Materials Technology Laboratory

Materials Technology Laboratory
Watertown, Massachusetts in the United States
View of building 39 with launcher in foreground.jpg
Building 39, which housed the Watertown Arsenal Laboratories at Watertown Arsenal.
Coordinates42°21′47″N 71°10′07″W / 42.363°N 71.1686°W / 42.363; -71.1686
TypeMilitary research laboratory
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defense
OperatorU.S. Army
Controlled byArmy Materiel Command
ConditionClosed
Site history
Built1953 (as Watertown Arsenal Laboratories)
In use1953 - 1992

The Materials Technology Laboratory (MTL) was a research facility under the U.S. Army Materiel Command that specialized in metallurgy and materials science and engineering for ordnance and other military purposes. Located in Watertown, Massachusetts, MTL was originally known as the Watertown Arsenal Laboratories (WAL) and represented one of many laboratory buildings erected at Watertown Arsenal. Despite its name and its role in housing the arsenal's mechanical and metallurgical laboratory equipment, however, WAL operated independently from the arsenal.[1][2] The facility remained in operation even after Watertown Arsenal closed down in 1967. WAL was renamed the Army Materials Research Agency (AMRA) in 1962 and then the Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center (AMMRC) in 1967 before it became the Materials Technology Laboratory in 1985.[3] In 1992, MTL was disestablished, and the majority of its operations and personnel were incorporated into the newly created U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL).[4]

  1. ^ Burns, Libby B; Bahr, Betsy (November 1984). Historic Properties Report: United States Army Materials and Mechanics Research Center, Watertown, Massachusetts (Report). DTIC ADA175855.
  2. ^ Moye, William (May 1997). The Genealogy of ARL (Report). DTIC ADA383226.
  3. ^ Remembering… Watertown Arsenal Laboratory, 1816-1995. Department of the Army. 1995. hdl:2027/uc1.31210023605502. OCLC 952411293.[page needed]
  4. ^ History of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-0-16-094231-0.[page needed]