San Jacinto Ordnance Depot
Encyclopedia
The San Jacinto Ordnance Depot was a United States Army
ammunition depot
that supplied the Army and Navy during World War II
and the Korean War
, located on a 4,954-acre reservation on the Houston Ship Channel
15 miles south of Houston, Texas
.
The depot received, stored, and inspected all classes of ammunition (other than smoke) intended for shipment through its docks or through the Port of New Orleans
; and ammunition from overseas facilities. Captains of the Ports of Houston
and Galveston
objected to its location close to manufacturing plants, shipyards and an oil refinery, but the US Coast Guard
approved the project.
Its first commanding officer arrived on November 21, 1941; on June 1, 1942, the depot received its first shipment—four cars of propellant charges. The first commercial vessel was loaded on September 7, 1944. By December 31, 1945, it had received more than 329 million pounds of ammunition and had shipped more than 208 million pounds.
The depot continued to operate between 1945 and 1950; plans to phase out operations as soon as the decreasing need for war materials allowed were postponed with US involvement in the Korean War in June 1950. In 1959, the depot was declared surplus, and the US Army Corps of Engineers took custody. In October 1964, it was sold to the Houston Channel Industrial Corp. for more than 10 million dollars.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
ammunition depot
Ammunition dump
An ammunition dump, ammunition compound, ammunition depot, bomb dump, ammunition supply point or ammo dump, is a military storage facility for live ammunition and explosives....
that supplied the Army and Navy during 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...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, located on a 4,954-acre reservation on the Houston Ship Channel
Houston Ship Channel
The Houston Ship Channel, located in Houston, Texas, is part of the Port of Houston—one of the United States's busiest seaports. The channel is the conduit for ocean-going vessels between the Houston-area shipyards and the Gulf of Mexico.-Overview:...
15 miles south of Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
The depot received, stored, and inspected all classes of ammunition (other than smoke) intended for shipment through its docks or through the Port of New Orleans
Port of New Orleans
The Port of New Orleans is a port located in New Orleans, Louisiana. It is the 1st in the United States based on volume of cargo handled, second-largest in the state after the Port of South Louisiana, and 13th largest in the U.S. based on value of cargo...
; and ammunition from overseas facilities. Captains of the Ports of Houston
Port of Houston
The Port of Houston is a port in Houston—the fourth-largest city in the United States. The Port is a 25-mile-long complex of diversified public and private facilities located a few hours' sailing time from the Gulf of Mexico...
and Galveston
Port of Galveston
The Port of Galveston is the port of the city of Galveston, Texas. It was established by a proclamation issued by the Congress of Mexico on October 17, 1825, while the land known today as Texas was still part of Mexico...
objected to its location close to manufacturing plants, shipyards and an oil refinery, but the US Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
approved the project.
Its first commanding officer arrived on November 21, 1941; on June 1, 1942, the depot received its first shipment—four cars of propellant charges. The first commercial vessel was loaded on September 7, 1944. By December 31, 1945, it had received more than 329 million pounds of ammunition and had shipped more than 208 million pounds.
The depot continued to operate between 1945 and 1950; plans to phase out operations as soon as the decreasing need for war materials allowed were postponed with US involvement in the Korean War in June 1950. In 1959, the depot was declared surplus, and the US Army Corps of Engineers took custody. In October 1964, it was sold to the Houston Channel Industrial Corp. for more than 10 million dollars.