Military Ordnance

Ordnance is defined as munitions or military supplies, particularly things that explode or the weapons that deliver the explosives. This page lists links to websites that provide high-quality resources about ordnance.

81 mm mortar round goes in the tube
81 mm mortar round goes in the tube.

The Olive-Drab.com section on Infantry Weapons covers mortars, anti-tank missiles, grenades and much more ordnance. For photos of ordnance items, visit the section for Military Photo Archives, Clip Art and Images.

Ordnance Open Storage
Ordnance in open storage. Click on photo for larger version.

Today in WW II: 23 Jul 1940 American Bantam and Willys-Overland submit the only two bids for the Quartermaster Corps light reconnaissance and command cars, the origin of the military jeep.  More ↓
23 Jul 1941 Original World War II contract for jeeps awarded to Willys with Ford added Nov 1941 to increase production.
23 Jul 1945 Submarine USS Barb [SS-220] destroys a Japanese locomotive and supply train at Patience Bay off the coast of Karafuto, Japan, the only known such attack by a submarine.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Ordnance Internet Resources

The William L. Howard Technical Intelligence Museum seeks to preserve the history of the U.S. Army's Technical Intelligence History and the history of our Scientific intelligence efforts. It covers the full spectrum from the battlefield recovery of captured material, the analysis of the items and then to it's use for training troops, research and development of new weapons and equipment , and the integration of the information into the intelligence cycle. Excellent links to other related resources.
Basic introduction to explosion theory and explosives, with extensive description of various explosive agents and weapons.
The Ordnance Shop offers extensive coverage of the work of the Aviation Ordnanceman speciality. Includes history, terminology, weapons and much more.
UXO -- Unexploded Ordnance Safety Education is the subject of this military website.
This page from the Army Technology web site gives a list of links related to manufacturers of ammunition, mines, and fuzes and this one covers EOD.
Grenade Recognition Manual. Site is devoted to the collectors, historians, EOD technicians, police officers, military personnel or other people who are interested in the subject of grenades or other ordnance. The site provides well-researched material and gives a place where unidentified objects may be identified.
Raytheon Company manufactures the Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missile, designed to counter advances in the armor threat created by the advent of reactive armor. TOW engages tanks where they are least heavily armored and thus most vulnerable. See also the Olive-Drab.com page on the M220 TOW Missile.
FIM-92A Stinger Weapons System: RMP & Basic . The Stinger missile, a full-dimensional protection weapon, is the Army's system for short-range air defense that provides the ground maneuver commander force protection against low-altitude airborne targets such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, and cruise missiles. The Stinger is launched from a number of platforms: Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle, Bradley Linebacker, Avenger (HMMWV), and helicopters as well as Man Portable Air Defense (MANPADS).
Enhanced Fiber Optic Guided Missile System (EFOGM). is a rapidly deployable missile system capable of defeating armored vehicles, rotary wing aircraft and other high value targets. As part of the Rapid Force Projection Initiative (RFPI), an ACTD "system of systems" composed of hunters and killers, EFOGM will have real-time connectivity to hunters (forward sensors), will be responsive via Force XXI C3I digitization, and will support JV 2010. The EFOGM system consists of a fire unit and tactical missile with a fiber optic data link. The 8-missile launch system is mounted on a High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), heavy variant.
Crosley's Secret War Effort tells the story of the development of the proximity or VT (Variable Time) fuze in WW II.
USAF Museum Weapons Gallery. Aircraft armament bombs, missiles, cannon, ECM Pods, and guns.

Find More Information on the Internet

There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.

For good results, try entering this: ordnance. Then click the Search button.