War Office: Directorate of Weapons and Development: British Atomic Trials, Maralinga,...

WO 320

1950-1966

The Directorate of Weapons and Development controlled all aspects of weapons development, including research into atomic, bacteriological and chemical warfare. The series contains photographs of atomic trials at Maralinga, Australia.

Public Record(s)

English

13 volume(s)

Subject to 30 year closure unless otherwise stated

From 1988 Ministry of Defence

Topics

Army

Weapons

Australia and Pacific

Armed Forces (General Administration)

Series is accruing

The Directorate of Weapons and Development originated in 1939 as the Directorate of Staff Duties (Weapons) within the Department of the Chief of Imperial General Staff. It was responsible for general staff policy on ammunition and equipment for field army artillery (except anti-aircraft), the Royal Engineers, infantry and cavalry, In late 1942 it became the Directorate of Weapons and Vehicles, responsible for arctic and mountain warfare and for chemical weapons but not for artillery or armoured fighting vehicles. From mid-1943 it was called the Directorate of Special Weapons and Vehicles, to emphasize its preoccupation with less standard items. In 1948 the Directorate was absorbed into the Directorate of Weapons and Development which controlled all aspects of weapons development, including research into atomic, bacteriological and chemical warfare. Further reorganisation in 1960 saw it become the Directorate of Equipment Policy.