U.S. Army

Ordnance Corps

If it shoots, explodes, or moves — Ordnance owns it. From 47 billion rounds produced in WWII to assembling the atomic bombs on Tinian to EOD techs making the long walk toward IEDs in Iraq, the Ordnance Corps arms, equips, maintains, and protects the force. The flaming bomb insignia is the oldest in the Army. The mission hasn't changed in 212 years.

"Armis Vis Mobilem" Est. 1812

EST. MAY 14, 1812

Army Ordnance Corps

Arms · Ammunition · Maintenance · EOD

SHOOT · SUPPLY

The Ordnance Corps arms, equips, and maintains the Army. Every weapon, every round of ammunition, every vehicle repair, every explosive device rendered safe is an Ordnance mission. The flaming bomb insignia — the oldest branch insignia in the Army — represents a heritage that stretches from Springfield Armory to the Manhattan Project to EOD technicians disarming IEDs in Iraq. Ordnance soldiers make weapons work, keep them working, and destroy the ones that threaten the force. If it shoots, explodes, or moves — Ordnance owns it. Read more

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World War II — The Arsenal 1941 – 1945

ARSENAL OF DEMOCRACY

WWII Ordnance Production & Maintenance

Tanks · Guns · 47 Billion Rounds

Rounds Produced

Rifles · Carbines

REPAIR · REBUILD

The Ordnance Corps managed the production of 47 billion rounds of ammunition, 88,000 tanks, 12.5 million rifles and carbines, and millions of vehicles during WWII. Ordnance depots repaired and rebuilt damaged equipment — returning tanks to the fight within days of being knocked out. Mobile ordnance maintenance companies followed combat units, repairing vehicles and weapons in the field. The Red Ball Express delivered the supplies, but Ordnance kept the weapons and vehicles running that consumed them. Read more

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ORDNANCE DEPT · 1942

Manhattan Project

The Ordnance Connection — Nuclear Weapons

Manhattan Engineer Dist

Dept Transferred to COE

Little Boy · Assembled

1st ORDNANCE SQ

The Manhattan Project began under the Ordnance Department before being transferred to the Corps of Engineers. Ordnance officers worked at Los Alamos assembling the bomb components. The 1st Ordnance Squadron, Special (Aviation) on Tinian Island assembled and loaded Little Boy and Fat Man onto the B-29s that dropped them on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ordnance soldiers physically handled the weapons that ended the war. The flaming bomb insignia took on new meaning in August 1945. Read more

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EOD — The Bomb Technicians The Bravest Job

Explosive Ordnance Disposal

89D — The Long Walk

EOD Specialist MOS

VBIED · EFP · UXO

Afghanistan · Nonstop

TOWARD THE BOMB

EOD technicians walk toward the bomb when everyone else runs away. In Iraq and Afghanistan, EOD was the most continuously deployed MOS in the Army — responding to thousands of IED calls, VBIEDs, and UXO finds. They wore the bomb suit, operated the robots, and when technology failed, made the long walk to the device. EOD techs have been killed and wounded at rates disproportionate to their small numbers. The Hurt Locker was Hollywood. The real thing was worse. EOD soldiers are the bravest people in the Ordnance Corps — and possibly in the entire Army. Read more

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Modern Ordnance Maintenance & Ammunition

Maintenance Operations

91-Series — Keeping the Fleet Running

Maintenance MOS

Bradley · Stryker

Maintenance Teams

91-Series Ordnance maintainers keep the Army's fleet of vehicles, weapons, and equipment operational — from 91A Abrams System Maintainers to 91B Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics to 91F Small Arms Repairers. The readiness rate of the Army's equipment is directly determined by the quality of its Ordnance maintainers. In combat, maintenance teams recover and repair damaged vehicles under fire. A tank that's broken down in the motor pool is as combat-ineffective as one that's been hit by an RPG. Ordnance fixes both. Read more

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Ammunition Operations

89B — Class V Supply

Ammunition Specialist

Ammunition Supply

Ammo Supply Points

Ammunition specialists manage the most dangerous supply class in the Army — from small arms to tank main gun rounds to missiles to demolitions. Ammunition Supply Points in combat zones store and issue millions of rounds. Ammo soldiers receive, store, maintain, and issue every explosive item the Army uses. A mistake in ammunition operations can kill everyone in the ASP. Ordnance ammo soldiers handle high explosives every day with precision that leaves zero room for error. Read more

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212

Years of Service

Oldest

Branch Insignia

89D

EOD Specialists

Fix

Shoot · Supply