Arctic Test Branch and Arctic Operations

The Arctic Test Branch and Arctic Operations series documents U.S. Army cold-weather research, field testing, training exercises, and personnel activities in Alaska between 1949 and 1954. The materials reflect the work of the Army Field Forces Arctic Test Branch at Big Delta, Alaska, and related field exercises conducted under extreme environmental conditions. The series includes field reports, photographs, maps, sketch drawings, notes on personnel matters, and observational studies of major Arctic maneuvers. These records provide insight into the challenges of Arctic operations, equipment evaluation, organizational behavior, and unit activities in subarctic environments during the early Cold War period.