Friends of the US Army Ordnance Collection

09/18/2026

The next open house at the U.S. Army Ordnance Training Support Facility at Fort Lee, Virginia is Saturday, October 3! Just two weeks away!

The Ordnance TSF houses much of the Ordnance historical collection that was formerly at the Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Highlights include "Anzio Annie," the German railway gun that fired on Allied troops at Anzio beach, one of only two surviving Elefant tank destroyers in the world, a T-34, a KV-1, a T3 Christie tank, lots of artillery, and much more! For a taste of what the Ordnance TSF has, check out this video by Eta320 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3N4U3EwhyU and the attached pictures.

There will be a team of docents available to help with questions and provide tours of the collection.

Unfortunately the Route 36 public access gate remains closed for the time being. All visitors without DoW ID cards (CACs, etc) must be processed through the Visitor Control Center at Gregg Avenue off Route 36 (Oaklawn Blvd) and then enter Fort Lee through the Sisisky Gate (1 mile further down Route 36). Access to the Ordnance TSF will be through an internal entry at the intersection of Shop Road and 20th Street. We will update if this changes.

The map below indicates the location of the Visitor Control Center on Gregg Avenue, the Sisisky Gate, and the route inside Fort Lee to the Ordnance TSF. You can request visitor access in advance at https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/terms_of_use

We hope to see you there!

09/17/2026

Today, we’re taking a look at the Model 1857 12-pounder—better known as the “Napoleon”—one of the many historic artillery pieces you can see at the upcoming open house.

The Model 1857 was a bronze, smoothbore, muzzle-loading cannon adopted by the U.S. Army in 1857 and extensively used during the American Civil War. Based on the French Canon obusier de 12 and named for Emperor Napoleon III, it earned a reputation for being safe, reliable, and devastatingly effective at close range.

The 12-pounder Napoleon was the last cast-bronze field gun used by the U.S. Army. Approximately 1,157 were produced, most between 1861 and 1863. The Confederacy also used captured Napoleons and manufactured roughly 500 of its own during the war.

One of the gun’s most memorable actions came at the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862—164 years ago today. Captain Joseph B. Campbell’s Battery B, 4th U.S. Artillery, went into action with six Model 1857 12-pounders. Positioned in an exposed location and suffering heavy casualties, the battery helped stop a Confederate assault with rapid-fire double charges of canister. As casualties mounted, infantry volunteers stepped in to help serve the guns.

Update: This gun was originally mounted at Fort Monroe, and was later displayed at the Hampton Veterans Administration Medical Center. It was gifted to the former U.S. Army Ordnance Museum in 1987. It has serial number 443.

Come see this gun—as well as a Confederate copy and many other 18th, 19th, and 20th-century artillery pieces—at the October 3 Open House!

09/10/2026

Today, we’ll take a look at the M1916A4 75mm field gun – one of the many artillery pieces you can see at the next open house.

The M1916 was first ordered, as a 3-inch field gun, in September 1916 – 120 years ago this month. The M1916 was quickly modified to a 75mm bore when the US entered World War I so it could accept French ammunition - the same ammunition used in the M1897 (aka "French 75") field gun that the Army was rapidly adopting.

However, production delays meant only 251 guns were completed by the end of 1918. While 34 were shipped to France, they arrived too late to see action. The only variants to see combat in WWI were 51 guns mounted on 2.5-ton White trucks, which were deployed for anti-aircraft use.

The guns were given a second life in the 1930s when they were upgraded with high-speed wheels and pneumatic tires for mechanized units. While the M1916A4 field guns never met the design goals, some 400 guns were shipped to Britain under the Lend-Lease program at the beginning of WWII and designated as the "Ordnance QF 75 mm 'S' MKII."

This example is M1916A4 serial number 786. We hope you’ll come see it at an upcoming open house!

09/03/2026

Be aware, the Route 36 public access gate will unfortunately be closed on Saturday!

Please see the details below - and register in advance for easier access!

For those visiting the Museum Enclave, please be aware that the public access gate on Route 36 will be closed. Access to the museums will be through Sisisky Gate. If you don’t have a DoD ID, please stop by the Visitor Control Center in advance for a smooth entrance! For information on installation access and VCC hours, visit: https://home.army.mil/lee/access or call 804-734-5053/5056/5058. New visitors can request installation access before coming to Fort Lee using the Automated Installation Entry website: https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/installation_selection

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

The next open house at the U.S. Army Ordnance Training Support Facility (TSF) at Fort Lee, Virginia is this Saturday, September 5!

The Ordnance TSF houses much of the Ordnance historical collection that was formerly at the Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Highlights include "Anzio Annie," the German railway gun that fired on Allied troops at Anzio beach, one of only two surviving Elefant tank destroyers in the world, a T-34, a KV-1, a T3 Christie tank, lots of artillery, and much more! For a taste of what the Ordnance TSF has, check out this video by Eta320 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3N4U3EwhyU and the attached pictures.

There will be a team of docents available to help with questions and provide tours of the collection.

Unfortunately the Route 36 public access gate will be closed on Saturday. All visitors without DoW ID cards (CACs, etc) must be processed through the Visitor Control Center at Gregg Avenue off Route 36 (Oaklawn Blvd) and then enter Fort Lee through the Sisisky Gate (1 mile further down Route 36). Access to the Ordnance TSF will be through an internal entry at the intersection of Shop Road and 20th Street.

The map below indicates the location of the Visitor Control Center on Gregg Avenue, the Sisisky Gate, and the route inside Fort Lee to the Ordnance TSF. You can request visitor access in advance at https://pass.aie.army.mil/steps/terms_of_use

We hope to see you there!

08/31/2026

Today, we’re taking a look at the T88 Howitzer Motor Carriage, one of the many unique artifacts you can see at this Saturday’s open house at the U.S. Army Ordnance Training Support Facility!

On August 31, 1944, Ordnance Technical Committee Minute (OTCM) 24943 recommended developing a 105mm howitzer motor carriage based on the M18 76mm Gun Motor Carriage—sometimes known as the Hellcat. The conversion was relatively straightforward: the Hellcat’s 76mm gun was replaced with the M4 105mm howitzer, originally developed for use in medium tanks. Two T88 prototypes were built, followed by a T88E1 featuring the smaller, lighter T51 105mm howitzer.

The T88s underwent testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground before being evaluated by the Tank Destroyer Board at Camp Hood. Ultimately, however, the project was cancelled at the conclusion of World War II.

This is the original T88 HMC, serial number 1, originally built as M18 serial number 2275. It was transferred to the Ordnance collection by the Ordnance Proof Service in 1945 following the cancellation of the project.

Come see the T88—and many other unique armored vehicles—at this Saturday’s open house! See the link in the comments for further details!

08/31/2026

T88 howitzer motor carriage

08/28/2026

Today our spotlight is on the M1905A1 6" (152 mm) heavy field gun, which were assembled on M1917 field carriages 108 years ago this month.

The U.S. Army lacked effective heavy field artillery when it entered World War I. The solution adopted was to adapt existing weapons for field use. This heavy field gun was created by mounting the 6-inch M1905A1 coastal artillery gun—normally used on disappearing carriages or pedestal mounts—onto a new M1917 field carriage.

The first field carriages were completed in August 1918 and 72 guns were shipped to France, equipping three Coast Artillery regiments. The guns were nicknamed “6-inch Terrors,” but arrived too late for the regiments to complete their training before the Armistice.

This gun, serial number 12, is the only surviving example known to exist.

Come see this and many other artillery pieces at the September 5 open house!