Detroit Arsenal (DTA), formerly Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant (DATP) was the first manufacturing plant ever built for the mass production of tanks in the United States. Established in 1940 under Chrysler, the plant was owned by the U.S. government until 1996. It was designed by architect Albert Kahn. The building was designed originally as a "dual production facility", so that it could make armaments and be turned into peaceful production at war's end.[1] Notwithstanding its name, the 113-acre (0.46 km2) site was located in Warren, Michigan, Detroit's most populous suburb.[2]
Chrysler's construction effort at the plant in 1941 was one of the fastest on record.[3] The first tanks rumbled out of the plant before its complete construction.[4]
During World War II, the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant built a quarter of the 89,568 tanks produced in the U.S. overall. The plant made M3 Lee tanks while the buildings were still being raised and switched to M4 Sherman tanks in 1942. The Korean War boosted production for the first time since World War II had ended; the government would suspend tank production after each war. In May 1952, Chrysler resumed control from the army, which had been unable to ramp up production.[1]
As a government-owned, contractor operated (GOCO) facility, Chrysler retained operational control of the production facility until March 1982, when Chrysler sold its Chrysler Defense division to General Dynamics Land Systems. General Dynamics produced the M1 Abrams tank at the facility (and at another plant in Lima, Ohio) until 1996, when the plant was closed and tank assembly and maintenance operations were consolidated[6] at the Lima plant.[7] The plant and some of the adjoining property were transferred to the City of Warren[8] in 2001. The site of the original tank plant has been parcelled up and is now dedicated to civilian uses.[9]
This important production site of the Arsenal of Democracy is memorialized by a Michigan Historical Marker.[10]
The structure of the plant was designed to survive bombardment by the weapons of the day. It included 3-foot-thick (0.91 m) concrete walls in some areas and a reinforced roof with slats to direct bombs away from vulnerable windows and exhaust fans.
^Ogbac, Stefan (December 29, 2015). "Chrysler Revisits Its Involvement in World War II: Tanks, turrets, airplanes, and Power Wagons" (Photos, Video). Motor Trend. Retrieved December 29, 2015.
^ (Press release). August 12, 1996. Archived from the original on May 5, 2006.
^. Ludb.clui.org. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
^. Tacom.army.mil. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
^. Cityofwarren.org. August 23, 2005. Archived from the original on May 20, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
^. Michmarkers.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
^Dasch, Jean M.; Gorsich, D.J. (2012). The TARDEC Story. Sixty-five Years of Innovation 1946-2010. US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center.
^"TACOM public website". Tacom.army.mil. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
Further reading
Stout, Wesley W. (1946). "Tanks are Mighty Fine Things". Chrysler Corporation. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
Dasch, Jean M.; Gorsich, D.J. (2012). The TARDEC Story. Sixty-five Years of Innovation 1946-2010. US Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center..
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Detroit Arsenal DTA formerly Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant DATP was the first manufacturing plant ever built for the mass production of tanks in the United States Established in 1940 under Chrysler the plant was owned by the U S government until 1996 It was designed by architect Albert Kahn The building was designed originally as a dual production facility so that it could make armaments and be turned into peaceful production at war s end 1 Notwithstanding its name the 113 acre 0 46 km2 site was located in Warren Michigan Detroit s most populous suburb 2 Detroit Army ArsenalPart of U S Army Tank automotive and Armaments CommandWarren MichiganThe plant floor in 1942TypeTACOMResearch Development and Engineering Center Life Cycle Management CommandSite informationControlled byUS Army Installation Management CommandGarrison informationGarrisonUS Army Garrison Detroit Army Arsenal Contents 1 History 2 Tenant units 3 Tanks produced 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksHistory Edit US Army Detroit Arsenal 2013 Chrysler s construction effort at the plant in 1941 was one of the fastest on record 3 The first tanks rumbled out of the plant before its complete construction 4 During World War II the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant built a quarter of the 89 568 tanks produced in the U S overall The plant made M3 Lee tanks while the buildings were still being raised and switched to M4 Sherman tanks in 1942 The Korean War boosted production for the first time since World War II had ended the government would suspend tank production after each war In May 1952 Chrysler resumed control from the army which had been unable to ramp up production 1 External image Aerial view of the site 2006 5 As a government owned contractor operated GOCO facility Chrysler retained operational control of the production facility until March 1982 when Chrysler sold its Chrysler Defense division to General Dynamics Land Systems General Dynamics produced the M1 Abrams tank at the facility and at another plant in Lima Ohio until 1996 when the plant was closed and tank assembly and maintenance operations were consolidated 6 at the Lima plant 7 The plant and some of the adjoining property were transferred to the City of Warren 8 in 2001 The site of the original tank plant has been parcelled up and is now dedicated to civilian uses 9 This important production site of the Arsenal of Democracy is memorialized by a Michigan Historical Marker 10 The structure of the plant was designed to survive bombardment by the weapons of the day It included 3 foot thick 0 91 m concrete walls in some areas and a reinforced roof with slats to direct bombs away from vulnerable windows and exhaust fans The portion of the property not sold to the city remains an active Army facility with many agencies present The installation is managed by Installation Management Command IMCOM and hosts the headquarters of the United States Army CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center GVSC formerly United States Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center TARDEC 11 and it hosts the United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command TACOM continues to function at the location and experienced a major building boom in the 2010s 12 Tenant units EditUnited States Army CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command TACOM LCMCTanks produced EditM3 Lee 1941 1942 M4 Sherman 1941 1945 M26 Pershing 1945 M46 Patton 1949 M47 Patton 1951 1953 M67 Zippo 1955 1956 M60 Patton 1960 1987 M1 Abrams 1980 1996References Edit a b Upheaval at the Arsenal Time May 26 1952 Archived from the original on October 24 2008 Retrieved May 21 2011 Pure Michigan Arsenal of Democracy Ref michigan org July 28 2010 Archived from the original on June 1 2009 Retrieved May 21 2011 Dennis Adler 2000 Chrysler MotorBooks International p 68 ISBN 978 1 61060 871 8 Ogbac Stefan December 29 2015 Chrysler Revisits Its Involvement in World War II Tanks turrets airplanes and Power Wagons Photos Video Motor Trend Retrieved December 29 2015 Detroit Arsenal Michigan Center for Land Use Interpretation Closing of Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant Press release August 12 1996 Archived from the original on May 5 2006 Land Use Distribution Ludb clui org Archived from the original on June 6 2011 Retrieved May 21 2011 U S Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command History Tacom army mil Archived from the original on July 22 2011 Retrieved May 21 2011 City of Warren Community Economic and Downtown Development Cityofwarren org August 23 2005 Archived from the original on May 20 2011 Retrieved May 21 2011 Michigan Historical Marker Michmarkers com Archived from the original on March 15 2010 Retrieved May 21 2011 Dasch Jean M Gorsich D J 2012 The TARDEC Story Sixty five Years of Innovation 1946 2010 US Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center TACOM public website Tacom army mil Retrieved May 21 2011 Further reading EditStout Wesley W 1946 Tanks are Mighty Fine Things Chrysler Corporation Retrieved July 11 2019 Dasch Jean M Gorsich D J 2012 The TARDEC Story Sixty five Years of Innovation 1946 2010 US Army Tank Automotive Research Development and Engineering Center Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant Local Legacies Library of Congress Ann M and Talbot Randy June 2001 Bos Enough and On Time The Story of the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant Michigan History magazine Michigan History Meredith Robyn December 21 1996 Vast Plant for Tanks Has Closed The New York Times External links EditDetroit Arsenal of Democracy Museum Veterans Memorial Park 27400 Campbell Road Warren Michigan 48093 Historic American Engineering Record HAER No MI 12 Detroit Arsenal 6501 East Eleven Mile Road Warren Macomb County MI 26 photos 61 data pages 3 photo caption pages Tanks Are Mighty Fine Things a booklet about the WW2 History of the Detroit Tank Arsenal Tanks are mighty fine things 1946 at the Internet Archive Congressional Record remarks on the dedication of the Michigan Historical Marker concerning the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant by U S Senator Carl Levin Description of Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant at Globalsecurity org Detroit Tank Arsenal in Warren Township 1941 U S Army Tank Automotive Command history Wikimapia Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant A film clip Assembly Lines of Defense is available at the Internet ArchiveCoordinates 42 29 49 N 83 02 30 W 42 49694 N 83 04167 W 42 49694 83 04167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Detroit Arsenal Warren Michigan amp oldid 1123303950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
