Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant (DATP) was the first manufacturing plant ever built for the mass production
of tank
s in the United States. Established in 1940 under Chrysler
, this 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. Notwithstanding its name, the 113 acre (0.45729518 km²) site was located in Warren, Michigan
, Detroit's largest suburb.
Chrysler's construction effort at the plant in 1941 was one of the fastest on record.
During World War II
, the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant built a quarter of the 89,568 tanks produced in the U.S. overall. 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 of 1952, Chrysler resumed control from the army, which had been unable to ramp up production.
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 at the Lima plant. The plant and some of the adjoining property were transferred to the City of Warren in 2001. The site of the original tank plant has been parcelled up and is now dedicated to civilian uses.
This important Arsenal of Democracy
is memorialized by a Michigan Historical Marker.
The structure of the plant was designed to survive bombardment by the weapons of the day. It included 3 foot (0.9144 m) concrete walls in some areas and a reinforced roof with slats to direct bombs away from vulnerable windows and exhaust fans.
The base's fire station has a Thunderbolt siren
on top. It is a model 1000.
The portion of the property not sold to the city remains an active Army facility as the headquarters of the United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center
(TARDEC) and the United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. TACOM continues to function at the location, is in fact in a major building boom as of 2010.
Mass production
Mass production is the production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines...
of tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
s in the United States. Established in 1940 under Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
, this 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. Notwithstanding its name, the 113 acre (0.45729518 km²) site was located in Warren, Michigan
Warren, Michigan
Warren is a city in Macomb County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The 2010 census places the city's population at 134,056, making Warren the largest city in Macomb County, the third largest city in Michigan, and Metro Detroit's largest suburb....
, Detroit's largest suburb.
Chrysler's construction effort at the plant in 1941 was one of the fastest on record.
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...
, the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant built a quarter of the 89,568 tanks produced in the U.S. overall. 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...
boosted production for the first time since World War II had ended; the government would suspend tank production after each war. In May of 1952, Chrysler resumed control from the army, which had been unable to ramp up production.
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 Land Systems
In February 1982 Chrysler announced the sale of Chrysler Defense, its profitable defense subsidiary to General Dynamics for US$348.5 million. The sale was completed in March 1982 for the revised figure of US$336.1 million. General Dynamics renamed the division General Dynamics Land Systems. In 2003...
. General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
produced the M1 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
tank at the facility (and at another plant
Lima Army Tank Plant
The Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, also known as the Lima Army Tank Plant is a tank plant located in Lima, Ohio. It is a Government-Owned, Contractor Operated facility currently operated by General Dynamics Land Systems....
in Lima, Ohio
Lima, Ohio
Lima is a city in and the county seat of Allen County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northwestern Ohio along Interstate 75 approximately north of Dayton and south-southwest of Toledo....
) until 1996, when the plant was closed and tank assembly and maintenance operations were consolidated at the Lima plant. The plant and some of the adjoining property were transferred to the City of Warren in 2001. The site of the original tank plant has been parcelled up and is now dedicated to civilian uses.
This important Arsenal of Democracy
Arsenal of Democracy
"The Arsenal of Democracy" was a propaganda slogan coined by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in a radio broadcast delivered on December 29, 1940. Roosevelt promised to help the United Kingdom fight Nazi Germany by giving them military supplies while the United States stayed out of the actual...
is memorialized by a Michigan Historical Marker.
The structure of the plant was designed to survive bombardment by the weapons of the day. It included 3 foot (0.9144 m) concrete walls in some areas and a reinforced roof with slats to direct bombs away from vulnerable windows and exhaust fans.
The base's fire station has a Thunderbolt siren
Thunderbolt Siren
The Thunderbolt siren is a discontinued electro-mechanical warning siren that was once manufactured in the United States by Federal Signal Corporation. The Thunderbolt siren consists of three major components: the blower, rotator and siren chopper. The blower, which is made up of a motor-driven...
on top. It is a model 1000.
The portion of the property not sold to the city remains an active Army facility as the headquarters of the United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center
United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center
The United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center , located in Warren, Michigan, is the US Armed Forces' research and development facility for advanced technology in ground systems. It is part of the Research, Development and Engineering Command , a major...
(TARDEC) and the United States Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command. TACOM continues to function at the location, is in fact in a major building boom as of 2010.
Further reading
- Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, Local Legacies. Library of CongressLibrary of CongressThe Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and...
- Bos, Ann M. and Talbot, Randy, Enough and On Time, The Story of the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant, Michigan History Magazine. June, 2001.
- Meredith, Robyn, Vast Plant for Tanks Has Closed. 21 December 1996. New York Times.
External links
- "Tanks Are Mighty Fine Things," a booklet about the WW2 History of the Detroit Tank Arsenal.
- Congressional RecordCongressional RecordThe Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published by the United States Government Printing Office, and is issued daily when the United States Congress is in session. Indexes are issued approximately every two weeks...
, remarks on the dedication of the Michigan Historical Marker concerning the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant by U.S. Senator Carl LevinCarl LevinCarl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
. - Description of Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant at globalsecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
. - Detroit Tank Arsenal in Warren Township, 1941.
- U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command history.
- Wikimapia, Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant.