Total employment at the NRL jumped from 396 in 1941 to 4400 in 1946, expenditures from $1.7 million to $13.7 million, the number of buildings from 23 to 67, and the number of projects from 200 to about 900.
During World War II, scientific activities necessarily were concentrated almost entirely on applied research.
Advances were made in radio, radar, and sonar.
Countermeasures were devised.
New lubricants were produced, as were antifouling paints, luminous identification tapes, and a sea marking dye to help save survivors of disasters at sea.
A thermal diffusion process was conceived and used to supply some of the U-235 isotope needed for one of the first atomic bombs.
Also, many new devices that developed from booming wartime industry were type tested and then certified as reliable for the Fleet.
Total employment at the NRL jumped from 396 in 1941 to 4400 in 1946, expenditures from $1.7 million to $13.7 million, the number of buildings from 23 to 67, and the number of projects from 200 to about 900. During World War II, scientific activities necessarily were concentrated almost entirely on applied research. Advances were made in radio, radar, and sonar. Countermeasures were devised. New lubricants were produced, as were antifouling paints, luminous identification tapes, and a sea marking dye to help save survivors of disasters at sea. A thermal diffusion process was conceived and used to supply some of the U-235 isotope needed for one of the first atomic bombs. Also, many new devices that developed from booming wartime industry were type tested and then certified as reliable for the Fleet.
United States Naval Research Laboratory