NSWC Carderock

Testing at Carderock

A ship hull model attached to a high-speed sled moves through waves at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Carderock's David Taylor Model Basin, in West Bethesda, Md., during Office of Naval Research (ONR)-sponsored research. The purpose of the research is to study the fundamental physics of the water-impact of high-speed planing hulls and to measure the slamming loads and resulting motions of the craft upon re-entry into the water which can cause structural damage and injury to passengers.

Bird's Eye View of Carderock

Aerial image of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division and the David Taylor Model Basin in West Bethesda, Maryland.

Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin (MASK)

Birds eye view of the wave maker in action at the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the re-opening of Carderock's upgraded Maneuvering & Seakeeping (MASK) basin at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division.

The command provides cradle-to-grave support for its technical products over a variety of scientific areas related to surface and undersea platforms.

West Bethesda Headquarters

A wide shot of Bldg. 1 at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division in West Bethesda, Md., on Oct. 19, 2023.

International Human-Powered Submarine Race (ISR)

Navy divers from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technical Division at Indian Head, Md., assist student teams with their human-powered submarines during the 13th International Human-Powered Submarine Race (ISR) being held in the David Taylor Model Basin at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division. ISR is a unique international engineering design competition that inspires high school and college-age students of the various engineering disciplines to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

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NSWC Carderock Division News

Oregon State University's tent outside of the David Taylor Model Basin at NSWC Carderock Division in preparation for their submarine, Castorea, to race.

From Whiteboard to Water: Oregon State Team Castorea Makes a Splash at ISR18

By Brittny Odoms, NSWC Carderock Public Affairs | June 27, 2025

What began as a submarine sketch on a whiteboard in 2022 became a reality for Oregon State University’s human-powered submarine team, Team Castorea, in their inaugural run at the 18th International Submarine Races (ISR 18) in...

Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Keyport Division’s Dive team poses for a photo with Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division’s (NSWCCD)Commanding Officer at the David Taylor Model Basin at West Bethesda, Md. From May 27 to May 31, 2025, the six divers hand-removed 10-tons of corroded steel from the test basin floor in preparation for the 18th International Submarine Races, hosted by Carderock.

Pictured: ND3 Kaiden Smith, ND1 Jason Marshall, ND2 Giovanni Alawdi, NDC Jacob Eastland, ND1 Benjamin Eisenbarth, ND3 Giovanni Castenada, and Capt. Christopher Matassa, Commanding Officer, Carderock. (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of NUWC Keyport Dive Locker).

Navy Divers Clear the Way for International Submarine Races at Carderock

By Alisha Tyer, NSWC Carderock Division Public Affairs | June 24, 2025

Before the 18th International Submarine Races (ISR18) can make waves at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division, someone has to clear the way. That job fell to six military divers from the Naval Undersea Warfare...

Seniors from George Mason University visited Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, to present their senior design projects to Carderock engineers on May 9, 2024. The two teams presented their projects; one team built an environmental chamber for mechanical testing and the other was tasked with fabricating composite panels for ready service lockers that were malleable enough to bend 45 degrees on all four corners and edges. Carderock, the Navy's ship design and innovation powerhouse, provides the technical foundation for the future fleet through world-class research, development, and testing

Carderock Partners with George Mason University for Second Year of Senior Design Project Oversight

By Brittny Odoms, NSWC Carderock Public Affairs | May 30, 2025

Beginning in 2024, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, partnered with George Mason University (GMU) to provide technical oversight for senior design projects to its Mechanical Engineering students. On May 9,...

Personnel from Penguin Computing were onsite to install new High-Performance Computing server clusters in Carderock's Ship Engineering and Analysis Technology Center (SEATech) at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, on May 9, 2025, at West Bethesda, Md. The upgrades are part of a first-of-its-kind lease agreement for Carderock, ensuring faster computation times, greater efficiency, and fewer obstacles for technical teams tackling critical naval research programs. Carderock, the Navy's ship design and innovation powerhouse, provides the technical foundation for the future fleet through world-class research, development, and testing. (U.S. Navy Photo by Travis Troller)

A New Strategy for High-Performance Computing at Carderock 

By Alisha Tyer, NSWC Carderock Division Public Affairs | May 22, 2025

When Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock’s engineers are modeling failure conditions, simulating acoustics or optimizing hydrodynamics, they need massive amounts of data to be processed and computing power to do it. ...

John Phillips Receives 2024 Warfare Center Award for Warfighting Readiness

By Alisha Tyer, NSWC Carderock Division Public Affairs | May 13, 2025

John T. Phillips, director of fleet engagement in the Technology & Innovation Office at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, received the 2024 Warfighting Readiness Award in recognition of his efforts in uniting...

NSWC Carderock Division
9500 MacArthur Blvd.
West Bethesda, MD 20817-5700