Desert Testing of Military Vehicles

The desert environment, its effect on the operation of military vehicles, and the procedures by which the U. S. Army insures that equipment is capable of successful operation in the desert are described. The recent history of military operations in desert areas is briefly reviewed to show the origins of the requirement for environmental testing, and tests performed by Yuma Proving Ground as a part of the Test and Evaluation Command's independent evaluation of Army vehicles are described. Criteria for successful operation in the desert and some of the problems experienced are discussed to show the need for careful attention to environmental factors early in the design of new vehicles.