Courtesy Photo | A pair of U.S. Marines search for unexploded ordnance at the Hawthorne Army Depot in...... read more read more
HAWTHORNE, Nev. — Located in western Nevada, the Hawthorne Army Depot encompasses over 147,000 acres, includes over 2,400 storage magazines and is often referred to as the “World’s Largest Depot.”
The depot opened on Sept. 15, 1930, as Naval Ammunition Depot Hawthorne, and received its first shipment of ammunition just over a month later. In 1977, control of the depot was transferred to the Army, and it was re-designated as the Hawthorne Army Ammunition Plant. After three years, Hawthorne transitioned into a government-owned, contractor-operated facility. Its production mission ended in 1994, marking its transformation into HWAD.
While the depot itself is primarily focused on ammunition storage and related operations, it has also been executing military training activities, and HWAD’s Lance Cpl. Timothy Gene Carter Mortar Range Area is utilized by the Mountain Warfare Training Center. This area was named after Carter as he holds the distinction of being Nevada's most highly decorated Marine during the Vietnam War.
Located in Bridgeport, California, the MWTC, is a U.S. Marine Corps installation which specializes in training military personnel for operations in mountainous, high-altitude, and cold-weather environments.
A dozen Marines from the Combat Logistics Battalion 6’s explosive ordnance destruction section recently conducted sweeps at HWAD. Their actions help make the area safe for future desert training missions. Between February 24 and March 6, 2025, the Marines surveyed 1,235.5 acres, uncovering over 70 explosive items, amounting to 225 pounds of TNT. Each hazard was safely neutralized through detonation.
The Carter range was originally a demilitarization and research development and testing area for the Army and the Navy and now serves HWAD to prepare troops for deployments to Middle Eastern environments.
“The EOD technicians’ expertise is vital for maintaining operational readiness and protecting civilians and Soldiers in both training and combat environments,” said Courtney Isom, the commander’s representative for HWAD.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Bloxham was pleased with the experience, noting that it strengthened his team's readiness.
“This was a great opportunity and great training for my Marines,” he said. “The cooperation and coordination we received at HWAD was exemplary.”
| Date Taken: | 04.17.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.17.2025 10:53 |
| Story ID: | 495512 |
| Location: | HAWTHORNE ARMY DEPOT, NEVADA, US |
| Web Views: | 119 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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