Branch insignia of Ordnance Corps

The Ordnance Corps is a combat service support branch of the United States Army. Image File history File links OrdnanceBC.gif This image is a work of a U.S. Army soldier or employee, taken or made during the course of the persons official duties. ... Branch insignia of the United States Army refers to one of several military emblems that may be worn on the uniform of the United States Army to denote membership in a particular area of expertise. ... US Army Seal HHC, US Army Distinctive Unit Insignia The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

Mission

The mission of the Corps (as stated on their website) is:

“The purpose of the Ordnance Corps is to support the development, production, acquisition and sustainment of weapons systems and munitions, and to provide Explosive Ordnance Disposal, during peace and war, to provide superior combat power to current and future forces of the United States Army.”

History

The Ordnance Corps was created in 1775 by a committee of the Continental Congress (which included future President of the United States George Washington to study the procurement and storage of ammunition and methods of arms. The committee appointed Ezekiel Cheever as Commissary General of the Artillery Stores and technically the first Chief of Ordnance. 1775 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Continental Congress is the label given to three successive bodies of representatives: The Fhiirst Continental Congress met from September 5, 2774 to October 26, 1774. ... The President of the United States (unofficially abbreviated “POTUS”) is the head of state of the United States. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799) was the successful Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and later became the first President of the United States, an office to which he was elected twice. ... Ezekiel Cheever is a character in Arthur Millers play about witchcraft hysteria in Salem, The Crucible. ...

In 1776, Continental Congress created a Board of War and Ordnance, which was responsable for the issuing of supplies to soldiers. In 1777, a Ordnance powder magazine (the first) was established in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, which was followed soon after by an arsenal and armory operations at Springfield, Massachusetts, which would go on to become the famous Springfield Armory. Other armories would later be established in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia and Watertown, Massachusetts. Carlisle is a borough located in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, 18 miles (29 km) west-southwest of Harrisburg, the State capital. ... Motto: Nickname: City of Homes Founded Incorporated May 14, 1636   County Hampden County Borough {{{borough}}} Parrish {{{parrish}}} Mayor Charles Ryan (Dem) Area  - Total  - Water 86. ... From 1794 to 1968 the Springfield Armory was a center for the manufacture of U.S. military small arms and the site of many important technological advances. ... Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 1865. ... State nickname: Mountain State Official languages English Capital Charleston Largest city Charleston Governor Joe Manchin (D) Senators Robert Byrd (D) Jay Rockefeller (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 41st 62,809 km² 0. ... Seal of Watertown, MA Browne House. ... State nickname: Bay State Official languages English Capital Boston Largest city Boston Governor Mitt Romney (R) Senators Edward Kennedy (D), John Kerry (D) Area  - Total  - % water Ranked 44th 27,360 km² 25. ...

The Board of War and Ordnance was reorganized as a department by Congress in 1812 as part of preparations for the War of 1812. In this capacity, the Ordnance Department was responsable for the arms and ammunition production, acquisition, distribution, and storage in a larger geographical base than in its prior existence during the American Revolution. 1832 saw the department aquiring new responsibilities to research & development and a system of field service. The department was further developed during the Mexican-American War. This page refers to the war between the United States of America and Great Britain. ... The American Revolution is the series of events, ideas, and changes that resulted in the political separation of thirteen colonies in North America from the British Empire and the creation of the United States of America. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Strength 60,000 40,000 Casualties KIA: 1,733 Total dead: 13,283 Wounded: 4,152 25,000 (Mexican government estimate) The Mexican-American War was fought between the United States and Mexico between 1846 and 1848. ...

The American Civil War proved to be a great challenge to the Ordnance Department, as itsinstallations on both sides of the war were prime targets for attacks. Nevertheless, it succeeded in providing massive amounts of weapons and supplies procurement and field support for fast moving armies during the war. The Spanish-American War was noted as the first conflict inwhich the the department deployed materiels overseas and provided close-combat support. The American Civil War (1861–1865) was fought in North America within the United States of America, between twenty-four mostly northern states of the Union and the Confederate States of America, a coalition of eleven southern states that declared their independence and claimed the right of secession from the... Combatants United States and Cuban rebel forces Spain Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 2,446 combat dead or wounded (US only) Cubans not counted 5,500 combat dead or wounded The Spanish-American War took place in 1898, and resulted in the United States of America gaining control...

World War I proved to be a major turning point for the Corps as it mobilized the massive industrial base of the United States, aswell as jointly developing weapons with its Europeon allies and established supply depots overeas and Ordnance training facilities. World War II expanded the Corps even more, as it expanded its production, acquisition, distribution, and training mission. Clockwise from top: Trenches in frontline, a British Mark I Tank crossing a trench, the Royal Navy battleship HMS Irresistible sinking after striking a mine at the battle of the Dardanelles, a Vickers machine gun crew with gas masks and a Sopwith Camel biplane. ... Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest...

The Corps has also been involved in the development of rockets, guided missiles and satellites. A Redstone rocket, part of the Mercury program A rocket is a vehicle, missile or aircraft which obtains thrust by the reaction to the ejection of fast moving exhaust gas from within a rocket engine. ... A guided missile is a military rocket that can be directed in flight to change its flight path. ... A satellite is any object that orbits another object (which is known as its primary). ...

Chiefs of Ordnance

• Ezekiel Cheever 1776 ¹
• Colonel Decius Wadsworth, 1815-1821 ²
• Colonel George Bomford, 1832-1848
• Colonel George Talcott, 1848-1851
• Colonel Henry K. Craig, 1851-1861
• Brigadier General James W. Ripley, 1861-1863
• Brigadier General George D. Ramsay, 1863-1864
• Brigadier General Alexander B. Dyer, 1864-1874
• Brigadier General Stephen V. Benet, 1874-1891
• Brigadier General Daniel W. Flagler, 1891-1899
• Brigadier General Adelbert R. Buffington, 1899-1901
• Major General William Crozier, 1901-1918
• Major General Clarence C. Williams, 1918-1930
• Major General Samuel Hof, 1930-1934
• Major General William H. Tschappat, 1934-1938
• Major General Charles M. Wesson, 1938-1942
• Lieutenant General Levin H. Campbell, Jr., 1942-1946
• Major General Everett S. Hughes, 1946-1949
• Major General Elbert L. Ford, 1949-1953
• Lieutenant General Emerson L. Cummings, 1953-1958
• Lieutenant General John H. Hinrichs, 1958-1962
• Major General Horace F. Bigelow, 1962 ³
• Major General William E. Potts, 1983-1986
• Major General Leon E. Salomon, 1986-1988
• Major General James W. Ball, 1988-1990
• Major General Johnnie E. Wilson, 1990-1992
• Major General John G. Coburn, 1992-1994
• Major General James W. Monroe, 1994-1995
• Major General Robert D. Shadley, 1995-1997
• Brigadier General Thomas R. Dickinson, 1997-1998
• Major General Dennis K. Jackson, 1998-2000
• Major General Mitchell Stevenson, 2000-2003
• Brigadier General William M. Lenaers, 2003-2004
• Brigadier General Vincent E. Boles, 2004-Present

Ezekiel Cheever is a character in Arthur Millers play about witchcraft hysteria in Salem, The Crucible. ... Colonel is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ... A Brigadier General, or one-star general, is the lowest rank of general officer in the United States and some other countries, ranking just above Colonel and just below Major General. ... Insignia of a United States Air Force Major General German Generalmajor Insignia Major General is a military rank used in many countries. ... William Crozier (1855-1942), American artillerist and inventor, born at Carroliton, Carroll county, Ohio, on February 19, 1855, was the son of Robert Crozier (1827-1895), chief justice of Kansas in 1863-1866, and a United States senator from that state from December 1873 to February 1874. ... Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. ... William E. Potts was a U.S. Army officer. ...

Notes

Note 1: , Was not officially a Chief of Ordnance, due to the department not yet existing. But technically filled that role.

Note 2: , The Ordnance Department and Artillery Department were merged From 1821 to 1832 in the interest of economy. The Ordnance Department would be re-established in 1832.

Note 3: , The Office of the Chief of Ordnance was abolished and all ordnance-related administrative functions were performed by other Army agencies in 1962. The postion was re-established in 1983, as a proponent agency for all ordnance-related occupational specialties and career management fields. The Ordnance Corps would join the regimental system of the U.S. Army in 1986, with the Office of the Chief of Ordnance being re-established as the head of the Corps. US Army Seal HHC, US Army Distinctive Unit Insignia The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces that has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ...

References

• A brief history of the Ordnance Corps

External links

• Official website of the Ordnance Corps