<div class="htmlview paragraph">This paper reviews various factors of significance in the shock testing of equipment and discusses the damage process in equipment subjected to shock. Analysis of various shock motions and the resulting responses of equipment to indicate requirements of a shock testing machine for simulating various types of shock occurring in actual service are described. Descriptions of existing types of shock testing machines and comments on their use as well as possibilities for improvising shock tests as a substitute for tests on standard testing machines are included.</div>