The Weird Science and Art Behind Fighting Culture

Leviathan Press:

Few people would say that they like war, but we have to admit that many of the things we use today benefit from inventions that were originally used for war purposes, such as computers, the Internet (ARPANET), GPS, microwave ovens, etc. So, in this sense, war has indeed accelerated the progress of human civilization.

Head measurement device for helmet production, 1973. © Natick Soldier Systems Center Photographic Collection.

In the suburbs of Boston, there’s a military base with a difference. It’s not a command center where troops deploy or train. No shells are detonated there. With a mission to design and equip America’s soldiers with “the best equipment in the world,” the Natick Soldier Systems Center (NSSC) plays a vital role in the modern military. From mold-resistant socks to bulletproof underwear to advances in self-heating field meals (MREs) and camouflage design, the labs and testing facilities at Natick have been the center of innovation for America’s postwar revolution in military equipment since 1953.

The role dates back to the American Revolution in 1775 and the creation of the Quartermaster Corps, an Army logistics unit whose research facilities were eventually integrated into what is now the Massachusetts base. Think of the Natick Soldier Systems Center as your neighborhood quartermaster store, except it has all the cool stuff (before it becomes obsolete). It's like the Q Division from the James Bond series came to life, but for American soldiers.

Kevlar bulletproof sportswear, 1974.

With its attention to detail in feeding, clothing, housing and maintaining more than a million service members, it's no surprise that the Natick Soldier Systems Center has a wealth of meticulous records. These photo collections document the center's overall rigorous, and occasionally bizarre, testing and research activities. Shot on large-format film, these photos from the Natick Soldier Systems Center Photo Collection are both extremely detailed and extremely accurate.

They also display an artistry that breaks from the typical image of a bureaucrat forever jotting notes in a large institution. Soldiers modeling new helmets, or studies of modular tents look strangely sculptural—photos that disarm the viewer and are meant to serve as a benchmark for the work that will follow, work aimed at making the military more efficient and effective.

But much of the collection displays a forward-thinking approach to documentation, perhaps informed by (we assume) the atmosphere of intense experimentation at Natick. After all, science and art are intrinsically linked in the creative imagination—a connection that explains why many of these photographs seem strikingly “contemporary” even today.

Head net for desert camouflage, 1973.

Infrared camouflage, 1974.

A laser beam passes through a bottle of camouflage dye, 1973.

Heat-resistant clothing, 1992.

Inflatable arch for temporary shelter, 1979.

M1 helmet, front view, 1977.

A PASGT helmet after a battle scene following the Battle of Grenada, 1983.

Demonstration tent, 1985.

Tropical Chamber Microcooling Study, 1985.

Woman's hat, front view, 1982.

Cross-section of a combat boot, 1974.

Experimental subjects entering the dining room, 1978.

Tropical mosquito net, 1977.

Cooling vest test, 1983.

Desert camouflage uniform, 1973.

Navy swimming pool, 1994.

Climate vest, 1983.

Women's winter hat, 1980.

Inflatable shelter, 1980.

Indoor microclimate environmental testing, 1981.

Portable toilet, 1990.

Protective mask, 1981.

Cold Climate Survival Kit, 1975.

Women's body armor, 1978.

Face protection for cold climates, 1971.

Flash-proof goggles, 1974.

Freeze-dried cherries, 1969.

Flame retardant testing of military uniforms, 1975.

Cooling vest, 1993.

Reflective goggles, circa 1970.

By Rian Dundon

Translated by Kushan

Proofreading/Rabbit's Light Footsteps

Original article/timeline.com/natick-army-research-lab-bdb46120d761

This article is based on the Creative Commons Agreement (BY-NC) and is published by Kushan on Leviathan

The article only reflects the author's views and does not necessarily represent the position of Leviathan