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Most are outdated remnants of past battles. Few would stand up to today's high-tech war machines. Still, these weathered weapons at the U.S. Army Ordnance Museum attract 200,000 people a year, some recalling their days in the military, others just to gawk at the massive chunks of steel.
Some pieces were used 90 years ago in World War I, like the British Mark IV. It bounced along at only 3.75 mph, slowly baking its crew at 130 degrees under its unvented engines. Or visit today's Army workhorse, the 45 mph, 60-ton M1 Abrams tank, loaded with high-tech computer software.
“Anzio Annie” is a rail-based World War II German gun that could fire a 550-pound shell from York to beyond Gettsyburg. While most of the pieces are from the United States, some are from other countries including Italy, China, Soviet Union, the Czech Republic and Germany. Many of the collection's pieces were brought to Aberdeen Proving Ground for evaluation and testing during World War II. When the war ended, those pieces
Some machines are rusting away, while others are being rebuilt. The Ordnance Museum Foundation is trying to raise $3 million for buildings to protect the entire collection. Ten 60-by-300-foot structures are planned for the same general area where the old machines now stand.
Inside the two-story museum building is a remarkable collection of small arms, machine guns, bombs, fire control equipment and booby traps.
Admission to the museum is free. Visitors must obtain a free day pass to visit the museum. Drive to the Route 715 gate, and present driver's license and registration for the pass. Visitors with day passes are restricted to the museum only and are not allowed to drive anywhere else on the grounds.
TO GET THERE
Aberdeen is about 60 miles from York. The most direct route to the Proving Grounds is south through Delta on state Route 74 to Maryland's state routes 136, to 165, to 7 and finally to 715. A longer but faster route is Interstate 83 south to Interstate 695 east to Interstate 95 north. Take exit 80 to state Route 543 toward Riverside and then U.S. Route 40 east to the proving grounds.
GLOSSARY
Ordnance - Military material, such as weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles and equipment.
- American Heritage Dictionary
WHAT IT IS
Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) is a research and development center in Aberdeen, Md., about a half-hour south of Delta. APG employs more than 11,000 civilian and military people in medical, computer, engineering and military research. APG will add 8,200 employees by 2010, and the York County Planning Commission expects many to move into the southeastern part of the county.
