Watch The Big Picture - U.S. Army Combat Development Experimentation Center

Experience the American Journey through our country's visual heritage in this historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States. From the U.S. Army's THE BIG PICTURE television series, 1950-1975. Just behind the Coastal Range of Central California, the U.S. Army has a new 250,000 acre natural laboratory where all sorts of military concepts for possible future conflict are tested and evaluated by the latest principles of scientific research. At the Hunter Liggett Military Reservation, top scientists and top soldiers first create, then supervise a series of controlled combat experiments to determine which organizational structures, which weapons and materiel, which tactics and techniques might be most effective in the years ahead.

In this unusual THE BIG PICTURE, you will see simulated battle successes, defeats and casualties being recorded in a distant control center almost as soon as they take place on the testing ground. You will see how infra-red rays simulate artillery shells. You will see everything from walkie-talkies to electronic computers being employed to make certain that we are prepared and able to face any kind of warfare that tomorrow might bring.

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The content summary for this video is adapted from an historical description provided by the government agency or donor at the time of production release.