Aberdeen Proving Ground

Aberdeen Proving Ground (1917-Present) - A U.S. Army proving ground first established in 1917 near Aberdeen, Harford County, Maryland. Named Aberdeen Proving Ground in G.O. 6, 9 Jan 1919. Active military installation.

History of Aberdeen Proving Ground

Established in 1917 as a replacement for the Sandy Hook Proving Ground at Fort Hancock (2) New Jersey. Transfer of personnel and equipment from Sandy Hook Proving Ground to Aberdeen Proving Ground began in December 1917 and continued through 1918, everything of use was moved. The first gun fired (a 3" 1905 model) was fired on 2 Jan 1918 to mark the first tests conducted at the new proving ground. The proving ground came to be known as APG.

APG greatly expanded during World War II and at the peak some 27,000 soldiers were stationed there. Weapons development and testing during the war included high technology items such as ENIAC, the first large scale computer system use initially to compute artillery firing tables.

Following the war APG consolidated with the adjacent Edgewood Arsenal in 1971. Also established after the war was the noted U.S. Army Ordnance Museum which had a rich collection of U.S. and captured enemy fixed and mobile weapons systems on public display. Notable items at the museum were a U.S. Cold War Atomic Cannon, a mounted 16" Coast Artillery gun and a World War II German Railway Seige Gun.

Active military installation.

Current Status

A active military installation at Aberdeen, Harford County, Maryland. The fate of the museum is in flux with the closure announced.

USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 2512026

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Location: Aberdeen, Harford County, Maryland.

Maps & Images

Lat: 39.3962817 Long: -76.1997135

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Elevation: 3'

See Also:

Sources:

Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 375.

Links:

Visited: 2 Apr 2009