Heavy Ordnance for National Defence examines how the United States could arm itself with modern artillery.
It argues for a clear national plan, built on government guidance and private industry, to ensure a steady supply of high‑quality gun material.
This book presents a grounded look at the costs, plants, and policies needed to create reliable heavy guns for the Army and Navy. It draws on historical examples from other nations to show what works and what doesn’t, and it outlines concrete steps the government could take to encourage private steelmakers to participate.
- Understand the proposed structure of national gun factories and how they would operate alongside private steel firms.
- See cost estimates for plant construction, equipment like hydraulic presses, and the facilities required for forging, boring, and tempering gun components.
- Learn why an ongoing, permanent appropriation could guarantee material supply and prevent government‑private clashes.
- Discover the debates about foreign versus domestic sourcing and the lessons drawn from France, England, and Russia.
Ideal for readers of military history, defense policy, and industrial mobilization, who want to grasp how a nation plans to modernize its artillery.