Bureau of Ordnance
Encyclopedia
The Bureau of Ordnance was the U.S. Navy
's organization responsible for the procurement, storage, and deployment of all naval ordnance, between the years 1862 and 1959.
functions of the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography (1842-1862) to the newly-established Bureau of Navigation.
During the early 20th century, BuOrd became involved in the development of aerial weapons. This often led to friction with the Bureau of Aeronautics
(BuAer), which had responsibility for the development of Naval aircraft
. BuAer's work on "pilotless aircraft," or drones, conflicted with BuOrd's development of guided missile
s. After World War II
, the Navy examined ways to improve coordination between the two bureaus; ultimately, the decision was made to merge the two organizations into a new bureau, to be known as the Bureau of Naval Weapons (BuWeps).
BuOrd was disestablished by Congress by an act of August 18, 1959 , and its functions were transferred to the newly-established Bureau of Naval Weapons
. BuAir merged with BuOrd to form BuWeps. BuWeps, in turn, was disestablished in 1966 when the Navy overhauled its material organization, and was replaced with the Naval Air Systems Command
(NAVAIR). Other system commands included the Naval Ship Systems Command and the Naval Ordnance Systems Command. Ship and Submarine ordnance functions fell under the new Naval Ordnance Systems Command while Air Ordnance stayed with the Naval Air Systems Command. In July 1974, the Naval Ordnance Systems Command and Naval Ships Systems Command merged to form the Naval Sea Systems Command. Traditional Naval Ordnance functions are now conducted at the Naval Surface Warfare Center which falls under the command of Naval Sea Systems Command.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
's organization responsible for the procurement, storage, and deployment of all naval ordnance, between the years 1862 and 1959.
History
Congress established the Bureau in the Department of the Navy by an act of July 5, 1862 (12 Stat. 510), which transferred the hydrographicHydrography
Hydrography is the measurement of the depths, the tides and currents of a body of water and establishment of the sea, river or lake bed topography and morphology. Normally and historically for the purpose of charting a body of water for the safe navigation of shipping...
functions of the Navy's Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography (1842-1862) to the newly-established Bureau of Navigation.
During the early 20th century, BuOrd became involved in the development of aerial weapons. This often led to friction with the Bureau of Aeronautics
Bureau of Aeronautics
The Bureau of Aeronautics was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization for Naval Aviation from 1921 to 1959. The bureau had "cognizance" for the design, procurement, and support of Naval aircraft and related systems...
(BuAer), which had responsibility for the development of Naval aircraft
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
. BuAer's work on "pilotless aircraft," or drones, conflicted with BuOrd's development of guided missile
Guided Missile
Guided Missile is a London based independent record label set up by Paul Kearney in 1994.Guided Missile has always focused on 'the underground', preferring to put out a steady flow of releases and developing the numerous GM events around London and beyond....
s. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Navy examined ways to improve coordination between the two bureaus; ultimately, the decision was made to merge the two organizations into a new bureau, to be known as the Bureau of Naval Weapons (BuWeps).
BuOrd was disestablished by Congress by an act of August 18, 1959 , and its functions were transferred to the newly-established Bureau of Naval Weapons
Bureau of Naval Weapons
The Bureau of Naval Weapons was part of the United States Navy's material organization between 1959 and 1966, with responsibility for procurement and support of naval aircraft and aerial weapons. The bureau was established August 18, 1959, by an Act of Congress...
. BuAir merged with BuOrd to form BuWeps. BuWeps, in turn, was disestablished in 1966 when the Navy overhauled its material organization, and was replaced with the Naval Air Systems Command
Naval Air Systems Command
The Naval Air Systems Command provides material support for aircraft and airborne weapon systems for the United States Navy. NAVAIR was established in 1966 as the successor to the Navy's Bureau of Naval Weapons . Current Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, is Vice Adm. David Architzel since May...
(NAVAIR). Other system commands included the Naval Ship Systems Command and the Naval Ordnance Systems Command. Ship and Submarine ordnance functions fell under the new Naval Ordnance Systems Command while Air Ordnance stayed with the Naval Air Systems Command. In July 1974, the Naval Ordnance Systems Command and Naval Ships Systems Command merged to form the Naval Sea Systems Command. Traditional Naval Ordnance functions are now conducted at the Naval Surface Warfare Center which falls under the command of Naval Sea Systems Command.
Chiefs of the Bureau of Ordnance
- Radm. John A. Dahlgren, 1862-1863
- Capt. Henry Augustus Wise, 1863-1868
- Radm. John A. Dahlgren, 1868-1869
- Radm. Augustus Case, 1869–1873
- Commo.William N. JeffersWilliam Nicholson JeffersCommodore William Nicholson Jeffers was a U.S. Navy officer of the 19th century. He took part in combat operations during the Mexican-American War and the Civil War, and during the 1870s and early 1880s served as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance.-Early life and career:Jeffers was born in...
, 1873–1881 - Commo. Montgomery Sicard, 1881–1890
- Capt.William M. Folger, 1890-1893
- Commo. William T. Sampson, 1893–1897
- Radm. Charles O'Neil, 1897-1904
- Radm. George A. Converse, 1904-1904
- Radm. Newton E. Mason, 1904-1911
- Radm. Nathan C. Twining, 1911-1913
- Radm. Joseph Strauss, 1913-1916
- Radm. Ralph Earle, 1916-1920
- Radm. Charles B. McVay, Jr., 1920-1923
- Radm. Claude C. Bloch, 1923-1927
- Radm. William D. Leahy, 1927-1931
- Radm. Edgar B. Larimer, 1931-1934
- Radm. Harold R. StarkHarold Rainsford StarkHarold Rainsford Stark served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. Stark was the US Navy's 8th Chief of Naval Operations, from August 1, 1939 to 26 March 1942....
, 1934-1937 (later CNOChief of Naval OperationsThe Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
) - Radm. William R. Furlong, 1937-1941
- Radm. William H. "Spike" Blandy, 1941–1943
- Vadm. George R. Husey, Jr., 1943-1947
- Radm. Ablerg G. Noble, 1947-1950
- Radm. Malcom F. Schoeffel, 1950-1954
- Radm. Fredric S. Withgton, 1954-1958
See also
- Bureau of AeronauticsBureau of AeronauticsThe Bureau of Aeronautics was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization for Naval Aviation from 1921 to 1959. The bureau had "cognizance" for the design, procurement, and support of Naval aircraft and related systems...
- Bureau of Naval WeaponsBureau of Naval WeaponsThe Bureau of Naval Weapons was part of the United States Navy's material organization between 1959 and 1966, with responsibility for procurement and support of naval aircraft and aerial weapons. The bureau was established August 18, 1959, by an Act of Congress...
- BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Board of OrdnanceBoard of OrdnanceThe Board of Ordnance was a British government body responsible for the supply of armaments and munitions to the Royal Navy and British Army. It was also responsible for providing artillery trains for armies and maintaining coastal fortresses and, later, management of the artillery and engineer...
covers both naval and land
External links
- National Archives - Records of the Bureau of Ordnance.
- http://www.navsea.navy.mil/sites/nswc/default.aspx. - Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Center Home Page.