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Watervliet Arsenal

US Army installation in Watervliet, New York

Field	Value
unit_name	Watervliet Arsenal (WVA)
image	Official U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal unit insignia.png
alt	Distinctive unit insignia of the U.S. Army Watervliet Arsenal featuring a silver ring around two crossed cannons with a spark above where they cross signifying the manufacturing nature of the arsenal.
dates	July 14, 1813 - Present
country	United States
branch	U.S. Army
type	Arsenal
role	Manufacturer of large caliber cannon, howitzer and mortar systems
command_structure	U.S. Army Materiel Command, U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command
website	https://www.wva.army.mil
commander1	Col. Jason W. Schultz, PhD

A 16-inch M1920 coast artillery howitzer, stamped Watervliet Arsenal, 1921

The Watervliet Arsenal (WVA) is an arsenal of the United States Army located in Watervliet, New York, on the west bank of the Hudson River. It is the oldest continuously active arsenal in the United States, and today produces much of the artillery for the army, as well as gun tubes for cannons, mortars, and tanks. It has been a National Historic Landmark (NHL) since 1966.

Watervliet Arsenal falls under its headquarters, the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command under the U.S. Army Materiel Command.

The arsenal was founded on July 14, 1813, to support the War of 1812. It was designated as the Watervliet Arsenal in 1817. It occupies 142 acres (57 ha) of land, approximately 8 miles (13 km) north of Albany, New York. The location is adjacent to the Hudson River. The site contains manufacturing, administrative offices and storage areas. It houses the Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command Benét Laboratories, which does product development, improvement, research, and testing for all artillery related engineering.

Introduction

WVA supports the U.S. Army’s fighting force with direct fire tank guns, indirect fire artillery cannons, mortars and components, sustainment parts, and spares for all weapon systems produced at WVA.

Tenant activities

The Arsenal has the historic Iron Building, which served as the home of the Watervliet Arsenal Museum. The museum was closed in October 2013 for security reasons.

Recruiting Station Albany, the headquarters of a United States Marine Corps recruiting station, is located on the Arsenal.{{Infobox NRHP Watervliet, New York | mapframe-marker = building | mapframe-zoom = 12 |mapframe-caption = Interactive map showing the location for Watervliet Arsenal |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121214013802/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=359&ResourceType=District |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 14, 2012

In February 2009, the headquarters of the United States Army Recruiting Battalion Albany relocated to Watervliet Arsenal from its old location on Wolf Road.

History

1813–1823

The arsenal was chosen to be built at the edge of the village of Gibbonsville, directly opposite Troy, New York. It was chosen to be built there due to its key location on the Hudson River, only 60 mi from Lake Champlain, 140 mi from New York City, and a short distance via the Mohawk River to Lake Ontario. During the early stages of the War of 1812, attacks could be expected from many key ports and other locations.

At the time, the Colonel of Ordnance was Decius Wadsworth. He designated the arsenal to produce fixed ammunition and small articles of equipment including gun carriages, drag ropes, ladles, wormers, sponges, and shot. The original plot of land acquired by the Department of Ordnance was 12 acre. Construction began in the summer of 1813 on fourteen buildings: south and north gun houses, a brick arsenal, two stables, a guard house, commanding officer's quarters, a woodshed, two enlisted men's quarters, a hospital and one office. The cost for the land was 2,585.

1880s

Nearly 70 years after the arsenal produced its first products, it gained national prominence when it became the Army's first large caliber cannon manufacturer in the late 1880s. During this period, production changed from the manufacturing of saddles and gun carriages to cannons. Remnants of this period are still in operation today, via the continued use of historic Building 110, "The Big Gun Shop," for manufacturing missions. This gun shop once produced 16-inch guns and many other weapons for the United States Army Coast Artillery Corps.

1970s-present

A considerable turning point in the modernization of Watervliet Arsenal was the construction of the radial forge in the 1970s, a $7 million dollar expenditure.

As of 2023 Watervliet Arsenal is manufacturing cannon barrels for the M1 Abrams tank.

Watervliet Arsenal released plans to replace the iconic rotary forge on June 23, 2023 as part of its modernization plan under the U.S. Army Materiel Command's planned modernization of the U.S. Army's organic industrial base. Additionally, Watervliet Arsenal plans on replacing its paint booth with a BlastOne Automated Paint Booth that will expand capacity and capabilities. These are part of an ongoing $1.7 billion program to upgrade the arsenal. On July 31, 2023, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer announced that the $1.7 billion would be allocated by the U.S. Congress and U.S. Army.

Commanding officers

No.	Portrait	Name (rank shown highest while in command)	Dates of Command
-	No image available	Cpt. Thomas L. Campbell	Interim Commander July 14, 1813 – 1816
1	No image available	Maj. James Daliba	November 14, 1816 – May 1, 1824
2	[[File:Lt. Col Talcott.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. George Talcott	100px]]	Lt. Col. George Talcott	September 1, 1824 – January 25, 1835
3	[[File:Lt. Col. William J. Worth.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. William J. Worth	100px]]	Lt. Col. William J. Worth	January 26, 1835 – April 30, 1838
4	[[File:Col. Rufus L. Baker.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. Rufus L. Baker	100px]]	Col. Rufus L. Baker	October 10, 1838 – October 10, 1851
5	[[File:Maj. John Symington.jpg	alt=Maj. John Symington	100px]]	Maj. John Symington	October 10, 1851 – June 23, 1857
6	[[File:Maj. Alfred Mordecai.jpg	alt=Maj. Alfred Mordecai	100px]]	Maj. Alfred Mordecai	June 23, 1857 – May 14, 1861
7	[[File:Col. William A. Thornton.jpg	alt=Col. William A. Thornton	100px]]	Col. William A. Thornton	May 15, 1861 – December 25, 1863
8	[[File:Peter V. Hagner (US Army brevet brigadier general).jpg	100px]]	Brig. Gen. Peter V. Hagner	December 25, 1863 – December 3, 1880
9	[[File:Lt. Col. A. R. Buffington.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. A. R. Buffington	100px]]	Lt. Col. A. R. Buffington	December 3, 1880 – November 2, 1881
10	[[File:Col. Alfred Mordecai, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Alfred Mordecai, Jr.	100px]]	Col. Alfred Mordecai Jr.	November 2, 1881 – May 12, 1886
11	[[File:Col. James M. Whittemore.jpg	alt=Col. James M. Whittemore	100px]]	Col. James M. Whittemore	June 5, 1886 – November 11, 1889
12	[[File:Lt. Col. Francis H. Parker.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. Francis H. Parker	100px]]	Lt. Col. Francis H. Parker	November 21, 1889 – December 12, 1892
13	[[File:Lt. Col. Isaac Arnold.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. Isaac Arnold	100px]]	Lt. Col. Isaac Arnold	December 19, 1892 – February 14, 1898
14	[[File:Col. Alfred Mordecai, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Alfred Mordecai Jr.	100px]]	Col. Alfred Mordechai Jr.	February 23, 1898 – May 8, 1899
15	[[File:Col. Joseph P. Farley.jpg	alt=Col. Joseph P. Farley	100px]]	Col. Joseph P. Farley	May 26, 1899 – February 17, 1903
16	[[File:Lt. Col. Shaler.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. Charles Schaler	100px]]	Lt. Col. Charles Shaler	February 18, 1903 – July 13, 1903
17	[[File:Col. Daniel M. Taylor.jpg	alt=Col. Daniel M. Taylor	100px]]	Col. Daniel M. Taylor	July 14, 1903 – March 31, 1905
18	[[File:Lt. Col. Ira MacNutt.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. Ira MacNutt	100px]]	Lt. Col. Ira MacNutt	May 1, 1905 – January 7, 1908
19	[[File:Col. William W. Gibson.jpg	alt=Col. William W. Gibson	100px]]	Col. William W. Gibson	January 20, 1908 – February 17, 1918
20	[[File:Col. John E. Munroe.jpg	alt=Col. John E. Munroe	100px]]	Col. John E. Munroe	March 1, 1918 – September 3, 1918
21	[[File:Col. Charles G. Mettler.jpg	alt=Col. Charles G. Mettler	100px]]	Col. Charles G. Mettler	September 3, 1918 – March 10, 1919
22	[[File:Col. J. Walker Benet.jpg	alt=Col. J. Walker Benet	100px]]	Col. J. Walker Benet	March 11, 1919 – May 28, 1921
23	[[File:Lt. Col. William I. Westervelt.jpg	alt=Lt. Col. William I. Westervelt	100px]]	Lt. Col. William I. Westervelt	May 31, 1921 – September 1, 1923
24	[[File:Col. Edwin D. Bricker.jpg	alt=Col. Edwin D. Bricker	100px]]	Col. Edwin D. Bricker	October 1, 1923 – July 30, 1929
25	[[File:Col. Herman W. Schull.jpg	alt=Col. Herman W. Schull	100px]]	Col. Herman W. Schull	September 9, 1929 – February 27, 1932
26	[[File:Maj. Charles A. Schimelfenig.jpg	alt=Maj. Charles A. Schimelfenig	100px]]	Maj. Charles A. Schimelfenig	February 28, 1932 – July 31, 1932
27	[[File:Col. Gilbert H. Stewart.jpg	alt=Col. Gilbert H. Stewart	100px]]	Col. Gilbert H. Stewart	August 1, 1932 – September 12, 1938
28	[[File:Col. Richard H. Somers.jpg	alt=Col. Richard H. Somers	100px]]	Col. Richard H. Somers	November 14, 1938 – July 17, 1940
29	[[File:Brig. Gen. A. G. Gillespie.jpg	alt=Brig. Gen. A. G. Gillespie	100px]]	Brig. Gen. A. G. Gillespie	July 19, 1940 – March 31, 1945
30	[[File:Col. Clarence E. Partridge.jpg	alt=Col. Clarence E. Partridge	100px]]	Col. Clarence E. Partridge	April 1, 1945 – April 30, 1946
31	[[File:Col. John C. Raaen.jpg	alt=Col. John C. Raaen	100px]]	Col. John C. Raaen	May 1, 1946 – September 2, 1947
32	[[File:Col. Harry N. Rising.jpg	alt=Col. Harry N. Rising	100px]]	Col. Harry N. Rising	September 4, 1947 – August 15, 1952
33	[[File:Col. Richard Z. Crane.jpg	alt=Col. Richard Z. Crane	100px]]	Col. Richard Z. Crane	September 1, 1952 – August 31, 1954
34	[[File:Col. Elmo S. Matthews.jpg	alt=Col. Elmo S. Matthews	100px]]	Col. Elmo S. Matthews	September 20, 1954 – June 30, 1958
35	[[File:Col. Walter M. Tisdale.jpg	alt=Col. Walter M. Tisdale	100px]]	Col. Walter M. Tisdale	August 13, 1958 – January 31, 1962
36	[[File:Col. Keith T. O'Keefe.jpg	100px]]	Col. Keith T. O'Keefe	February 1, 1962 – July 31, 1965
37	[[File:Col. Fred Kornet Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Fred Kornet, Jr.	100px]]	Col. Fred Kornet Jr.	August 1, 1965 – September 14, 1967
38	[[File:Col. Arthur H. Sweeny, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Arthur H. Sweeny, Jr.	100px]]	Col. Arthur H. Sweeny Jr.	November 1967 – August 19, 1968
39	[[File:Col. William Mulheron, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. William Mulheron, Jr.	100px]]	Col. William Mulheron Jr.	December 20, 1968 – June 30, 1971
40	[[File:Col. Christopher S. Maggio.jpg	alt=Col. Christopher S. Maggio	100px]]	Col. Christopher S. Maggio	July 15, 1971 – August 31, 1973
41	[[File:Col. Richard H. Sawyer.jpg	alt=Col. Richard H. Sawyer	100px]]	Col. Richard H. Sawyer	September 9, 1973 – July 24, 1975
42	[[File:Col. Malcolm V. Meekison.jpg	alt=Col. Malcolm V. Meekison	100px]]	Col. Malcolm V. Meekison	July 25, 1975 – August 29, 1976
43	[[File:Col. Church M. Matthews, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Church M. Matthew, Jr.	100px]]	Col. Church M. Matthews Jr.	September 21, 1976 – September 8, 1978
44	[[File:Col. Robert W. Pointer, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Robert W. Pointer	100px]]	Col. Robert W. Pointer Jr.	September 8, 1978 – July 14, 1980
45	[[File:Col. Gerald R. Wetzel.jpg	alt=Col. Gerald R. Wetzel	100px]]	Col. Gerald R. Wetzel	July 14, 1980 – July 19, 1983
46	[[File:Col. Edward V. Karl.jpg	alt=Col. Edward V. Karl	100px]]	Col. Edward V. Karl	July 19, 1983 – January 22, 1986
47	[[File:Col. Robert T. Walker.jpg	alt=Col. Robert T. Walker	100px]]	Col. Robert T. Walker	January 22, 1986 – July 14, 1988
48	[[File:Col. Joseph H. Mayton, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Joseph H. Mayton, Jr.	100px]]	Col. Joseph H. Mayton Jr.	July 14, 1988 – July 19, 1990
49	[[File:Col. Michael J. Neuman.jpg	alt=Col. Michael J. Neuman	100px]]	Col. Michael J. Neuman	July 19, 1990 – March 20, 1992
50	[[File:Col. Bernard P. Thomas.jpg	alt=Col. Bernard P. Thomas	100px]]	Col. Bernard P. Thomas	March 20, 1992 – March 31, 1994
51	[[File:Col. John R. Hostettler.jpg	alt=Col. John R. Hostettler	100px]]	Col. John R. Hostettler	March 31, 1994 – May 22, 1996
52	[[File:Col. John C. Rickman.jpg	alt=Col. John C. Rickman	100px]]	Col. John C. Rickman	May 22, 1996 – July 9, 1998
53	[[File:Col. Gene E. King.jpg	alt=Col. Gene E. King	100px]]	Col. Gene E. King	July 9, 1998 – July 11, 2000
54	[[File:Col. John R. Cook.jpg	alt=Col. John R. Cook	100px]]	Col. John R. Cook	July 11, 2000 – July 11, 2002
55	[[File:Col. Donald C. Olson.jpg	alt=Col. Donald C. Olson	100px]]	Col. Donald C. Olson	July 11, 2002 – July 29, 2005
56	[[File:Col. Kevin R. Moore.jpg	alt=Col Kevin R. Moore	100px]]	Col. Kevin R. Moore	July 29, 2005 – July 11, 2008
57	[[File:Col. Scott Fletcher.jpg	alt=Col. Scott Fletcher	100px]]	Col. Scott Fletcher	July 11, 2008 – July 9, 2010
58	[[File:Col. Mark F. Migaleddi.jpg	alt=Col. Mark F. Migaleddi	100px]]	Col. Mark F. Migaleddi	July 9, 2010 – July 18, 2013
59	[[File:Col. Lee H. Schiller, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Lee H. Schiller, Jr.	100px]]	Col. Lee H. Schiller Jr.	July 18, 2013 – July 28, 2016
60	[[File:Col. Joseph R. Morrow.jpg	alt=Col. Joseph R. Morrow	100px]]	Col. Joseph R. Morrow	July 28, 2016 – July 24, 2018
61	[[File:Col. Milton G. Kelly.jpg	alt=Col. Milton G. Kelly	100px]]	Col. Milton G. Kelly	August 21, 2018 – July 21, 2020
62	[[File:Col. Earl B,. Schonberg, Jr.jpg	alt=Col. Earl B. Schonberg, Jr.	100px]]	Col. Earl B. Schonberg Jr.	July 21, 2020 – July 22, 2022
63	[[File:Col. Alain G. Fisher.jpg	alt=Col. Alain G. Fisher	100px]]	Col. Alain G.Fisher	July 22, 2022 – July 25, 2024
64	[[File:Col. Jason W. Schultz, PhD.jpg	alt=Col. Jason W. Schultz, PhD	100px]]	Col. Jason W. Schultz, PhD	July 25, 2024 – Present

References

Richard Greenwood. (January 1976). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York NHL Watervliet Arsenal". National Archives and Records Administration.
(8 August 2014). "Plans dropped for revamped Watervliet Arsenal Museum". [[Albany Times Union]].
{{NRISref. 2007a
(7 June 2012). "Watervliet Arsenal: What just happened?".
"FINAL RCRA FACILITY INVESTIGATION REPORT MAIN MANUFACTURING AREA WATERVLIET ARSENAL, Watervliet, New York". US Army Corps of Engineers.
(1973). "Department of Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year 1974: Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, Ninety-third Congress, First Session, on H.R. 11575, an Act Making Appropriations for the Departartment of Defense for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1974, and for Other Purposes". U.S. Government Printing Office.
(March 17, 2023). "At a Steam-Age Arsenal, U.S. Army Forges Cannons for a Digital Era, War in Ukraine". The Wall Street Journal.
(2023-06-23). "Watervliet forging ahead with key modernization projects".
Simmons, Samantha. (2023-07-24). "Watervliet Arsenal to upgrade facilities following major investment".
Dager, Ashley. (2023-07-21). "Historic $1.7 billion investment to modernize Watervliet Arsenal, bolstering local economy and national defense".
Simmons, Samantha. (2023-07-24). "Watervliet Arsenal to upgrade facilities following major investment".

Info: Wikipedia Source

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