The United States Army Ordnance Corps

History of the Ordnance Corps

The Ordnance Corps has a proud tradition, dating back to days of the American Revolution.

On May 27, 1775, the Continental Congress appointed a committee (which included George Washington) to study methods of ammunition procurement and storage, and to appoint “Commissary-General” of the Artillery Stores. That Commissary General, Ezekiel Cheever, was the first to perform what would become the duties of Chief of Ordnance. In 1776, a Board of War and Ordnance, with responsibility for issuing supplies to troops in the field, was created. In the following year the first Ordnance magazine was established at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Also in 1777, an armory and arsenal were established at Springfield, Massachusetts, with others following soon thereafter. Historians credit the Army of this period, the Ordnance men in particular, with playing a major role in bringing the Industrial Revolution to America.

On May 14, 1812, Congress organized the Ordnance Department as part of the preparations for the British war. That saw the department assume responsibility for arms and ammunition production, acquisition, distribution and storage in a much broader geographical base than in the War of Independence.

The years following the War of 1812 were a period of transition for Ordnance. It was merged with the Artillery in 1821 as an economy measure. It soon became apparent that artillerymen temporarily detailed to Ordnance duty were often not qualified to handle procurement and other Ordnance assignments. As a result, the Ordnance Department was reconstituted in 1832.

With the reconstitution of the Ordnance Department came new responsibility – research and development and a system of field service. Put to the test in the Mexican War, these initiatives were developed, and became the foundation for the massive logistics efforts of the future.

The War Between the States posed a stern test for the Ordnance Department. With few exceptions, most of the Ordnance facilities in the South were seized by the Confederacy before the bombardment of Fort Sumter, and throughout the war, Ordnance installations were primary targets for operations on both sides. During the war, Ordnance men successfully brought about massive procurement of weapons and supplies and effective field support for fast-moving armies. The establishment of Sandy Hook Proving Ground in New Jersey in 1874 gave the Army its first full-scale testing facility.

In the War with Spain in 1898, the Ordnance Department first deployed materiel overseas and provided complete close combat support. In World War I, the Ordnance Department mobilized an immense industrial base, developed weapons systems in cooperation with the allies, organized a variety of Ordnance training facilities, and established large overseas supply depots.

World War II saw an even more dramatic expansion of the Ordnance mission of production, procurement, maintenance training. Solving the problems of conducting a two-ocean war fought in a variety of environments and participation in the creation of the first nuclear weapons marked the Ordnance Corps’ giant step into a new age.

In both Korea and Vietnam, the Ordnance team provided the materiel supply and maintenance characteristic tradition of “service to the line, on the line, on time” and was active in the development of rockets, guided missile satellites.

The Army reorganization in 1962 disestablished most of the Army technical services, including the Chief of Ordnance and his support staff. During the late 1970s, it became apparent that the post-1962 reorganization structure while functionally effective, did not sustain the proud heritage of the Ordnance Corps, nor did it provide a home and centralized leadership of Ordnance personnel serving in diverse Army units throughout the world. As a result, on October 1, 1981, the Commanding General of the Ordnance Center and School was made proponent for all Ordnance specialties and functions. On October 28, 1985, the Commanding General, U.S. Ordnance Center and School, officially became the Chief of Ordnance when the Chief of Staff of the Army approved the incorporation of the Ordnance Corps into the U.S. Army Regimental System.

With the advent of the modern U.S. Army Regimental System, the Ordnance Corps is organized under the whole branch regiment concept. The Chief of Ordnance serves as the Regimental Commander, while the Office Chief of Ordnance serves as her operational headquarters for the Ordnance Corps.

The operations in Grenada and Panama, as well as Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm showed the world that the U.S. Army is ready for any contingency. Ordnance Corps Soldiers played an extensive role by providing support at all levels on the battlefield.

Most recently, from 2001 to the present, the Ordnance Corps has provided a full spectrum of maintenance, ammunition, and explosive ordnance disposal support to Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq, and continues to support the forces fighting in the Global War on Terrorism. Ordnance Soldier thus continues the tradition of providing “service to the line, on the line, on time.”

Under the guidance of the Chief of Ordnance, the Ordnance Corps continues to fulfill its purpose: “To support the development, production, acquisition, and sustainment of weapons systems, ammunition, missiles, electronics, and ground mobility materiel during peace and war to provide combat power to the U.S. Army.”

GO ORDNANCE!

March 14, 2007