An Illustrated History Of The Rock Island Arsenal And Arsenal Island Part Three

72 Pages·2012·11.51 MB·English

An Illustrated History
Of The
Rock Island Arsenal
And
Arsenal Island

Part Three

National Historic Landmark

177
AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY
OF THE
ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL AND ARSENAL ISLAND
PART THREE

By
Lisa Wallace

History Office
U.S. Army Sustainment Command

Rock Island, Illinois 61299
2010

178
PREFACE

When I first began working in the ASC Historian’s Office in June 2010, it was immediately clear that
both civilian and military personnel showed an interest in the history of the area. I was pleased to learn that my
first major task in the ASC History Office was to update An Illustrated History Of The Rock Island Arsenal and
Arsenal Island and bring the story forward through the Korean War era.
Even prior to my arrival, a widespread desire for more historical information has been evident. Hardly a
day goes by when someone does not make the trip down to Building 390 Basement SW, calls, or e-mails to
ask for more historical information on the Rock Island Arsenal. This interest is truly inspiring. A general thank
you is deserved for all who show enthusiasm for the great historic past of this post. Of this interest, and the
great historical significance of Rock Island and the surrounding area, we are proud.
There are, of course, many people to thank for making the construction of An Illustrated History Of The
Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island, Part Three possible. First and foremost, thanks to the previous
historian, Thomas Slattery, for his in-depth coverage and research of the area from the seventeenth century
until 1908. He provided a rich bedrock of information, research, and education for others to build upon.
As for the actual writing of Part Three, I had help from many people. Many thanks go to Alex Cahill,
who researched for and wrote Chapter Thirteen, The Interwar Period at the Rock Island Arsenal; Thomas
Slattery, for writing his 50th Anniversary of WWII commemoration piece in 1992 which we used to cover WWII
in Chapter Fourteen; and to George Eaton, ASC Historian, for guiding me in both the research and writing
processes, as well as for taking time out his schedule for answering my many questions and editing the final
product. Thanks also go to Anna Turner-Scott, Nick Sly, and Rachel Bowling for their time spent towards
editorial support.
An Illustrated History Of The Rock Island Arsenal and Arsenal Island, Part Three, covers from 1908
until 1955 and focuses on Rock Island Arsenal’s contributions in both the peacetime years and multiple war
efforts of the first half of the 20th Century. The Rock Island Arsenal provided exemplary support whenever
needed, whether it was the height of production during years of conflict or keeping up with overhaul,
maintenance, and preparedness during peacetime years. The historical significance of the Rock Island Arsenal
to not only our local area but to the greater United States Army is truly something of which to be proud. Part
Three shows the increasing importance of Rock Island throughout these years of conflict, and the great impact
the past has had on shaping the Rock Island Arsenal that we all know today.

Lisa R. Wallace
December 2010

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Below: Map of Rock Island Arsenal showing location of buildings at the beginning of the World War.

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Below Left: Colonel F.E. Hobbs became Commander on 5 August 1907 during which time he oversaw the building and department
expansion that took place prior to World War I. Colonel Hobbs introduced two training schools for soldiers and the establishment of a
chemical laboratory. On 26 February 1911, Colonel Hobbs left his position as Commander of the Rock Island Arsenal to continue work
in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
Below Right: Colonel George W. Burr was Commander of the Rock Island Arsenal from 7 July 1911 until 15 February 1918, and
largely impacted the island during that time. Because of his personal appeal, Congress increased workers’ rights and benefits. Colonel
Burr increased worker safety on the island, and saved the government hundreds and thousands of dollars without decreasing
employment or wages. He later moved to Washington where he continued his career with the Ordnance Department.

CHAPTER TWELVE
RIA and The Great War

  quickly changing and adaptation to accommodate
Pre-World War I the new fighting methods and vast activities
required many different adjustments.
The Rock Island Arsenal experienced a New fighting methods called for new
transformation from horse drawn to auto drawn machinery, new tools, new buildings, and new
artillery following the Spanish-American War. This manufacturing specifications for everyone, even in
shift towards motorized artillery began by peacetime, and the Rock Island Arsenal had no
experimenting with heavier siege artillery and intention of falling behind.215 This call for major
traction engines to replace horse drawn weapons adjustments in production and manufacturing kept
and was accompanied by many other changes at the Arsenal and its employees fairly busy even
the Arsenal.214 By the early 20th century it was during the years between the Spanish American
evident that styles and methods of fighting were War and World War I. Not only were things kept
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Below Left: Colonel Leroy T. Hillman assumed the position of Rock Island Commander on 4 March 1918 and held command only
until 29 December 1918, making his term the shortest yet served. Colonel Hillman was highly involved with the Ordnance Department
for most of his military career and was promoted to Colonel after spending time in France. He then returned to the United States and
assumed Command of the Rock Island Arsenal, but tragically died just under 10 months later from a sudden illness, probably a victim of
the Great Influenza Epidemic.
Below Right: Colonel Harry B. Jordan assumed the position of Rock Island Arsenal Commander on 20 January 1919 and held
command until 1 June 1921. Prior to that time, Colonel Jordan had been sent to France to assume command of the construction of
arsenals there. After leaving Rock Island he was assigned to duty as Chief Ordnance Officer, American Forces in Germany.

running at an almost war-time pace, but calls for conflict.219 Employment would decrease after 1898
expansion were considered and acted upon during but never reached the pre-war low, coming in at a
these peaceful years. As early as 1913, the Field still impressive 1,975 workers in 1914 before World
Artillery Plant and the Leather Goods Department War I. Although increases were still very necessary
were both enlarged and expanded.216 In fact, these in just about every department, the Arsenal was
permanent expansion projects of the Arsenal’s already running at a fairly high pace, allowing us to
facilities and shop forces during the peaceful years provide war goods to our allies before the US
would be more helpful than was anticipated at the actually entered the war.220 Regardless, new
time.217 innovations in technology and fighting styles left
Rock Island mostly unprepared to join the war
Preparedness effort. Despite the high numbers of personnel,
these innovations called for new buildings, new
Because production and expansion were machinery, more employees, and new training
kept at a fairly high level even after peace with efforts to educate personnel about the new
Spain, the United States was ready to join in the unfamiliar weapons and production methods.
conflict of World War I than we had been for Foreseeing this necessity to expand even further,
previous conflict.218 Prior to the Spanish-American the War Department specifically called for the Rock
War, 608 employees worked at the Arsenal with Island Arsenal to begin multiple expansion and
peak employment reaching 2,902 during the construction projects several months before the

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Below: Storehouse W-I, above, and group of original shops below, contrasting new and old types of construction.

United States’ declaration of war in April of 1917.221 maintenance when the command was passed to
In addition to these expansion construction him from the previous commander, Stanhope E.
projects, RIA unpreparedness was truly exemplified Blunt on 2 August 1907. Hobbs commanded and
by the increase of employment. In just 16 months, oversaw all of the changes for nearly four years,
from 1917 to 1918, 10,878 men and women were until he was followed by Lieutenant Colonel, later
added to the Arsenal workforce in an attempt to Colonel George W. Burr who served in the position
keep up with the war effort.222 from July 1911 until February 1918. It was under
  the command of Colonel Burr that the Arsenal
would see its greatest expansion yet as the World
Commanders War approached and the United States later
entered the war. Following Colonel Burr, Colonel
Employee rates, production rates, and Leroy T. Hillman commanded from March 1918
changes in production materiel were not the only until December 1918, making his term the shortest
things changing at the Arsenal during these inter- yet served. Colonel Harry B. Jordan followed
war years. Lieutenant Colonel F.E. Hobbs kicked Hillman as Commander for two years from January
off the start of this time of expansion and  

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Below: Typical shop interior, being the craneway, in the field and siege building.

1919 until June of 1921, wrapping up the war years consequently forced to contract much of the work
of great expansion at the Rock Island Arsenal. 223 dealing with personal equipment and horse
equipment out to private manufacturers.227 This use
Production of contractors, however, was an expected necessity
and a part of Army doctrine on the use of arsenals
Although the United States was slow to even in the early twentieth century.228 Much work,
enter the war, our influence was sought early on. definitely more than during the Spanish American
By offering aid to those already involved in the War, still took place on the island, however, with
conflict, orders for war goods started arriving early most of the work being the assembly of individual
in 1917 from other countries that were looking for parts sent from multiple places to create a finished
desperately needed aid.224 The Rock Island Arsenal product.229
was one such place where the manufacturing of
these ordered items took place, and Rock Island,
Illinois took part in providing multiple types of war Mobile Field Artillery
goods. As a matter of fact, 1918 was considered by
everyone to be the “super” year because business Production of mobile field artillery was one
during that year peaked at a height that had never of the Arsenals greatest demands at the beginning
been reached before.225 All ten of the original shop of the 20th century. Even before U.S. entry into the
buildings were fully equipped and running for the Great War, the Rock Island Arsenal had already
first time ever because business was so high and been employed in producing carriages for the 4.7-
demanding.226 Due to the unusually high amount of inch field artillery gun which had been further
business demands and orders, the Arsenal was

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Below: Bottling destruction in the form of molten trinitrotoluol, which is being poured into howitzer shells.

developed by experiments and testing in the early recoil mechanism, was the part of the mobile field
years of the war. Due to these improvements, artillery gun that absorbed the retrograde shock of
production of these carriages only increased as firing and kept the weapons from faltering out of
U.S. involvement in the war likewise increased. In aim when fired.235 The Rock Island Arsenal,
July of 1917, orders were placed for 183 of these however, ran into multiple problems with the
carriages for the 4.7 inch gun. A little over a year recuperator and was only able to produce one by
later, in September of 1918, 120 more carriages the end of 1918. After a couple months of research
were ordered.230 Having been ordered so close to in which all the bumps were smoothed out and all
the 11 November 1918 Armistice, the Rock Island of the production tests were passed, the number of
Arsenal was only able to produce 183 of the 303 finished products increased with each passing
carriages originally requested. No more of these month. By January of 1919 two more were
orders were completed after the Armistice.231 produced, as well as 13 more in February, twenty
Another particular type of mobile field more in March, and twenty-three more in April,
artillery produced at the Rock Island Arsenal was leaving the final production number at forty-eight
the split-trail type carriage, also known as the 75-milimeter recuperators assembled in Rock
Model 1916. By the end of 1916, 204 of these Island.236 In fact, as will be discussed in further
carriages had already been ordered specifically detail later, the orders for manufacture of carriages
from the Rock Island Arsenal.232 Other types of and recuperators was so high that the Arsenal had
carriages that were ordered and produced were the to expand its facilities through construction of new
1916 model 75-mm gun carriages, of which 185 buildings in order to meet the production
were completed, and the 155-mm howitzer demand.237
carriage. 233 Due to the short period of the war, the
Rock Island Arsenal was not able to complete any Items Manufactured
of the 172 ordered 155-mm howitzer carriages.234
Both machining and finishing of a new Although a large part of the Arsenal’s
mobile field artillery item, the 75-millimeter production and contribution to the war effort, mobile
recuperator, was left solely in the hands of the field artillery was not the only war good that was
Rock Island Arsenal and the Singer Manufacturing assembled and manufactured there. The bulk of
Company, Elizabethport, New Jersey. The WWI production was devoted to manufacturing
recuperator, more widely known as the artillery vehicles (items on which the previously

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Below: The Mark VIII Tank. The order to assemble one hundred of these ponderous fighting machines, received in the spring of
1919, was the largest ever undertaken at the Arsenal. The task was completed in 286 days.

The Mark VIII Tank

mentioned artillery pieces were transported), recoil The largest project to that point in time, on
cylinders, artillery wheels, spoke shoes and spoke the other hand, did not even surface at the Arsenal
shoe plates, artillery harnesses, army repair chests, until the spring of 1919. Even after the Armistice
rifles, loaded shells and personal equipment items. tanks were still in high demand, especially the new
Impressively, the Harness Manufacturing model Mark VIII. In the early half of 1919, the
Shop on the island was the largest in the world, Arsenal received its largest order ever: 100 of the
having expanded much during the war years new Mark VIII Tanks. Weighing in at forty tons this
considering the limited quantity of production before tank was capable of holding up to eight men, and
the war. The manufacture of Springfield rifles, also production was a joint British-American venture.243
discussed earlier in the book, remained one of the Unfortunately, the order also brought about the
top industries.238 Due to government cuts in largest number of problems.244 While Britain was
expenditures, production of the Springfield rifle was mainly occupied with armor production for the tank,
eventually cut from the agenda at Rock Island the United States manufactured the engine and
years prior to the conflict. When hostilities arose other mechanical items. Even though the Rock
around 1917, not enough skilled craftsmen were Island Arsenal’s main contribution was assembly,
still around who remembered how to construct the most of the parts having been produced elsewhere
Springfield rifle causing the Arsenal to turn to and then shipped to Rock Island, the order took
private manufacturers. 239 Other rifles, mainly of the 286 days to complete after all of the problems were
1906 model, were stilled turned out in significant smoothed out. The Arsenal had to modify many
numbers.240 As far as personal equipment, the parts to make everything fit together.245
Rock Island Arsenal also collaborated with six other A condensed list of items manufactured at
companies in making a grand total of 4.5 million the Arsenal during the war period but completed
haversacks for soldiers’ use.241 Finally, focusing before the armistice follows:
elsewhere, the production of artillery ammunition
was not a main priority of the island, it being the French 75-mm gun carriages 159
smallest shell-loading plant in the Army. There Other gun carriages 202
were, however, about 1,000 shells turned out per Forge limbers 446
Battery and store wagons 255
day here as well all the other items of production
discussed.242 4.7-inch recoil cylinders 264
Artillery wheels 9,718

Spoke shoes & plates 218,650

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