Naval Ordnance Test Station, Morris Dam Test Facility (site)

USA / California / Glendora /
 military, interesting place
Established in 1943 by Caltech, the Morris Dam Test Facility (NOTS MDTF) was built at the Morris Dam Reservoir for the purpose of obtaining basic hydrodynamic data for use in the design and development of naval ordinance, particularly air-to-water projectiles. This site was used especially for the development of submarine-based warfare systems, including torpedoes, bombs, and submarine-launched missiles like the Polaris rocket, the first ballistic missile that could be launched from submerged submarines.

The Variable-Angle Launcher (VAL) and its predecessor, the Fixed-Angle Launcher (FAL) were a consolidated effort between the scientific and military research and development communities. The VAL was the only structure in the nation where full scale, air launched projectiles could be tested at high velocities and variable entry angles into a body of water. NOTS MDTF served as a valuable resource during the Cold War era, spanning over 50 years.

The site was transferred to the Department of Public Works in 1995. Most of the buildings at the site were removed in 1996. The site is being restored to a "natural" state, and may once again be open to the public.

articles.latimes.com/2003/mar/27/local/me-surround27
memory.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca2000/ca2097/data/ca209...
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Reservoir
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   34°10'57"N   117°52'28"W

Comments

  • Damn good tagging here. I like this.
  • Research suggests that this facility was linked to a former R&D laboratory and storage facility in Pasadena - likely operated in secret by Caltech. Buildings and footprint of this facility appear to remain largely intact as of January 2020, but repurposed ca. 1990s as a public use storage facility, and tool rental yard. See Coordinates: 34°8'56"N 118°5'7"W - west of Foothill Blvd and Sierra Madre Villa road - Pasadena, CA.
This article was last modified 5 years ago