<div class="htmlview paragraph">Over the past several years, the Army has become increasingly aware of the disastrous effect of solid particle contamination on the life and efficiency of fluid power system components. Something must be done to give a more reliable, quicker, and more accurate check on the system condition at any given time.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">In July 1971, the Army Mobility Equipment Command acquired a prototype portable automatic particle counter for use on fluid power systems. This battery-operated counter connects directly to the vehicle or test stand at a fixed, predetermined test point, eliminating the need for sample containers and simplifying the test procedures. Connection, analysis, and disconnection takes less than 5 min.</div> <div class="htmlview paragraph">The portable counter has been used on a number of vehicles with verification samples being taken and checked by Oklahoma State University. Results to date have encouraged the Mobility Equipment Command to continue with the field verification program.</div>