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History

Rock Island Arsenal's Role in Ordnance Production

After the Civil War, the newly established Rock Island Arsenal became the repository for Civil War surplus. As the arsenal buildings were constructed, arsenal employees cleaned, repaired, and shipped Civil War-era infantry, cavalry, and artillery equipment to support troops on the western frontier.

The arsenal's ability to produce equipment to support troops in the field was first successfully tested during the Spanish-American War. Carriages for 3-inch and 3.2-inch breech loading rifles and 7-inch siege howitzers were manufactured. The limbers and caissons for 3.2-inch and 3.6-inch breech loading rifles were made. Large quantities of equipment for men and horses, such as 259,505 canteens, 143,932 haversacks, 260,248 tin cups, 20,973 watering bridles, 13,801 saddles, and 17,031 nose bags, were produced.

In 1902, the arsenal produced more than 16,000 sets of cavalry equipment and 53,000 sets of infantry equipment. Most of these articles were shipped to the Manila Ordnance Depot in the Philippines where U.S. troops were still fighting.

The Model 1903 rifle, a .30 caliber, bolt-action rifle, was first manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal from 1904 to 1913. Approximately 234,000 rifles were produced. Production was reestablished in September 1916. During the First World War, nearly 114,000 Model 1903 rifles were manufactured in whole or as repair parts.

A wide variety of personal equipment, such as 1,512,190 bacon cans (or mess kits), 354,770 mess knives, 649,457 canteen covers, 858,344 haversacks, and 400,256 pack carriers were produced at the arsenal during the First World War. Until August 1, 1918, all artillery harness supplied to U.S. forces was manufactured by the arsenal, and a total of 24,212 sets were made and 74,207 sets were assembled.

Recoil cylinders and complete artillery carriages were manufactured for the Model 1906 4.7-inch gun and the Model 1902 3-inch gun. When the French 75mm field gun was adopted for U.S. use, the arsenal was assigned the task of developing and producing its hydropneumatic recuperator.

The only time that the arsenal was involved with ammunition production was during the First World War. During the war, 167,195 155mm howitzer shells were loaded.

Between the wars, Rock Island Arsenal concentrated on its dual missions of tank and artillery development. At the beginning the Second World War, emphasis was placed on artillery production. Production of artillery carriages reached 600 per month. Almost 25,000 recoil mechanisms for various artillery pieces were manufactured.

Machine guns were manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal during the Second World War. Nearly 85,000 Model 1917A1, Model 1919A4, and Model 1919A5 .30 caliber machine guns were produced. Almost 193 million metallic, disintegrating belt links for both the .30 caliber and .50 caliber machine guns were produced.

An exclusive research, development, and production project at the arsenal involved containers designed to airdrop supplies and equipment to troops. More than 6,000 paracrates, parachests, and paracaissons were made.

Rock Island Arsenal's most publicized contribution to the Korean War was the 3.5-inch rocket launcher or "superbazooka." With the assistance of its commercial manufacturing partner, the first shipment of superbazookas were air transported from the Quad Cities 13 days after U.S. troops were ordered into battle.

A new method of centrifugal casting was developed, and a total of 1,100 M25 repeating-type bazookas were manufactured in 1952 and 1953.

In 1962, the tool and equipment distribution mission was transferred from Rossford Army Depot, Ohio. The arsenal was now responsible for stocking and fielding 65,000 different items, including hand tools, band saws, and grinding machines.

During the Vietnam War, the M102 105mm lightweight howitzer was developed and produced at Rock Island Arsenal. Made primarily from aluminum, they were transportable by helicopter. An airmobile firing platform was also designed and produced for the M102 howitzer.

One of the unique projects at the arsenal was the modification of the M151A1 jeep. More than 3,000 were fitted for a 106mm recoilless rifle in 1965 and 1966. The jeep was also modified as the M718 ambulance.

In 1967, the small arms mission was transferred from Springfield Armory, Massachusetts. The arsenal was now responsible for product engineering, research and development, and manufacturing support of small arms.

During the 1980s, Rock Island Arsenal improved its manufacturing facility, now known as the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center. All steps in manufacturing, using state-of-the-art numerically controlled machines, are under one roof. This complex houses the Department of Defense's only complete, in-house forge, foundry, and plating shop.

During the Gulf War, Rock Island Arsenal was responsible for the manufacture of nearly 18,000 component parts for artillery, tanks, and tracked vehicles, such as the M198 towed howitzer, the M60A3 tank, and M728 combat engineering vehicle.

Two types of ammunition issued for use in the M109 self-propelled howitzer were too short to safely and quietly stow in its bustle rack. The arsenal designed two types of spacers to solve the problem and began production within two weeks. A total of 17,000 spacers were manufactured.

The arsenal fielded 204 2-1/2 ton truck mounted organization shop sets. These were a mini machine shop containing a lathe, welder, power vise, and a complete basic set of tools.

Today, Rock Island Arsenal is the only U.S. Army facility that assembles tool sets, kits, and outfits that support equipment in the field. The arsenal manufactures gun mounts, recoil mechanisms, artillery carriages, and other combat equipment.