Merriam Press World War 2 History Series Also includes details of the effect of climate and terrain upon development trends (jungle, cave, desert, and arctic warfare).
Written utilizing numerous source documents, listed in the footnotes.
The material published in this Monograph is a complete reprint of the text of Chapter 1 ("Review of Ordnance Research and Development in World War II") of a manuscript in the National Archives (Records Group Number 156, Box A746). The author was not identified on the copy we worked from, although it seems likely this manuscript was written by an officer (or historian) of the U.S. Army's Ordnance Department, since the author obviously had access to most, if not all, Ordnance Department records.
While no date is given as to when the manuscript was originally prepared, it would seem likely that it was written not long after World War II. It was not declassified until 27 September 1958.
Although much more could obviously be written about the Ordnance Department's research and development role in World War II, this work is certainly of immense value because of its almost exclusive use of original source documents, as well as having been written shortly after the events occurred.
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Situation in 1940
Chapter 2: The Effect of Climate and Terrain Upon Development Trends: Jungle Warfare, Cave Warfare, Desert Warfare, Arctic Warfare
Chapter 3: The Course of Development: Combat Vehicles, Motor Transport Vehicles, Artillery, Small Arms, Aircraft Armament, Artillery Ammunition and Bombs, Small Arms Ammunition, Rockets, Fuels and Lubricants, Rubber, and Steel, Ballistics
Chapter 4: Unfinished Business, 1945
134 photos and illustrations
