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Seventh Army Stock Control Center |
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| 7th Army Stock Control Center | |||||||||||||||||
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| 1956 | |||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, August 3, 1956) | |||||||||||||||||
| The test of US Army's Modern Army Supply System project was officially kicked off on July 2, 1956. Ordnance and Chemical were the first two technical services to initiate their tests. Officer in charge of the project at HQ 7th Army (Vaihingen) is Maj Harold E. Maier, Chief of the Supply Section, G-4, HQ 7th Army. The project calls for implementing a revised stockage plan where only fast-moving repair parts are stored in depots within the theater, while non-stocked (less frequently requested) items are requisitioned directly from depots in the States. The formerly slow pace of the supply system used by US Army forces overseas is being streamlined through the extensive use of electrical transmissions (see the article on the MASS Platoon of the 97th Sig Bn). Prior to the implementation of Project MASS, 7th Army depots stocked about 400,000 items. With the housecleaning (elimination of less freqently requested items from the depots) allowed by Project MASS that number is being reduced to about 50,000 items. In addition, rapid transportation of the repair parts requisitioned from stateside depots is designed to get the parts to the using unit within 20 days. 7th Army Stock Control Center, Vaihingen -- Chief of the center is Maj Frank B. Huntley; |
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| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, May 29, 1958) | |||||||||||||||||
| Planning for the Army's new logistics system was begun in 1952; Project MASS went into field test operation in July 1956 at 7th Army in Germany. That field test ends officially on June 30, 1958 when it goes into full operation (probably under a new name). The heart of the new logistics system is its transceiver communications system, linked with the IBM 650 computer system (or in Wikipedia). This system eliminates hand-written paperwork for supply items that are shipped from the US to the 7th Army. The transceiver is an electronic machine operated at the DSU (Direct Support Unit) level - the machine codes the item required and transmits the request to the 7th Army SCC. The SCC refers the request to one of six BASEC depots. If the item is on hand, it will be shipped by the depot to the requesting DSU. If not, SCC passes the request via transceover to the Overseas Supply Agency in the US. Here it is passed on via tranceiver to one of the Army depots in the US. If the item is shipped from the US depot by plane, it will arrive at Rhein-Main AB and then trucked or airlifted to the DSU. (Some items (e.g. special weapons items) are sent (US to Europe) on priority "blue-streak" requisitions within hours after receipt of the request.) If the item is shipped by sea, it will arrive at Bremerhaven and from there expressed to a ComZ depot. From there it will be forwarded to the DSU. The "brains" of the new logistics system is an IBM 650 located at the 7th Army SCC. This system processes data on magnetic tapes instead of using the older method of punched cards. OIC of the computer is 1st Lt Harry S. White. The 7th Army SCC is expecting a replacement for the IBM 650 in the future - the MOBIDIC, a mobile data processing system. (See additional information on MOBIDIC on the COMZEUR Page.) Project MASS project officer is MAJ Harold E. P. Maier. CO of the 7th Army Stock Control Center in Zweibrücken is .... Chief of the Data Processing Division, 7th Army Stock Control Center, is Lt Col Albert R. Hoffman. |
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| (See articles on 7th Inventory Control Center.) | |||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Jerome F. Rolefson) | |||||||||||||||||
I was one of the ten original Computer Programmers that developed the initial software for the IBM 650 Computer used in Project MASS. This occurred from May 1957 to May 1959. We were initially stationed at the 7th Army HQ. at Stuttgart and later moved to Zweibruecken in Germany.
In the Summer 1958, I was placed in charge of the computer program development effort with the title of ADPS Coordinator. My title was later changed to Chief, Development Office with responsibility for computer programming, EAM procedures and training. I reported to Lt. Col. Albert Hoffman. While organizing and discarding old files, I discovered clippings, photos, rosters, etc. from the 7th Army SCC. "Goggling", I found that there may be an interest in some of that history.
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| 1959 | |||||||||||||||||
| (Source: Email from Dale Roberts, 7th Army SCC, 1959-1960) | |||||||||||||||||
| I was assigned to 7th Army SCC in Zweibrücken from February 1959 to August 1960. It was a shock when the 7th Army SCC came up on my screen. You did an outstanding job capturing the essence of that unit over 50 years ago. I joined the unit about 1 to 2 years after the photos were taken, but we were still in transition with dozens of US's (draftees!) pouring in. Most of the new US's were 23 to 24 and were replacing mostly RA's -- much younger. We didn't care much for the peacetime Army, but overall I believe we did an excellent job. I was assigned to study under PFC. Wood when I first arrived. I had scored high on their tests and LT. Colonel Seccomb (commander) thought I should be a programer. PFC Wood was a genius, but like most genius' had a few idiosyncrasies.. One of them apparently was an instant dislike for me. He was the main programmer, and the system depended on his ability. I was assigned to his room in the old SS barracks, and we were supposed to be inseparable.. He didn't see it that way, and wouldn't even talk to me. Luckily a couple of months later we moved across the road to new barracks. Wood went one way, I went the other. He was a short timer and left in April or May I believe. I had been assigned to Document Control and Audit division to understand the process, and I decided to stay there. My Boss was CWO Robert Belchwender. The Company Commander was Anderson T Ledeaux (a Mustang and a very good man) |
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| 1963 | |||||||||||||||||
| MOBIDIC (Mobile Digital Computer) | |||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, April 10, 1963) | |||||||||||||||||
| The first large-scale mobile computer system (called MOBIDIC) is recently been integrated into the 7th Army supply system and is now automatically processing supply data at the 7th Army Stock Control Center at Zweibruecken. (The tranition to the MOBIDIC system included a series of equipment acceptance and shake down tests that involved representatives from the contractor, Sylvania Electronics Products, Inc. and personnel of the 7th Army SCC. 7th Army SCC also wrote computers programs that run on the computer.) 7th Army SCC began operations in July 1958. At the time, the assigned mission of 7th Army SCC was to serve as the initial source for repair parts supply for 7th Army combat units and to provide timely supply status information to the staff and commander. (All of this was part of the Project MASS.) The MOBIDIC system is mobile and air transportable. It is contained in four standard 30-foot Army trailer vans. The vans contain   the high speed computer system; an off-line control system (performs routine functions concurrent with and independent of the central computer); tape transports; maintenance and support equipment . |
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| MASS Platoon, 97th Sig Bn | |||||||||||||||||
| (Source: STARS & STRIPES, August 3, 1956) | |||||||||||||||||
MASS Platoon of the 97th Signal Battalion operates the Transceiver Division of the 7th Army Stock Control Center at Vaihingen, Germany. This is the nerve center of Project MASS. The operators of the platoon work in a long building with many transceivers and other business machines that operate around the clock. If the part is determined to be available, a "picking tag" card is made from the original requisition card and sent by transceiver to the appropriate depot ordering the part to be sent to the DSU. |
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| Project MASS (Modern Army Supply System) July 1956 - June 1958 | |||||||||||||||||
| (Source: DA Pam 1-250-3, April 1958 - via Jerome Rolefson) | |||||||||||||||||
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| Related articles & materials found in the Technical Services sections of the website | |||||||||||||||||
 Chemical Corps |
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| Engineer Corps |
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| See articles on 521st Engr Gp's role in Project MASS. |
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| Medical Corps |
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| Ordnance Corps |
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| See articles on 19th Ord Bn's role in Project MASS. |
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| Quartermaster Corps |
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| See articles on Quartermaster units under the 2nd QM Group participating in Project MASS. |
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| Signal Corps |
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| See articles on 160th Signal Gp's role in Project MASS.See articles on 97th Signal Bn's role in Project MASS.See article on Division Signal Supply (9th Inf Div) in Project MASS.
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| Transportation Corps |
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| See articles on 181st Trans Bn's role in Project MASS. |
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