Ordnance Corps (United States Army)

The United States Army Ordnance Corps is a Sustainment branch of the United States Army, headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia.

Mission Statement

The U.S. Army Ordnance Corps mission is to support the development, production, acquisition, and sustainment of weapon systems, ammunition, missiles, electronics, and ground mobility material during peace and war to provide combat power to the U.S. Army.

History

War of Independence and Formation

Prior to forming the Continental Army on 14 June 1775, the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee on 27 May to study methods of arms and ammunition procurement and storage and to appoint a Commissary General of the Artillery Stores. Ezekiel Cheever was the appointed by General George Washington as a Commissary General, with Major General Henry Knox, the Chief of Artillery Stores, in charge of the military component .

In 1776 the Board of War and Ordnance was created for issuing supplies to troops in the field, and in 1777 a powder magazine was established at Carlisle, Pennsylvania and a foundry at Springfield, Massachusetts.

Continental Expansion and Civil War

Part of the War Department since 1789, Congress created the separate Ordnance Department, supervised by the Secretary of...
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