Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indiana
Crane is the 3rd Largest Navy Installation in the World, encompassing 100 square miles with an estimated $3.3B Plant Replacement Value and 650,000 Tons Ordnance Storage Capacity. It employs about 3,000, 60% being Scientists, Engineers and Technicians.
Crane was originally established in 1941 under the Bureau of Ordnance as the Naval Ammunition Depot for production, testing, and storage of ordnance under the first supplemental Defense Appropriation Act. In the late 1940s an ammunition quality evaluation unit was added by the Bureau to expand its quality control system. As the complexity and sophistication of weapons increased in the 1950s and 1960s, Crane's activities, capabilities and expertise expanded in scope under the newly formed Bureau of Weapons to include small arms, sonobuoy surveillance, microwave tubes, POLARIS missiles and other scientific and engineering support to the Bureau.
In the 1960s, Crane came under the command of the newly established Naval Ordnance Systems Command and began providing technical support for weapons systems including logistics, in-service engineering, repair, overhaul, and design. In the 1970s Crane's support began to include batteries, rotating components, electronic components, failure analysis, and standard hardware and new technologies related to night vision systems.
In 1974, Crane came under the Naval Sea Systems Command that was established from the merger of the Naval Ordnance Systems Command and Naval Ship Systems Command. Shortly after in 1975, Crane's name was changed to the Naval Weapons Support Center that more accurately reflected the true function of the installation.
In 1977 a major change occurred with the designation of the Army as the single-service manager of conventional ammunition. This resulted in the establishment of the tenant command, Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA) that took over the loading, assembly and storage of ammunition at the installation. CAAA and Crane's strong partnership continues today.
In 1992, Crane's name was changed to the Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center when the warfare centers were established under the related systems commands. Today grown from its ordnance roots, Crane is recognized world wide as a modern and sophisticated leader in diverse and highly technical product lines.
Effective October 1, 2003, the Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane), began a national realignment and regional reorganization. The national realignment was a part of the Naval Sea Systems Command's effort to be more efficient and respond more quickly and effectively to the Fleet. As a result of the regional reorganization, base operating functions fall under a new Command Structure of the Navy Region Midwest located at Great Lakes, Illinois. NSWC Crane continues to be part of the Naval Sea Systems Command as a major tenant aboard the Naval Support Activity Crane.
Change has been continuous at Crane throughout its more than 60 year history. Crane has been solving problems and providing world-class support to our Warfighters for over 60 years.
Today NSWC Crane provides comprehensive support for complex military systems spanning development, deployment and sustainment in three mission areas: Electronic Warfare/Information Operations, Special Missions, and Strategic Missions. Crane leverages our unique technical capabilities and those of our industry partners to provide rapid response, technical solutions to meet the mission needs of the Warfighter.