Churchville Test Area
Encyclopedia
The Churchville Test Area is a United States Army
facility of the Aberdeen Proving Ground
, located northeast of Bel Air, Maryland (in Harford county
, Maryland
, USA).
The Churchville Test Area (39.596°N 76.253°W) is a hilly set of cross-country road test tracks providing a variety of steep natural grades and tight turns designed to stress engines, drivetrains and suspension systems for Army vehicles, such as the M1 Abrams
tanks, M2 Bradley
fighting vehicle
and the Humvee.
The Test Area consists of 11 miles (17.7 km) of interconnected roads and test courses located on 250 acres (1 km²), with both 3- and 4 miles (6.4 km) closed loop courses, mud, dust and gravel surfaces, and grades ranging from 7% to 29%.
On March 21, 2007, the Army celebrated the designation of a 163.5 acre (0.66166161 km²) buffer-zone alongside the Churchville Test Area, in conjunction with the Harford County Government, the Harford Land Trust, and the Hopkins family. Part of the US Army's Compatible Use Buffer program, under the Pentagon's
environmental protection initiative, this land-use purchase was $1.4M (US).
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
facility of the Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground
Aberdeen Proving Ground is a United States Army facility located near Aberdeen, Maryland, . Part of the facility is a census-designated place , which had a population of 3,116 at the 2000 census.- History :...
, located northeast of Bel Air, Maryland (in Harford county
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, USA).
The Churchville Test Area (39.596°N 76.253°W) is a hilly set of cross-country road test tracks providing a variety of steep natural grades and tight turns designed to stress engines, drivetrains and suspension systems for Army vehicles, such as the M1 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
tanks, M2 Bradley
M2 Bradley
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is an American fighting vehicle platform manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, formerly United Defense.As with other infantry fighting vehicles, the Bradley is designed to transport infantry with armor protection while providing covering fire to suppress enemy...
fighting vehicle
Infantry fighting vehicle
An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...
and the Humvee.
The Test Area consists of 11 miles (17.7 km) of interconnected roads and test courses located on 250 acres (1 km²), with both 3- and 4 miles (6.4 km) closed loop courses, mud, dust and gravel surfaces, and grades ranging from 7% to 29%.
On March 21, 2007, the Army celebrated the designation of a 163.5 acre (0.66166161 km²) buffer-zone alongside the Churchville Test Area, in conjunction with the Harford County Government, the Harford Land Trust, and the Hopkins family. Part of the US Army's Compatible Use Buffer program, under the Pentagon's
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
environmental protection initiative, this land-use purchase was $1.4M (US).