Support for vector operations in computer programming languages is analyzed to determine if programs employing such operations run faster;The programming language Vector Pascal is defined and compared to Fortran 8X and Actus. Vector Pascal contains definitions for matrix and vector operations and the Vector Pascal compiler translates vector expressions. The Vector Pascal compiler executes on an IBM Personal Computer AT and produces code for a Floating Point Systems FPS-164 Scientific Computer;The standard benchmark LINPACK, which solves systems of linear equations, is transcribed from Fortran to Standard Pascal and Vector Pascal. The Vector Pascal version of LINPACK exploits vector operations defined in the language. The speedup of the Vector Pascal version of LINPACK over the Standard Pascal version is presented.