This is the U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal's monthly newsletter called The Salvo. The Salvo contains the latest stories and information that pertains to the Army's manufacturing center at Watervliet. The Watervliet Arsenal is an Army-owned and operated manufacturing center having established operations in upstate New York in 1813.

1. THE
SALVO
Vol. 14, No. 3 U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal March 31, 2014
How many companies put their
CEO’s initials on their products?
We do and it speaks volumes about
our confidence in our quality!
Quality Control Story on Page 3
Photo by John B. Snyder

2. Page 2 Salvo March 31, 2014
The Arsenal Salvo is an authorized monthly publication for members of the Department
of Defense. Contents of the Salvo are not necessarily the official views of, or an endorse-
ment by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or
the Watervliet Arsenal.
News may be submitted for publication by sending articles to Public Affairs Officer,
1 Buffington Street, Bldg. 10, Watervliet, NY 12189, or stop by office #102, Bldg. 10,
Watervliet Arsenal. The editor may also be reached at (518) 266-5055 or by e-mail:
john.b.snyder.civ@mail.mil. The editor reserves the right to edit all information submitted
for publication.
Commander, Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr.
Public Affairs Officer, John B. Snyder
Editor, John B. Snyder
Photographer: John B. Snyder
Arsenal Facebook Page @
http://on.fb.me/sq3LEm
Lee H. Schiller Jr.
Commanding
Manufacturer 6
Commander’s
Corner
During last month’s Diversity Day Luncheon, I was
very pleased by the significant number of arsenal employ-
ees who not only attended the event, but attended it for the
right reason ̶ to celebrate our workforce regardless of its
race, creed, or gender.
Achieving a diverse workforce, where everyone is
treated equally, is not only an arsenal goal, it also is re-
quired if we are to stay competitive in the defense market
where competition will be extremely tough in the near
future. The bottom line is that recruiting from a larger
pool of applicants will make us better able to hire the best
and brightest who will be critical to ensuring our long-term
viability.
And as much as we promote diversity, we are not yet
where we need to be in regards to our workforce reflecting
the demographics of our local community. Nevertheless,
we have led the way in the Army promoting diversity since
our humble beginnings more than 200 years ago.
Something dramatic happened in the military in 1972,
all Army military occupational specialties opened to
Women’s Army Corps (WAC) officers and enlisted women
except those that might require combat training or duty.
I suspect that when that news hit the arsenal there were
many who thought “What took the Army so long.” After
all, women have been a part of our workforce since our
products were first manufactured during the War of 1812.
There are many women who are part of our workforce
who directly or indirectly support each cannon, mortar,
and howitzer product that leaves our gate. This is a far cry
from the more than 3,000 women who worked here during
World War II. Nevertheless, arsenal women’s significance
to the accomplishment of our mission today is no less im-
portant than it was 70 years ago or even 200 years ago.
And as our nation recently closed out its celebration of
Black History Month, I thought about the great African
Americans who are part of our workforce. African Ameri-
cans have been a significant part of our Army since 1776.
And some believe that given Troy, N.Y. was the birthplace
of the American Industrial Revolution that African Ameri-
cans were not only part of that revolution but also part of
the arsenal’s transformation from a maker of saddles to a
maker of cannons.
Whether you have worked here one year or forty years,
our values of acceptance and accommodation cannot be
taken for granted. The arsenal was founded on these prin-
ciples, which are not only historic, they are also beacons of
light that will guide future generations of arsenal workers.

3. Page 3 Salvo March 31, 2014
Arsenal seeks to raise its quality,
confidence of infantrymen
By John B. Snyder
(From left) Fred Campbell, a quality control team leader at the arsenal asks Thomas Larkin, a
laboratory manager with Talon Test Laboratories who led the training, a question regarding the
transducers that identify potential indicators of a defect. Mike Merrill, a quality control inspec-
tor, is listening in. Inset photo: Assembler Anthony Aini stamping the commander’s initials
into the end of a 120 mm tube, which signifies the confidence the arsenal has in its quality.
Story continues on page 4, Quality
The arsenal recently announced that it was bringing
on line more than $26 million of new or enhanced
manufacturing capability this fiscal year. Although
this is great news to the arsenal workforce, it should
be better news to the United States infantry.
Some of the new manufacturing machines will
allow the arsenal to become more efficient. For
example, a new million dollar computer-controlled,
dual-spindle machine will be able to perform multiple
machining functions, whereas, the machine it will
replace could only perform one function. This will
save a significant amount of direct labor hours due to a
reduction in the number of times a machinist will need
to set up an operation.
To an infantryman, however, the fact that the
arsenal is more efficient probably is no concern of
his. He simply wants a weapon system that is reliable,
troop friendly, and will maintain a competitive edge
over potential adversaries.
There is one other consideration, however, that
infantrymen demand in their mortar systems ̶ that
they can fire their mortars without concern that their
weapon system will cause them harm. After all,
every second during a fire mission is critical and the
last thing anyone wants is for a Soldier to hesitate,
even for a second, due to his concern that his weapon
system may not be safe to fire.
It is with this last consideration where the arsenal’s
behind the scenes efforts to continuously seek ways to
improve its quality kick in.
Earlier this month, about 200 gallons of water was
slowly poured into the first of what seemed to be two
holding tanks. Then, another 200 gallons of water was
poured into a second tank. In one tank was a 120 mm
mortar tube. In the other, a 60 mm mortar tube.
As five ultrasound transducers were being put into
position over each tube, four arsenal quality assur-
ance technicians were gathered around dual-computer
screens listening to an instructor walk them through
Photos by John B. Snyder

4. Page 4 Salvo March 31, 2014
Quality Cont.
the dynamics of immersion ultrasonic test inspections.
This type of ultrasonic testing is the first of its kind on
Watervliet’s production lines.
“With these machines the arsenal will be better able
to detect indications of a crack or defect,” said Thomas
Larkin, a laboratory manager with Talon Test Laborato-
ries who led the training. “This new capability will sig-
nificantly add to the arsenal’s quality control program
because it will complement the arsenal’s other nonde-
structive testing procedures,
such as magnetic-particle in-
spections.”
The arsenal now has two
ultrasound systems that can do
much more than inspect mor-
tar tubes, Larkin said. The ar-
senal could use this enhanced
capability to support quality
assurance inspections for the
aerospace, marine, transporta-
tion, and medical industries.
Inspection capability is only
limited to the dimensions of
the product that would fit in
the tanks of this new technol-
ogy.
But for now, the arsenal
will focus on its mortar pro-
gram, from 60 mm mortars to
81 mm to 120 mm mortars.
According to Fred Camp-
bell, an arsenal quality con-
trol team leader, the arsenal
currently puts each mortar
tube through three magnetic-
particle inspections. Mag-
netic-particle inspection is a
non-destructive test that uses a
magnetic field to detect surface and slightly subsurface
discontinuities.
“With the ultrasonic machines, the arsenal will
conduct two magnetic-particle inspections and one
ultrasonic inspection,” Campbell said. “Although the
mag-particle inspections are a great tool that has served
us well, using ultrasound will give us additional visibil-
ity on indicators that may effect the quality of a mortar
tube.”
Each machine will pulse ultrasound waves through
water into a mortar tube. This happens by using five
transducers that measure every aspect of a mortar tube,
externally and internally, and will detect indications of
a defect down to ten-thousandths of an inch in length
and five-thousandths of an inch in depth. Sound pulses
are then captured and graphed on two computer screens
that will be observed by a quality control inspector. Ev-
ery inspector must be certified for this procedure.
If there is an indication there might be a defect that
may cause the tube not to meet
high quality standards, then
another higher-level certified
quality control inspector will
review the results and make a
determination on whether to
accept or to reject the part.
Since its humble begin-
nings in 1813, the Watervliet
Arsenal has always prided
itself on its quality. After
all, hundreds of thousands of
troops have used the arsenal’s
products without incident.
Despite that record, quality
is not taken for granted at
Watervliet.
Although these two ultra-
sonic machines make up just a
small part of the arsenal’s $26
million investment this year,
they will be a huge part of the
arsenal’s inspection program
that will ensure that our na-
tion’s infantry have the highest
quality mortar systems in the
world.
One of two new ultrasonic immersion test machines that will
be brought on line within the next 30-60 days.
Photo by John B. Snyder
Special Recognition...
This story had tremendous success in its placement
with higher commands and staffs. The story was:
-One of the Top 10 Stories in the entire Army as it was
highlighted on the Army’s homepage
-One of the Top 10 Stories for the Assistant Secretary
of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
-#1 Story for the Army G-4, Deputy Chief of Staff for
Army Logistics

5. Page 5 Salvo March 31, 2014
The United States infantry has some of the finest mor-
tar systems in the world. They are lightweight, have great
range, and provide a significant amount of lethal and de-
structive fire to close-range combat. And so, why would
anyone think about tweaking something that has already
been proven very capable in training and in combat?
“It is all about our troops maintaining the competitive
edge over potential adversaries,” said Wayland Barber,
chief of the Mortars and Recoilless Rifle Branch at Benét
Laboratories. “Even without funding for new weapons
research, Army scientists and engineers are always seek-
ing opportunities to improve weapons systems that are in
the field.”
“No sooner than we field a new mortar system, our
customers demand that we make it better in regards to
extended range, increased lethality or capability, and
reduced weight,” Barber said. “This triggers the entire
Army research community, from those who improve the
lethality of ammunition to those who design the delivery
system, to work on parallel and converging fields of sci-
ence to achieve a common goal.”
Barber supervises a team of 14 Department of the
Army civilian engineers and technicians who not only de-
sign and build prototypes of future mortar and recoilless
systems, they also design product improvements of what
has already been fielded. Given today’s fiscal challenges
due to sequestration, and the lack of any major orders for
new weapon systems, improving what the U.S. military
currently has fielded drives Barber and his team’s near-
term focus.
Some of the latest work at Benét Labs transcends all
fielded mortar systems in the U.S. inventory, from 60 mm
to 81 mm to 120 mm mortars.
“The current 120 mm mortar system has good range, is
reliable, and the troops like it,” said Bob Cooley, a Benét
Labs Integrated Process Team leader. “But as good as
Benét Labs' mortar redesign to help infantrymen
become more lethal, more safe
By John B. Snyder
Story continues on page 6, Mortar
KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan - U.S. Army mortar men from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, Indiana National Guard, provide 120
mm mortar fire support to Soldiers from Company D, 3rd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division,
out of Fort Richardson, Ala, at Afghan Combat Outpost Chergotah located in the Terezayi district of Khost province, Afghanistan, Dec. 4. (Photo by U.S.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Otero, Khost Provincial Reconstruction Team Public Affairs Office)

6. Page 6 Salvo March 31, 2014
Bob Cooley, a Benét Labs Integrated Process Team leader, adjusting the
newly redesigned 120 mm mortar bipod in the product development labora-
tory at Watervliet Arsenal, N.Y.
Photo by John B. Snyder
that system is, we have several product improvements
that we are currently working that may improve Soldiers’
safety, increase range by up to 25 percent, and reduce the
system’s weight by nearly
16 percent.”
“One of the major
upgrades to the 120 mm
system is with its bipod,”
Cooley said. “Our bipod
redesign will improve the
accuracy of the system
because it moves the fire
control system from the
tube to the bipod.”
According to Cooley,
the fire control system
or FCS is currently at-
tached to the tube, which
in turn places a signifi-
cant amount of stress and
movement on the FCS
during a fire mission. By
moving the FCS to the
bipod, there will be less
force exerted on the sys-
tem, which in turn will
improve accuracy.
Another design im-
provement for the 120
mm mortar system in-
cludes a new baseplate
that will not only provide
more stability for extend-
ed-range munitions, it
will save U.S. taxpayers
money. If and when the
redesigned baseplate goes
into full production, the
cost of the baseplate will be reduced by nearly 50 percent
from the current legacy system’s cost. The qualifica-
tion test was recently completed with the firing of 3,000
rounds without incident.
The final major piece to the redesigned 120 mm mortar
system is an improved cannon tube. When extended-
range ammunition is developed, the tube must also be
modified to withstand higher tube pressure, heat, and
muzzle velocity.
Benét Labs plans to conduct a full-quality testing of
the redesigned 120 mm mortar system in fiscal year 2015,
and Barber’s team is also doing research and design work
on the 60 mm and the 81 mm mortar systems. News of
those potential product improvements will be released in
a future story.
Some at Benét pride themselves in that they made it
(weapon system), just before they made it better. In es-
sence, this team is never
satisfied having met the
prescribed technical data
standards for product
development because
they know that there is an
American service man or
woman whose life will
depend on their product.
If there is any chance to
make our troops more
lethal or more safe, Benét
research will discover it.
Benét Labs has a rich
history of designing and
fielding new weapon sys-
tems. Although Benét of-
ficially opened its doors as
the Army’s large caliber
research and design facil-
ity in 1962, its weapons
research at the Watervliet
Arsenal dates back to the
1840s. Therefore, seek-
ing to improve previously
tested and fielded weapon
systems is not just a task
that the Benét’s workforce
does when work for new
weapon systems dries up,
doing continuous product
improvement is in their
DNA.
Mortar Cont.
Special Recognition...
This story had tremendous success in its placement
with higher commands and staffs. The story was:
-One of the Top 10 Stories in the entire Army as it was
highlighted on the Army’s homepage
-One of the Top 10 Stories for the Assistant Secretary
of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology
-One of the Top 10 Stories in the Army Materiel Com-
mand

7. Page 7 Salvo March 31, 2014
Every year, there is an outflow of arsenal talent
by the way of retirement. Ed McCarthy, the arsenal’s
former deputy commander, recently said in a briefing
that in this month alone the arsenal will lose about
1,000 years of experience.
If you think about what is captured in those 1,000
years, from apprentice training to machining 155 mm
howitzer barrels to learning how to implement the
new Logistics Modernization Program, it is simply
amazing that the arsenal will be able to continue its
mission without any loss to productivity.
But what if they didn’t retire? Could they stay
on and continue to be productive for other 10, 20, or
even 30 years?
Today, we have a few folks who are still working
here after having more than 40 and even 50 years
of service to the Army. I always thought those
individuals were unique given their tenure. That is,
until now.
Given my travels these last five-plus years as the
arsenal’s public affairs officer, I thought that I had
seen it all in regards to long-term tenure. But this
month I discovered a worker whose active-service
dates back to 1933.
Oh, 1933 was a notable year. The original King
Kong movie premiered, President Franklin D.
Roosevelt closed all United States banks and froze
all financial transactions for about two weeks due to
the Great Depression, and the 21st Amendment to the
United States Constitution was passed that repealed
Prohibition. I got thirsty just writing that last bullet.
At the arsenal in 1933, V. Press began working in
Building 135 and has never left. Think about how
many tubes that may have passed though the confines
of Press’ work area. For example, just in the period of
time from the attack on Pearl Harbor to the landing on
Normandy during World War II, the arsenal produced
more than 23,000 barrels with an on-time delivery
rate that exceeded 99 percent. Press probably touched
many of those barrels.
Think about the different types of tubes that have
traveled through Press’ work area to outfit Soldiers
for the Korean War, Vietnam War, and the Gulf War.
Pretty significant, right?
I tried to gain more information from Press, but
was met with cold-steel silence. And so, Press’ secret
regarding how to survive 81 years of service will
remain a mystery.
As you say goodbye to those who will leave this
month, don’t forget about the 81-year service of
V. Press. You will find Press at the bottom of the
autofrettage pit in building 135. This “V”ertical
“Press” machine, with five million pounds of pressure,
has ensured the durability of our tubes for generations.
Oh, 1933...
-The Great Depression
-25 percent unemployed
-Dust Bowl in S. Dakota
-All U.S. banks closed
-Gold standard ends
-Pres. Coolidge dies
But, amid all the bad news was some good news...
a career begins for arsenal worker who is still on the job today
Photo of V. Press is on page 11
By John B. Snyder

8. Page 8 Salvo March 31, 2014
Watervliet receives
Army contracts
worth more than
$6.7M, bringing
total to more than
$18M in last 60
days
The Watervliet Arsenal announced this month
that it received two contracts worth more than $6.7
million to provide the U.S. Army with 39 120 mm
tank barrels and inspection services for 500 120
mm Stryker mortar barrels. With this month’s
announcement, the arsenal has in the last 60 days
received more than $18 million in new orders.
“These multimillion dollar orders will add to our
current workload more than 11,900 hours of direct
labor,” said Ray Gaston, the arsenal’s former chief of
production planning and control. “What makes these
orders so important is that they highlight the arsenal’s
critical skills in regards to machining and quality
control.”
The Abrams tank barrels require hundreds of
individual machining operations that often have
tolerances in the tens of thousandths of an inch,
Gaston said. Just about every critical machining
operation, from the rotary forge to computerized
lathes to specialized painting, will be challenged to
produce the finest tank cannon in the world.
According to Tom Buckton, the arsenal’s program
manager for the $4.6 million tank barrel order, the
barrels are for the U.S. Army’s TACOM Life Cycle
Management Command and will eventually be fielded
on Abrams tanks in the U.S. and in foreign militaries.
Work will begin immediately using pre-positioned
barrel forgings and initial delivery is set for August
2014. The order should be complete by March 2015.
Bruce Pienkoski, the project manager for the $2.1
million Stryker barrel inspection order, said the 120
mm barrels, which had been fielded by a different
manufacture, will undergo multiple quality control
inspections that can only be found at the Watervliet
Arsenal.
“Every mortar tube we inspect typically goes
through three magnetic-particle inspections to ensure
serviceability,” Pienkoski said. “What will be different
with this service is that in April we will bring on line
a unique quality control capability called ultrasonic
immersion testing.”
Ultrasonic machines pulse ultrasound waves
through water into a mortar tube and will detect
indications of a defect down to ten-thousandths of
an inch in length and five-thousandths of an inch in
depth.
The fact that the arsenal is inspecting weapon
systems that have been previously fielded is not new,
By John B. Snyder
Story continues on page 9, Order
Photo by 1st Lt. Cory Titus

9. Page 9 Salvo March 31, 2014
Pienkoski said. The Army has traditionally called
on the arsenal’s unique quality control capability to
verify the serviceability of weapon systems that have
been in use by Soldiers.
Sometimes, Army program managers are simply
trying to make a determination as to when barrels
may need to be replaced. The inspection process
provides the program manager a current status of the
tube’s serviceability life.
Pienkoski said the inspection of the 500 barrels
should be complete in 2016.
Order Cont.
Women’s
History
Month
Celebrating
women in
our work-
force
CAMP TAJI, Iraq: An M1 Abrams Tank of C Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Ar-
mored Regiment engages a target with its 120 mm main gun in 2010. (U.S.
Army photo by Sgt. Kevin Bromley)

10. Page 10 Salvo March 31, 2014
From Vietnam to the
Persian Gulf, Sandra
Dessinger has seen it all
It has been nearly 70 years since the peak of the ar-
senal’s version of Rosie the Riveter graced our machine
shops. During World War II, more than 3,000 women
worked on our production floors, planning shops, qual-
ity control inspection stations, and in administrative
areas. But those were different times and as much as
women have dem-
onstrated that they
can run our ma-
chines, very few do
so today.
Nevertheless, the
arsenal does have a
handful of women
who have machin-
ing skills and one
of the longest ten-
ured production
floor workers is a
women.
Sandra “Sandy”
Dessinger, a ma-
chine tool opera-
tor, began her employment at the Watervliet Arsenal in
July 1967. She recalls back to the Vietnam War era as
a pleasant time when the work force had a very strong
work ethic.
The arsenal was an environment of high morale and
peers looked out for each other and helped train each
other, Sandy said.
Since 1967, Sandy said she has performed just about
every production floor operation from machining breech
rings to howitzer tubes. She has even worked in the
warehouse.
Sandy said her mechanical and machining inter-
est started at a young age. She grew up without her
father but was fortunate to have an uncle who took time
to show her how to turn a wrench and to do other me-
chanical tasks.
The most important advice Sandy could offer anyone
is that when you are working on a machine, respect it.
Don’t be afraid of it. Just pay attention to what you are
doing and you will be fine.
Machining
has always made
Sandy proud and
she hopes that ma-
chine tool operator
positions will al-
ways be available
for women. Ma-
chine tool operator
positions provide
women the op-
portunity to enter
into the world of
machining without
the extensive train-
ing required of
apprentices, Sandy
said.
Since 1967, Sandy has been a part of the arsenal’s
operations during every major armed conflict, from the
Vietnam War to Grenada to Panama to the Gulf War.
She is not only well-respected, she is also a great exam-
ple of arsenal women who have made a significant im-
pact on the arsenal since its humble beginnings in 1813.
During her tenure, she was able to raise a family of
three children and provide a good life for them. Sandy
left the Arsenal in 1992 as a result of a reduction in
force but returned in March 2004.
For her proud and long-tenured service to the Army,
Sandra Dessinger well deserves to be this month’s arse-
nal Face of Strength.
By Deborah Moody and Jessica Wasko
Photo by Faith Cuilla

11. Page 11 Salvo March 31, 2014
Arsenal History Trivia
Vertical
Press
In 1933, this vertical
press was installed and
for 81 years it has been
an active part of our
workforce.
American
Legion
In March, Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr.
made a visit to the Rensselaer
County American Legion to pro-
vide an update on the
arsenal’s operations.
On June 6, 1905, four young men
reported to the Watervliet Arsenal to
begin training as machinist apprentic-
es. Their names were Frank Roberts,
John Strohecker, Edward Larkin, and
Raymond Sturges. Before the end of
the year, they were joined by Henry
Wheeler, James Prairie, John Kilmer,
William Muddle, George Theroux, and
Charlie Waters. By the time of World
War I, 34 apprentices had graduated
and four classes were in training.
Photo by John B. Snyder
Photo by John B. Snyder

12. Page 12 Salvo March 31, 2014
City of Watervliet
Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 26th
Save The Date:
The Arsenal is participating in the City of Watervliet Memorial Day Parade on
Monday, May 26, at 10 a.m.
We need volunteers to march with the commander in the parade.
We will also support the Village of Green Island’s Memorial Day Parade with a
smaller parade contingent on Thursday, May 22nd.
Albany Devils Military Appreciation Game
Saturday, April 12th, at 5 p.m.
Save the Date
Former Arsenal Commander Col. Mark F. Migaleddi dropping the puck at last
year’s game.
Photo by John B. Snyder