History of the Ammunition Industrial Base - JMC - U.S. Army

History of the Ammunition Industrial Base
From Creation to Present Day
Ammunition is a unique commodity that requires technical production accuracy to exact
specifications and superior quality levels for the safety of its users. To accomplish this mission a
network of government owned contractor operated (GOCO) and government owned government
operated (GOGO) ammunition industrial sites has evolved over time to produce superior
munitions for all U.S. military Services and Allies. The U.S. Army ammunition industrial base
has experienced great degrees of transformation over the past half century. The base has
experienced the largest of expansions during World War II (WWII) to the lowest levels of
reduction during the current Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) 1 , now referred to as Overseas
Contingency Operations (OCO). Reasons for the reduction include factors such as
modernization of production technology and more peaceful periods of history. The following
history examines the evolution of the industrial base, emphasizing the changes and provides
rationale for the gradual decrease in the size of the ammunition industrial base from WWII to
2010. This report addresses specific challenges in regards to right-sizing the industrial base,
which leads to the frequently debated question: what should the ammunition industrial base look
like for the future?
The ammunition industrial base is a complex system composed of contractors,
subcontractors, government owned and government operated (GOGO), and government owned
and contractor operated (GOCO) facilities. The government owns key facilities to manufacture
propellants and explosives and to load, assemble and pack (LAP) munitions with contractors
operating most of the facilities and operations.
The current munitions base evolved from the large base established to meet the demands
of WWII. The base evolved to meet the Korean Conflict, Vietnam Conflict, Cold War tensions,
and ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The base has been reconfigured several times to meet
projected requirements, to accommodate changing weapons technology, and to incorporate
improved manufacturing methods. The challenge for managers of the conventional ammunition
base is to create the proper balance between two competing needs - the need to maintain the
reserve capacity required to replenish the war reserves after a major conflict and the need to
economically meet peacetime requirements. To fully understand the situation and state of the
current ammunition industrial base, a closer look at its origins and evolution is necessary.
The Ordnance Department (OD)
The Revolutionary War taught the Nation its first lessons in material mobilization.
Successful war conduct was linked to the availability of war-fighting supplies and equipment.
The leaders of the Continental Army realized that efforts were needed to organize, produce,
manage, and supply the Nation‟s Army if it were going to gain independence and win the War
against England. In November 1775, Colonel Henry Knox established one of the firs U.S.
industrial base capabilities. He selected Carlisle, Pennsylvania as the site for the first
Continental Army Depot Arsenal. Carlisle, along with approximately 27 other depots and
arsenals, stored and maintained supplies for the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
1
GWOT is now referred to as Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation
New Dawn or Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO).
3