ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Every combat vehicle and artillery system overhauled or repaired at Anniston Army Depot is rigorously tested before being released to the customers.
Testing, which ensures all components in the vehicle or weapons system work the first time and every time, begins in the Final Turret Test cost center.
"Our main mission is the testing of turrets for the M1 tank, but we do a lot more than just turrets," said Kenneth Johnson, the shop's supervisor. "We are involved, a little bit, in all the vehicle's systems."
In Final Turret Test, each combat vehicle's systems - the hydraulics, electronics, communications and sights - are checked to ensure the systems work together.
"It's known as integrated systems," said Johnson. "We make sure they all work as one."
The communications systems for each vehicle are installed at final testing and all vehicles and artillery are bore-sighted, aligning the barrel and sights or other optics for proper firing.
Howitzers, including the Paladin self-propelled howitzers, are then taken to the firing range and test-fired.
Following the first round of tests, vehicles are taken to Test Track for their next inspections.
Each type of vehicle - Stryker, M113, M88 and M1 - has specifications to meet during the road test. The top speed and mileage of each run differs between the types of vehicles, as does the other checks vehicles are subjected to.
The suspensions of some vehicles, such as the M1 tank, must pass the bump course, an appropriately named series of metal obstacles, and their brakes have to pass a slope test.
The slope test involves a 60-degree climb, during which the tank must remain still without rolling back, then proceed up and over the hill.
Certain vehicles even have a requirement for their power packs to be tested apart from the vehicle.
"On Marine Corps tanks and Army Assault Breacher Vehicles, we pull the power pack from the vehicle and run a ground hop test," said Reggie Henry, the supervisor of final testing at the Test Track.
At the conclusion of all inspections, the vehicles are sent for a final round of cleaning and painting.
Ready for delivery to the customer at that point, the vehicles return to the Test Track to be checked by quality assurance personnel. Certain vehicles may also require an inspection by the Soldiers or Marines who will receive them.
"We perform the testing on each M1 coming through Final Acceptance to ensure craftsmanship and quality is built into each vehicle," said Henry. "These tests are important because a Soldier's life may depend on the vehicle."
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