The SWAC design features and operating experience

In 1953, the National Bureau of Standards Western Automatic Computer (SWAC) was an ultra-high-speed digital computer utilizing a Williams tube memory, an auxiliary magnetic drum memory and a punched card I/O system. A general description of the functional organization of the computer is given, together with a brief description of the various commands and how they were executed. Some of the special engineering features of the computer are described, in particular those relating to the electrostatic and magnetic drum memories. Finally, a short survey of the types of problems the computer solved during 1953 is presented.