. A major portion of this area was used for testing of detectors and sensors.[15]
In 1972, MERDC had a workforce of 1,300 employees, of which approximately 500 were scientists and engineers.[15]
In 1973, MERDC became an agency of the newly-formed US Army Troop Support Command (TROSCOM). MERDC remained part of TROSCOM until 1975, when the center began to report directly to AMC.[16][2]
In 1976, MERDC became the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM),[6] on 23 January 1976, having been given full command status.[16][17][2]
| Belvoir Research, Development & Engineering Center | |
|---|---|
 BRDEC logo | |
| Active | 1984–unknown |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | US Army |
| Type | Military R&D organization |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Belvoir, Virginia |
On 1 March 1984, MERADCOM was disestablished. Its functions were divided between the newly established Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM) and Troop Support Command (TROSCOM).[17] Around the same time, the Belvoir Research and Development Center was formed in its place.[6][2][18] Shortly afterward, the word "engineering" was added to its name.[4][6][2]
U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Command 1. U.S. Army Engineering Research and Development Laboratories Principal Interests: Research and development in earthmoving, industrial engines and turbines, fuels handling, environmental control, electric power and propulsion, direct energy sources, detectors, bridges and marine craft, mine warfare, fortifications and obstacles, camouflage and deception, water purification, nuclear weapons effects, materials and environmental testing. Preparation of procurement data, packages including development of specifications of materiel procured in quantity; engineering studies and tests to deter mine performance and quality assurance data for standardization documents; evaluation of unsatisfactory equipment reports and development of equipment modifications; tests of preproduction models, production samples and production sampling techniques; industrial engineering for all items of materiel; value engineering; product reviews; training literature and maintenance packages; initial production of new equipment procured in quantity
Engineer Research and Development Laboratories History: Established March 1, 1947, at Fort Belvoir, VA, pursuant to War Department General Order 26. All functions transferred from the Engineer Board to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, October 20, 1947, by OCE letter ENGTY. Released from assignment to OCE and transferred to the U.S. Army Materiel Command, August 1, 1962, pursuant to Department of the Army General Order 46.
This was the forerunner of the Engineer Board, which guided R & D activities of the Corps of Engineers from 1933 to 1947, when the name was changed to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL). ERDL transferred into AMC in 1962, first as part of the Mobility Command, then as part of the Mobility Equipment Command (MECOM). In 1967, ERDL became the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center, which was renamed the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) in 1976. Then, in 1983, MERADCOM became part of TROSCOM and was redesignated the Belvoir Research and Development Center. Two years later, the word "Engineering" was added to the name
US. Army Engineer research and development facilities of the Engineer Board at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, have been redesignated by the War Department as the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories. The Engineer Board, however, will continue to function as the directive and policy-making body for the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories. The change in name was made to clarify the status of the scientists and technicians who conduct the research and development work at the installation. Previously, the Board, the technical staff, and the laboratory facilities all bore the same name. The new name was perceived as being more accurately descriptive of the duties and activities of the laboratories. The change is part of a recent reorganization at Fort Belvoir in which all army activities were consolidated under a single headquarters with the establishment of The Engineer Center, under the command of Major W. M. Hoge. Previously, Army Engineer research and development activities at Fort Belvoir had been administered directly by the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington. Under the new set-up, Engineer Research and Development Laboratories is under the administrative supervision of the Director of Research and Development of The Engineering Center, operating through the Engineer Board. Technical supervision remains with the Chief of Engineers. At present Colonel E. S. J. Irvine is serving in a triple capacity as Director of Research Development of The Engineer Center, President of the Engineer Board, and Commanding Officer of the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories
Effective 1 August 1962, the following Class II installations and activities, under the jurisdiction of the commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, are placed under the command jurisdiction of Commanding Generals, To the Commanding General, U.S. Army Mobility Command: Other Activities: U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Laboratories Ft. Belvoir, Va.
When the Army Materiel Command was formed, two Corps Engineers Laboratories, CRREL and the Engineer Research and Development Laboratory (renamed MERDC), were transferred to AMC
[T]he Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, Fort Belvoir, Va., [became] a subordinate element of the Mobility Equipment Center, St. Louis, Mo., effective July 1. [Published July 1964] (...) (___enter___); (...) The [Engineer Research and Development] Laboratories, (...) previously reported directly to the CG of MOCOM (...)"; (___In full___): "U.S. Army Mobility Command['s] consolidation of nine separate field installations into three major materiel centers made the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, Fort Belvoir, Va., a subordinate element of the Mobility Equipment Center, St. Louis, Mo., effective July 1. (___enter___); Col J. H. Kerkering, ERDL commander, announced the change as part of the overall realignment of command lines and functions within the Mobility Command. The Laboratories, which previously reported directly to the CG of MOCOM, will remain in their present location and will have a slight increase in personnel. (___enter___); The Army Aviation Materiel Command (AVCOM) is another of the materiel centers. The Army Tank-Automotive Center (ATAC) is in Warren, Mich. All three centers are authorized to deal directly with Army Materiel Command Headquarters. (___enter___); Under the July 1 change, the Engineer R&D Laboratories will assume an additional responsibility for rail, marine and amphibious equipment. Establishment of a Surface Engineering Branch of the Laboratories in St. Louis will transfer these functions from AVCOM. (___enter___); The new branch will report directly to Turner G. Timberlake, chief of the ERDL Engineering Department, and will have a staff of about 50 personnel. Its functions are principally preprocurement engineering preparation and engineering support during quantity procurement of Army rail, marine(,) and amphibious materiel. (___enter___); Research and development responsibility for the same type of equipment is being transferred from the U.S. Army Transportation Research Command at Fort Eustis, Va., which will become an R&D Directorate of AVCOM with an exclusive mission in the field of air mobility.
Effective 1 September 1967, the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Laboratories, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, a class II activity under the jurisdiction of the Commanding General, U.S. Army Materiel Command, is redesignated the U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center
Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) at Fort Belvoir, Va., is a vital element of the Mobility Equipment Command (MECOM). In addition to its role as an active laboratory complex, MERDC also serves as the Directorate of Research and Engineering for MECOM. The Center performs research, development and evaluation (RD&E) necessary for the procurement and support of the major mobility items managed by the command in it five assigned commodity groups- materiel transportation and handling, troop support, and construction – an provides technical support and assistance to equipment users
MERDC requires a workforce of 1300, which is to include approximately 500 scientists and engineers."; "Facilities available to MERDC include a test area of 820 acres on the west side of Shirley Highway, a part of the Fort Belvoir complex. A major portion of this area is used for testing of detectors and sensors.
By 1947, the [Engineer] board...assumed its new identity as the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL)...the laboratories left the direction for the chief of engineers in 1962, and came under the control for the Army Materiel Command (AMC), which was established at that time and, in 1967, ERDL was renamed the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC). When AMC was reorganized in 1973, MERDC became an agency of the newly-formed Troop Support Command (TROSCOM), and it remained part of TROSCOM until 1975, when the center began to report directly to AMC...MERADCOM was born when MERDC was given full command status in January, 1976
U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM), formerly U.S. Army Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center, an element of U.S. Army Mobility Command [MOCOM]), 1/23/76-2/29/84 Abolished, 3/1/84, with functions divided between newly established U.S. Army Aviation Systems Command (AVSCOM) and U.S. Army Troop Support Command (TROSCOM)
The Army established its first Engineer Board at Willets Point, NY, now Fort Totten, in 1870. Around the turn of the century, the Board was transferred to Washington Barracks, DC, where it was disbanded in 1920. It was replaced by the Board on Engineer Equipment, which was set up the following year, 1921, at Camp Humphries, VA, now Fort Belvoir. This was the forerunner of the Engineer Board, which guided the research and development activities of the Corps of Engineers from 1933 to 1947. Initially, the Board occupied two temporary buildings near the present Wallace Theater. Its mission continued to expand, however, and we moved into our current facilities in 1942. In 1947, the Board changed its name to the Engineer Research and Development Laboratories (ERDL). Twenty years later, in 1967, ERDL became the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Center (MERDC) when its functions were transferred to AMC. We were renamed the Mobility Equipment Research and Development Command (MERADCOM) in 1976. In 1983, MERADCOM became part of TROSCOM and were renamed the Belvoir Research and Development Center. Two years later, the word "Engineering" was added to our title to more accurately reflect our mission.
