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FM 9-25
WAR DEPARTMENT
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
THE ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
September3, 1942
FM 9-25
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
THE ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 1942
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, September 3, 1942.
FM 9-25, Ordnance Field Manual, The Ordnance Company,
Depot, is published for the information and guidance of all
Concerned. It is based on the fundamentals of ordnance
service contained in FM 9-5 and Table of Organization 9-18.
The purpose of this manual is to present a plan for the
operation of ordnance companies, depot, in the field. No
attempt has been made to present the complete solution for
all problems confronting the company commander. Refer-
ence must be made by the user of this manual to other
Publications which cover in more detail matters which are
common to other agencies of the Army. Appropriate refer-
ence has been made to these publications where necessary.
IMPORTANT
During time of peace, the operations of the depot company
are complicated due to various current strict property ac-
countability and responsibility regulations. In time of war,
strict property accountability normally ceases. Such action
usually reduces many of the records required by law for depot
company operations. This manual will serve as an exact
guide for peacetime operations. For wartime operations,
many of the steps enumerated will be disregarded; however,
the sequence of the steps will remain the same. In short,
this manual, as presented, is applicable to operations of the
depot company in time of peace; in time of war, it is equally
applicable by simply omitting certain steps and procedures no
longer required by the theater commander.
[A. G. 062.11 (7-6-42).)
By order of the Secretary of War:
G. C. MARSHALL,
Chief of Staff.
Official :
J. A. ULIO,
Major General,
The Adjutant General.
Distribution:
R and Bn 9 (10)-; C 9 (2) ; ordnance depot companies
(10).
(For explanation of symbols see FM 21-6.)
n
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
Chapter 1. Definitions 1 1
Chapter 2. General.
Section I. General 2-13 4
n. Assignments 14 16
III. Organization and equipment 15-16 17
IV. Operations 17-26 19
V. Duties of individuals 27-34 26
VI. Down time . 35-37 32
VII. Property accountability and respon-
sibility 38^44 33
VIII. Administrative procedures in posts,
camps, and stations 45-60 36
Chapter 3. Company headquarters.
Section I. Organization and equipment 61-62 55
II. Operations and duties 63-67 56
Chapter 4. Property office.
Section I. Organization and equipment 68-69 62
II. Operations and duties 70-78 62
HI. Administrative details 79-89 68
Chapter 5. Storehouse office.
Section I. Organization and equipment 90-91 85
II. Operations and duties 92 85
HI. Piles and records 93 87
Chapter 6. Storehouse platoon.
Section I. Organization and equipment 94-95 89
II. Operations and duties 96-97 89
Chapter 7. Service platoon.
Section I. Organization and equipment 98-99 93
II. Operations and duties 100-103 93
Chapter 8. Guard and labor platoon.
Section 1. Organization 104 97
n. Operations and duties 105-107 97
Chapter 9. Depot company operating subdepots. 108-118 100
Chapter 10. Property accountability and property
papers.
Section I. General 119-123 105
n. Origin of accountability (gains).. 124-125 107
III. Cessation of accountability
(losses) 126-127 114
IV. Property papers and their use 128-148 1 122
Chapter 11. Storage and preservation of ordnance
materiel.
Section I. General 149-153 152
II. Storage precautions 154 153
HI. Preservative materials 155-159 157
IV. Warehousing.... 160-172 162
V. Storage methods for open storage. 173-176 175
VI. Storage of motor vehicles 177-1-79 179
VII. Storage of weapons 180-182 189
m
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Paragraphs Page
Chapter 12. Preparation of gasoline powered tank's
for oversea or domestic shipment,
and for storage.
Section I. General 183-186 193
n. Preparation at port of embarkation
or proving ground for oversea
shipment or extended periods of
storage 187-191 194
III. Procedure at the manufacturing
plant or tank arsenal for do-
mestic shipment 192-194 205
IV. Preparation of installed tank .en-
gines for extended periods of
shipment or storage, and for alii
oversea shipments 195-200 209
Appendix I. List of references 1 216
II. Suggestions for arranging depot stock 219
Index J 226
IV
FM 9-25
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
THE ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
CHAPTER 1
DEFINITIONS
■ 1. Definitions. — a. Accountability. — See AR 35-6520.
b. Audit. — An audit is an official examination and authenti-
cation of accounts, with vouchers, etc. The general purpose
of an audit is to determine whether —
(1) Regulations governing property accountability have
been observed.
(2) The stock record account reflects a true accounting of
all property. (See AR 35-6740.)
c. Combat zone. — A combat zone comprises that part of a
theater of operations required for the active operations of the
combatant forces. It is divided into army, corps, and division
areas, each comprising the zone of operations of the unit to
which it pertains. (See FM 100-5.)
d. Communications zone. — A communications zone is that
part of a theater of operations, contiguous to the combat zone,
which contains the lines of communication, establishments
for supply and evacuation, and other agencies required for
the immediate support and maintenance of the field forces in
the theater of operations. (See FM 100-5.)
e. Contact party. — A contact party is a detachment of ord-
nance soldiers sent from an ordnance organization or field
shop to units requiring ordnance assistance. Such a party
may consist of as many men and as much equipment as is
considered necessary for the mission.
/. Depot. — A depot is an establishment for the receipt,
classification, storage, and issue of supplies.
g. Down time. — In a depot, down time is that period of
time elapsing between the receipt of a request for supplies and
the actual delivery of the Supplies into the hands of the
troops making the request.
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ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
h, Dues-in. — Dues-in represents supplies which have been
requisitioned but not yet received.
i. Dues-out. — Dues-out represents supplies for which a.
requisition has been received but not yet filled.
j. Hold file. — A hold file is a file of correspondence upon
which action must be temporarily withheld.
k. OFM forms. — Forms listed in the 9 series of Field
Manuals are designated "OFM Forms" (Ordnance Field
Manual) and a number which may range from 101 to 499.
The numbers are assigned by blocks as follows:
Classification of forms Number series
Maintenance and repairs 1O0
Inspection 200
Ammunition field supply 300
General ordnance supply 400
I. Policy book. — A policy book is a notebook or folder in
Which the following are recorded for the future reference of
interested personnel:
(1) The policies of the officer in charge of the echelon to
which the book pertains, on problems the solutions to which
are discretionary with such officers.
(2) The procedures adopted for handling matters not
covered by authorized publications.
Such a book is useful in maintaining a continuity of policy.
m. Railhead. — A railhead is a supply point where supplies
are transferred from rail to another type of transportation,
generally motorized trains.
n. Responsibility. — Responsibility is the state of being liable
which devolves upon any person having public property in
his physical possession.
o. Stock record account. — A stock record account is a uni-
form, complete, and accurate record, showing quantities of
property on hand, received, and issued. It is kept on W. D.,
Q. M. C. Form No. 423 (Stock Record Card) , or an authorized
modification, by all officers having accountability for property.
p. Tally-in. — A tally-in is a list of the items received in a
shipment, compiled from packing lists, invoices, and inventory
by the personnel receiving*the j shipment, for later comparison
with the corresponding shipping ticket.
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ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
1
q. Tally-out. — A tally-out is a list of the items being in-
cluded in a shipment, compiled by the personnel making up
the shipment, for later use in making out the corresponding
shipping ticket. If the shipment is delivered directly to the
consignee at the depot, the tally-out, signed by the consignee,
acts as a temporary receipt, pending the return of the signed
shipping ticket.
r. Theater of operations. — A theater of operations is an
area of the theater of war necessary for military operations
and the administration and supply incident to military opera-
tions. The War Department designates one or more theaters
of operations.
s. Voucher. — Any instrument which authorizes an account-
able officer to pick up or drop property from his stock record
account is a voucher. Each entry made in the stock record
account must be supported by a valid voucher.
t. Zone of the interior. — The zone of the interior comprises
the area of the national territory exclusive of areas included
in the theaters of operations.
3
CHAPTER 2
GENERAL
Paragraphs
Section I. General 2-13
II. Assignments . 14
III. Organization and equipment 15-16
IV. Operations 17-26
V. Duties of individuals 27-34
VI. Down time "- 35-37
VII. Property accountability and responsibility 38-44
VIII. Administrative procedures in posts, camps, and
stations 45-69
Section I
GENERAL
■ 2. Mission. — The mission of the ordnance depot com-
pany is to organize and operate ordnance general supply
depots- or, when necessary, the ordnance section of general
supply depots.
■ 3. Classification of Depots. — Depots are classified as
follows :
a. General. — Those affording accommodations for the oper-
ation of two or more supply arms or services.
b. Branch. — Those pertaining to a single supply arm or
service.
c. Communications zone. — General or branch depots of the
communications 'zone. They may be base, intermediate, or
advance depots, depending upon their location in the com-
munications zone.
d. Army. — Army depots are branch depots located in the
combat zone under the jurisdiction of the army commander.
e. Corps. — When a corps is operating independently and is
charged with primary responsibility for its supply, it will
usually be necessary to establish branch depots similar to
army depots. These are designated corps depots.
■ 4. Communications Zone General Depots a. General. —
General depots are organized into sections corresponding to
4
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
4-5
the several supply services represented; for example, quarter-
master section, communications zone general depot No. 3.
The depot commander is designated by the commander of
the communications zone and operates directly under him.
The commander of a general depot coordinates the activities
of the several sections in such matters as the assignment of
storage space, use of the common labor pool and utilities,
and transportation, while leaving to section commanders the
internal management of their respective sections. The num-
ber, location, and character of communications zone depots
are fixed by the communications zone commander in accord-
ance with instructions and policies of the theater commander.
b. Stock levels. — The level of stocks to be maintained in
these depots is determined by the theater commander.
■ 5. Army Ordnance Depots. — The army ordnance depot is
a supply point established by the army ordnance officer for
ordnance general supplies. It is operated by the depot
companies under the direct control of the army ordnance
officer, who is responsible to the army commander for the
ordnance service of the army as a whole. The nature and
quantity of the supplies to be stored require that a certain
amount of covered storage be employed, and warehouse facil-
ities must be provided to enable the depot to make prompt
issues of supplies. Construction in the theater of operations
is the responsibility of the corps of engineers. Open storage
will be required for the various types of vehicles and artillery.
a. Stock levels. — The level of stocks to be maintained in
the army depot is determined by the army commander within
the credits made available to the army by the theater com-
mander.
b. Location. — The following conditions should be fulfilled
so far as possible in the location of an army ordnance depot:
(1) It must be on the best all-weather road net available,
with access to all units to be served.
(2) It should be on or near a standard gage railroad with .
adequate siding facilities.
(3) It should be protected by location, dispersion, and
camouflage from the hazards of enemy artillery or aerial
bombardment, and terrestrial or aerial raids.
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ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(4) Existing buildings should be used after being camou-
flaged to conceal depot characteristics from aerial observa-
tion. ' .
(5) It should be within easy hauling distance of a naviga-
ble body of water and an airfield when supplies are being, or
might be, received by water or air.
(6) It should have adequate water facilities for fighting '
fires.
(7) The ground should be fairly level, firm, and well
drained.
c. Function. — The function of an ordnance general supply
depot in the army service area is to stock those ordnance
items (less ammunition) needed to maintain the combat effi-
ciency of all troops in the army area. The army maintains
in its depots only such' stockages as the military situation
demands be kept nearer the front than the depots of the
communications zone. The decision as to the kinds and
quantities of supplies to be maintained is a responsibility of
command. Accumulations of excessive amounts of supplies
in the combat zone should be avoided. The fullest use must
be made of serviceable ordnance materiel recovered by the
quartermaster salvage service. For further details concern-
ing salvage operations see paragraphs 486 to 490, FM
100-10.
d. Movement. — When the army advances or withdraws, and
the ordnance depot must be moved to a new location; advance
arrangements for additional labor and transportation may
have to be made. It is therefore necessary that the depot
commander know at all times the status of the stocks in the
depot, and the transportation and labor required to move the
depot. Requests for additional transportation and labor are
made to the army ordnance officer by the depot commander.
e. Subdepots. — (1) Often it will be desirable to establish a
subdepot. Usually this will be in the nature of a forward
echelon during an advance; and of a rear echelon during a
withdrawal. (See par. 13.) '*
(2) Occasionally it may prove desirable to establish a sub-
depot laterally. Such an occasion would arise when the com-
munications between a portion of the army and the parent
depot are very vulnerable. For example, if the army zone is
6
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
5
cut into two sectors by a very wide river which is spanned by
only one bridge, a subdepot should be established across the
river from the parent depot. (See ch. 9.)
/. Mobile depots. — In a rapidly moving situation the army
depot, with the approval of the theater commander, may
retain its reserve of supplies loaded either on trucks or on
railroad cars. Usually the amount of transportation avail-
able determines the extent to which a depot can be made
mobile.
g. Defense of a depot. — The depot commander must pre-
pare plans for the defense of the depot against attack by
combat vehicles, ground troops, parachutists, and chemical
agents. A suitable outpost system should be established
which will give adequate warning of the approach of the
enemy. Pull use should be made of all available ordnance
materiel suitable for the defense of the depot. Weapons
should be emplaced to cover effectively the possible ap-
proaches to the depot. Where necessary, fields of fire should
be prepared. Positions should be prepared which provide
protection from enemy fire and observation. Depot personnel
must be trained to operate the available weapons. Each man
in the depot must have a specific assignment in the defense
plan. Ammunition for the available weapons must be kept
in the immediate vicinity of the firing position. Depot per-
sonnel will keep their weapons on or near them while per-
forming their normal duties and be prepared to take imme-
diately their assigned defense posts when the alarm is given.
The depot commander should be thoroughly familiar with
the technique of defensive combat as outlined in chapter 3,
part 2, FM 7-5.
h. Destruction of a depot. — In case of a sudden withdrawal,
it may be necessary to destroy the depot and its stock to keep
it from falling into the hands of the enemy. Depot personnel
should smash important parts of major items, and do every-
thing possible to render unit assemblies useless. The depot
should then be set afire. The use of available inflammable
materials will help produce sufficient heat te render useless
large amounts of metal parts. Any available demolition
material may also be used advantageously. Although the
orders for the destruction of the depot should come from the
7
5-6
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
army ordnance officer, the depot commander may have to
make this decision himself in an emergency. In making this
decision, the depot commander should consider whether or
not the enemy will be able to exploit the depot stocks. For
example, an enemy force might appear in the vicinity of
the depot on a raid, or during a partial break-through which
our reserves can overcome. In either of these cases, the
enemy himself would seek to destroy our stores before with-
drawing. On the other hand, when circumstances indicate
that the enemy will retain possession of the vicinity indefi-
nitely, the depot commander must destroy stocks.
i. Dispersion and camouflage (see par. 176). — The prin-
ciples of dispersion and camouflage must be observed, both
in mobile and immobile depots, in order to avoid aerial de-
tection and to minimize property damage from resulting
attacks.
■ 6. Depot Operation. — a. Stockage. — Supplies for stockage
of the army ordnance depot are shipped into the army service
area from ordnance depots in the communications zone or
the zone of the interior, usually by rail. The ordnance depot
commander is notified in advance of the time and place of
arrival of these supplies. It is then his duty to arrange for
the transportation of these supplies from the railhead to the
depot and for their disposition in the depot. So far as pos-
sible, he carries out this work with the personnel and equip-
ment of his unit. In the case of large shipments requiring
additional labor and transportation, he should make timely
application for such labor and transportation to the army
ordnance officer.
b. Issues. — Normally, the issue of supplies by the depot is
made in one of two ways:
(1) On requisitions according to policies established by
the army ordnance officer.
(2) On calls against credits established by the army com-
mander and transmitted to the depot by the army ordnance
officer.
c. Delivery to troops. — The ordnance depot company is not
charged with the transportation or the delivery of supplies
from the depot to the troop units. Normally, the ordnance
8
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
6-7
depot is the supply point where trains of divisions or other
units are sent to receive ordnance general supplies. When it
is necessary to place the supplies within practicable hauling
distance of the troops for whom they are intended, depots
will arrange with the railway service to make deliveries at
class I railheads. At times, in order to facilitate supply by
shortening the length of hauls, the army may establish and
operate one or more subdepots under the parent depot. In
such cases the parent depot may establish, stock and main-
tain these subdepots, providing the necessary detachment
therefor, or the subdepot may be stocked directly from the
communications zone.
d. Requisitions. — Requests for supplies for troops engaged
in active operations are honored regardless of the form in
which submitted. Unit commanders are fully responsible for
the contents of their requisitions.
e. Records. — In the combat zone, formal accounting for
supplies is not required. However, it is essential that the
depot keep a running record of issues and of balances on
hand of critical items, such as major items, important unit
assemblies, etc. The depot commander should keep the army
ordnance officer informed as to the status of such items.
Receipts will be taken for all supplies issued.
■ 7. Depot Operation on 24-Hour Basis. — In the combat zone
the army ordnance depot must be prepared to make receipts
and issues at all hours of the day and night. The considera-
tions which must be borne in mind by the depot commander
when organizing his unit for 24-hour operation are listed
below.
a. Time of day or night during which the greatest load
is usually experienced.
b. Amount of clerical work which must necessarily be ac-
complished on the night relief as compared to that which can
be accomplished by the day relief.
c. Degree of simplification of administrative procedures
possible in offices and sections due to operation in the combat
zone.
9
7-8
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
d. Arrangements for the expeditious handling of heavy and
unexpected loads. (This may require the employment of
certain personnel of a relief not on duty.)
e. Relative strength of the various reliefs, that is, whether
the relief operating during the night or early morning hours
will be of the same or different strengths as those operating
during the daytime.
/. Number of reliefs to be used, that is, whether it will be
better to form two or three reliefs from the personnel avail-
able.
g. Amount of time overlap required between the various
reliefs to insure continuity of operations.
h. Arrangements which must be made for the rationing
of the 1 reliefs including requirements for an increase in the
number of cooks.
i. Assignment of key or specially trained personnel to
reliefs to insure the most efficient operation.
j. Training of duplicate personnel to fill key positions.
k. Assignment of officers necessary to insure efficient com-
pany administration, and depot operation.
I. Arrangements for alternating personnel from one relief
to another, that is from a day relief to a night relief, as an
equitable distribution of day and night duty.
m. Provision of facilities for the daytime rest of personnel
on the night relief.
n. Maintenance of adequate security provisions during
both day and night operation.
■ 8. Flow of Requests for Ordnance Supplies (fig. 1). — o.
Troop units. — Troop units request supplies from the contact
parties serving them, or directly (by requisition) from the
proper ordnance officer, division, corps, or army, as the case
may be. The proper ordnance officer will effect the necessary
supply in one of the following ways:
(1) Issues from stock under his control..
(2) Requisition on the next higher echelon.
(3) In conformity with any special instructions on the sub-
ject issued by the army commander.
b. Channels for requisitions.— The channel through which-
requisitions for ordnance supplies flow from lower echelons
10
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
8
If
Communications
Zone
Installations
Communications
Zone
Army Ord Off
Ord Bn (M. & S)
Depot Co (2)
MM Co (1)
(2)
Corps Ord Off
Ord Bn
(3)
Army
Service
Area
Corps
Service
Area
Combat
Zone
Division
Ordnance
Office
Division
Contact
Party
Division
Area
Troops
Figure 1. — Plow of requests for ordnance supplies.
Note. — Supply may be effected from any point along the route of
the requests. As a study of the diagram will indicate, there are
a number of ways in which supplies for any one unit may be
requested. The entire sjstem is very flexible.
11
8-9
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
to the army depot is determined to a great extent by the chain
of command between the initiating organization and the
depot. Units of the arms and services requiring supplies
will submit their requisitions to the immediate headquarters
having an ordnance officer on its staff for appropriate action
by that officer and transmission to the army depot.. Unless
it is specifically directed otherwise by the army ordnance
officer, all requisitions on the army maintenance and supply
battalion will be transmitted to the army depot for appro-
priate action by that agency. In all cases wherein the quan-
tities and types of items requested are such that the echelon
of ordnance service receiving the requisition can fill the
requisition, such supply will usually be effected and the
requisition will not be transmitted to a higher echelon. When
only partial supply of items requested can be effected, an
extract requisition should be forwarded to the army depot.
In such cases, delivery of supplies may be effected in the
manner considered most suitable, that is, through ordnance
service channels, or direct to the troops through class I
railheads or truckheads, or by other means. (For addressing
requisitions, see par. 45a.)
c. Ordnance contact parties. — Normally, the supply of
the contact parties of the various echelons is effected by the
proper ordnance officer. However, circumstances will often
make it advisable that they supply one another, as far as
possible, with any spare parts urgently needed. In general,
the field supply of ordnance items is very flexible and re-
quires the cooperation of all ordnance personnel.
d. Army service area. — Ordnance supplies are moved into
the combat zone as the result of requisitions placed by the
army ordnance officer against credits in communications
zone supply installations. The supplies may be stocked in
the army ordnance depot or may be routed directly to the
using unit.
■ 9. Local Procurement of Supplies: — Although the bulk of
supplies required in the theater of operations is obtained
from, the zone of the interior, as many of the supplies as
practicable, under War Department policy, should be pro-
cured from local resources. The principles of mobility and
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ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
9-11
simplicity of supply are best realized when minimum trans-
portation facilities are required in delivering supplies to the
theater of operations.
■ 10. Transportation. — a. Within communications zone. —
Transportation of ordnance supplies within the communica-
tions zone is arranged by the ordnance officer, communica-
tions zone, with the various transportation agencies on
the staff of the communications zone commander.
b. Between communications zone and combat zone. — The
ordnance officer at the regulating station arranges with the
regulating officer for all rail transportation of ordnance
supplies between the communications zone and the combat
zone. In case motor or water transportation is employed,
the ordnance officer at the corresponding regulating station
makes the necessary arrangements.
c. Within combat zone. — Transportation requirements in
the combat zone may be considered from four angles:
(1) Establishment of advance army depots, or truckheads
in order to furnish closer support to its divisions. — In this
case the army may move its supplies forward from its de-
pots and railheads by its own motor transport, or may ar-
range with the regulating officer to forward shipments di-
rect from the communications zone to advance locatiojis.
(2) Flow of daily requirements for ordnance stores to the
troops from ordnance maintenance echelons. — In this case
stores are delivered to the troops by contact parties of the
ordnance maintenance echelons.
(3) Flow of large shipments of ordnance stores to the
troops from the army maintenance and supply battalion or
direct from the communications zone. — This case may be
handled as in (1) above. The army ordnance officer will
complete all arrangements for transportation through the
army G-4.
(4) Transportation of ordnance stores to the troops dur-
ing emergencies. — In this case transportation requirements
may be met by the dispatch of organic transportation of com-
bat elements to ordnance supply points.
■ 11. Planning — a. General. — Depot company command-
ers must plan continually to meet a wide variety of con-
475461 °—42 2 13
11-12
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
tingencies. They must constantly study their personnel with
a view to strengthening the organization where it may be
weak, or where losses affecting the efficiency of the com-
pany may be expected to occur. They must be alert for new
noncommissioned officer material and observe the conduct
and efficiency of all noncommissioned officers currently hold-
ing the various grades.
b. Planning for supply. — (1) The planning required to meet
the future ordnance requirements of the organizations
served is a continuing process. Such planning merits the
thoughtful attention of all personnel in the supply system.
(2) Depot commanders must make it their business to
secure information concerning the exact types and models
of equipment in the hands of the combat units in the army.
Whenever automotive equipment is involved, this informa-
tion should extend to the make and model number of all
important components of ordnance vehicles, such as the
motors, motor accessories, gages, etc. Whenever new units
are assigned or attached to the army, the depot commander
should promptly take appropriate action to stock the items
required by the new units.
(3) The types of operations in which the combat units are
engaged will materially affect the demands of the units upon
the supply agencies. Depot commanders must try at all
times to anticipate sudden and abnormal demands. The
requirements of supply will vary continually, and the problem
of maintaining stock levels has many complexities. The
maintenance of simple, clear, and complete supply records is
necessary to efficient planning.
■ 12. Depot Personnel. — a. Training. — There is an urgent
necessity for the rotation of all men in all jobs as fast as
they become proficient. This may tend to yield a lower or
mediopre level of efficiency during the initial training _ period,
but is essential to continuity of operations in the field.
b. Responsbilities. — As far as practicable, the responsibility
for a duty should be placed squarely upon the individual
required to perform that duty. The individual should not
be unduly interfered with, but should be required and ex-
14
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
12-13
pected to solve his own problems and perform the tasks
connected with his duty.
c. Instructions to personnel. — Except in emergencies re-
quiring prompt action, instructions should not be given direct
to depot personnel by persons other than these directly in
charge of the personnel concerned. In every case where
instructions are so given, the responsible chief should be
promptly notified.
■ 13. Movement of Ordnance Depots. — a. General. — Depot
commanders must be constantly alert to the possibility of
the movement of the depot to a new location. The army
ordnance officer and the depot commander should keep
abreast of the tactical situation and thus foresee the direction
and extent of any movement of the depot in an advance or
withdrawal. Map reconnaissance followed by personal re-
connaissance should be made before any movement. (The
depot commander makes his recommendations for the new
site to G-4 through the army ordnance officer.) Movements
must be planned and carried out in such a manner that the
requirements for supply of the combat troops, or of the
maintenance echelons, will be satisfied. The ideal condition
for the satisfaction of these requirements obtains when the
depot is organized as a number of subdepots dispersed lat-
erally and in depth throughout the army service area. Under
such conditions, the displacement of any of the subdepots
may easily be accomplished without disrupting the continuity
of supply by merely routing troops requiring resupply to one
of the subdepots not being moved. When two depot com-
panies are operating with the army, an equal division of
stocks between the companies will facilitate the movement of
depots. > '
b. Plans. — Detailed plans should be prepared prior to the
movement of a depot. Such plans should include considera-
tion of the following factors: •
(1) The status of stocks now in the hands of combat
troops and ordnance maintenance echelons. All concerned
may be notified to replenish their stocks prior to a date
preceding the; -move. -
15
13-14
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(2) A division of stocks in such manner that a depot con-
taining some of all types of items carried may be opened in
the new location at the time the depot is closed in the old
location.
(3) Plans for the requirements of trucks or railroad
cars, the labor required, the time required for the movement,
and the time the new depot will be open. (Timely requisition
for transportation and labor must be made to G-4 through
the army ordnance officer.)
(4) Plans for the progressive establishment of the new
depot by exhausting stocks at the old location and ordering
all shipments of additional stocks to the new location.
(5) Notification of the interested units of the time of clos-
ing of the old and the opening of the new depot.
(6) The provision of proper dunnage, tarpaulins, and
maneuvering equipment at the new depot site.
Section II
ASSIGNMENTS
■ 14. Assignments of Depot Company. — a. General. — Depot
companies are normally assigned as follows: Two per ord-
nance maintenance and supply battalion of the army; to
the air force as required; and in the case of the communica-
tions zone, one company is assigned for every 216,000 men in
the area served.
b. In the army. — In the army, the depot company is part
of the ordnance battalion, maintenance and supply. The bat-
talion is composed of a headquarters and headquarters de-
tachment, two heavy maintenance companies, one medium
maintenance company, two depot companies, and attached
medical. The total ordnance service in the army consists
of one maintenance and supply battalion and two ammuni-
tion battalions (six ammunition companies each) and is
under the command of the army ordnance officer.
c. In the air force. — In the air force, the depot company
establishes and operates the ordnance general supply depot
from which the air base and medium maintenance companies
draw supplies. The number of depot companies assigned to
16
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
14-16
the air force will depend on the strength and location of the
air force units involved.
Section III
ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT
■ 15. Organization. — a. Requirement. — The organization of
the depot company has been planned so as to utilize its
personnel efficiently in establishing and operating commu-
nications zone, air force, or army ordnance general supply
depots on a 24-hour basis. It has an organizational flexibil-
ity which permits it to handle the various supply problems
in a field army, an air force, or in theater reserve. (See
T/O 9-57, and fig. 2.)
b. Military organization. — The military organization is sim-
ilar to that of an infantry company. The company head-
quarters, providing the military administration of the unit,
is similar to that prescribed for the headquarters of an in-
fantry company. The number of men engaged in military
administration will be kept to the minimum.
c. Technical organisation. — The technical organization em-
bodies two parts: the property records section (property of-
fice) , and the warehousing section (storehouse office) . All
the problems of property administration are handled by the
former section, while the latter section takes care of the
receipt, storage, maintenance, and issuance of materials.
d. Flexibility. — The internal organization of the depot com-
pany as outlined in this manual and as prescribed in T/O 9-57,
is not to be considered as a rigid requirement which must be
adhered to under all circumstances. The company com-
mander should regard it as a guide and make such changes
in the strengths of sections, assignments of duties, and dis-
position of grades and ratings as he sees fit to meet the needs
of the situation.
M 16. Equipment. — From Table of Basic Allowances No. 9,
Ordnance Department, a complete list of all of the equipment
of the company may be determined. A detailed list of general
tools and supplies normally issued to a depot company will
be found in Standard Nomenclature List N-ll.
17
16
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
18
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT -
17-18
Section IV
OPERATIONS
■ 17. General. — The operation of the depot company will
vary somewhat, depending upon whether the company is
operating a single large depot or several smaller subdepots.
In general, however, operation in either case will follow the
same principles. All operations may be roughly classified in
two categories, that is, those which are technical in nature,
and those which are military in nature. In the discussions
which follow, no effort has been made to establish a clear-cut
division between these two categories.
■ 18. Training. — In addition to the usual training of per-
sonnel in matters pertaining to depot operation and the basic
military training necessary to weld the company into an
efficient military organization, certain other subjects should
be stressed.
a. Officers. — Company officers should receive as much train-
ing as possible in all military subjects which will increase
their effectiveness and efficiency in the combat zone, and in
their relations with the combat branches. Such training
should cover the matters outlined below. More detailed in-
formation on these subjects will be found in FM 21-45.
(1) A complete knowledge of the entire ordnance service
picture in the combat zone, including specific knowledge of
all ordnance service organizations in the army area, together
with a knowledge of their capabilities and functions.
(2) The art of small maneuvers and a' knowledge of the
ground in their vicinity. Whenever the organization moves
to a new location, officers should make every effort to gain
for themselves a thorough knowledge of the ground in all
directions for a distance of 50 miles or more according to^the
nature of the country. Particular attention should be paid
to difficult places, alternate routes, etc.
(3) Steps necessary for unit defense, antiaircraft and
ground.
(4) Map and compass reading.
(5) Motor movements by night using only odometer read-
ings and a compass (without reliance on sign posts) .
19
18
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(6) A personal knowledge of all hand arms, machine guns,
and antitank weapons.
(7) Ability to make a logical and concise estimate of the
situation and to write logical and concise orders.
(8) A knowledge of military and staff terms.
(9) A thorough knowledge of first aid.
(10) A knowledge of vehicle and driver discipline, and the
habit of observing the country on both sides of the road in
order that immediate cover can be taken against aircraft
attack. (On the appearance of enemy aircraft, drivers must
not park their vehicles in the road and run for cover.
Burning or otherwise disabled vehicles will block the road.)
(11) The ability to render approximate returns promptly
when the rendition of more accurate returns will result in
delay that will render them useless.
(12) The fact that an officer should always consider his
vehicles and equipment first, men next, self last.
(13) The interior administration of units, in order that
every officer may operate a small unit when it is not being
administered by a parent echelon.
(14) The fact that it is better to use initiative and act, even
if wrong, than to do nothing.
(15) The need for close liaison with aid stations and
salvage organizations.
(16) Familiarity with the various divisional axes of supply
in use, and the alternate axis which may be used in the
future. They should also be familiar with the conditions
under which switches to the alternate axis would be effected.
(17) A complete knowledge of measures necessary to safe-
guard military information and protect against carelessness.
(See FM 21-45 and FM 30-25.)
b. Enlisted men. — Enlisted men should receive training in
all of the matters mentioned above which are particularly
applicable to them in the performance of their duties. In
addition, the storehouse personnel should be trained to recog-
nize ordnance material on sight, not only to expedite handling
items, but also to insure identification of materials which
have become scattered by enemy fire.
20
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
19-20
■ 19. General Depot Policies. — All persons having business
to transact will go first to the property office. Depot person-
nel will not deal directly with such persons, but will direct
them through the proper channels. If it is necessary for
persons requesting material to consult with particular store-
house personnel, they will be directed by the property office
personnel to the storehouse office, where the storehouse
superintendent will determine their needs.
■ 20. General Policies of Office Operation. — a. Office
rules. — The following office rules, if observed, will assist in
attaining efficient office operation:
(1) Keep desk clean and as neat as possible.
(2) Do not engage in unnecessary conversation; other
members who are trying to do their jobs will be disturbed.
(3) Be cheerful, alert, and cooperative.
(4) Take care of the equipment in your charge.
(5) Perform all tasks neatly and accurately.
• (6) Endeavor to complete all the work on desk before
leaving at the close of the day.
(7) Familiarize yourself with office procedure, and learn
as much as possible about the tasks performed by other
members of the section.
b. Routing correspondence. — One of the greatest difficul-
ties involved in the operation of large offices lies in the prob-
lem of keeping the great volume of papers flowing through
the proper channels with a minimum of waste or dead time
and a minimum of lost or misplaced papers. It is important,
therefore, that the number of. hands or baskets to which a
paper is routed be kept to a minimum. It is also important
that each person required to act on a paper do so promptly
and exercise great care that the paper is properly routed to
the next office or desk. The proper use of the routing slip
(see par. 85) will greatly assist in the solution of this prob-
lem. It is also important that supervisory personnel take
such steps as may be necessary to insure that papers routed
through their section are not unduly delayed. Whenever pos-
sible, it should be mandatory that all baskets be cleared as
fast as possible.
21
21-22
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
■ 21. Continuity of Operation. — All personnel, officer or
enlisted, should endeavor to insure continuity of policy and
work by keeping the next person in the chain of command
or supervision informed of the current status of work or of
any changes of policy affecting the echelon in question. An
excellent method of crystallizing procedures and of insuring
such continuity of policy is the policy book (see par. 23) . All
supervisory personnel should familiarize themselves with the
capabilities and limitations of the personnel under their super-
vision. Substitutes should be trained for each job in the
company, and jobs rotated from time to time, to insure con-
tinuity of operation in the event that losses are experienced.
■ 22. General Outline of Operations. — A brief outline of
the issuing and receiving operations, and a summary of the
operations performed by the various sections of the depot
company are given below.
a. Receipts. — The shipping ticket section of the property
office records the incoming shipping ticket in the voucher
register and assigns it a voucher number (pars. 80 and 140) .
The shipping ticket is forwarded to the storehouse office
where the pertinent tally-in is prepared (pars. 81 and 141).
The tally-in is turned over to the receiving section of the^
service platoon. This platoon unloads the shipment and
checks the material against the tally-in (pars. 81 and 141).
The service platoon turns the material over to the store-
house group chief who stores it (pars. 96 and 131). The
tally-in is returned to the storehouse office where it is
checked against the triplicate copy of the tally-in and cor-
rections are made if necessary. The items are posted to
the locator card of the storehouse office from the tally-in.
The duplicate shipping ticket and tally-in are sent to the
shipping ticket section of the property office where the tally-in
is checked against the original shipping ticket, and if there
is a discrepancy, an over, short, and damaged report is
prepared. The original shipping ticket is prepared for the
signature of the property officer. The stock record section
posts the items to the stock record cards upon receipt of
the shipping tickets (pars. 80 and 131). The original ship-
ping ticket is signed by the property officer and forwarded
22
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
22
to the consignor (par. 80). The duplicate .copy of the
shipping ticket is filed (par. 80).
b. Issues. — The requisition from an organization Is recorded
in the requisition register of the property office (pars. 82
and 130) and forwarded to the storehouse office. The store-
house office prepares -the pertinent' tally-out (pars. 82 and
142) and marks the locations of items thereon from the lo-
cator card file (par. 146). The tally-out is turned over to
the storehouse group chief who assembles and tags the items
(pars. 82, 96, and 97). He turns the assembled material over
to the shipping section of the service platoon for shipment
(par. 102). The tally-out is returned to the storehouse
office. Here the locator cards are posted from the checked
tally-out (par. 82). It is then forwarded to the shipping
ticket section of the property office where the shipping ticket
is prepared from the tally-out (pars. 82, 83, and 136) and
recorded in the voucher register (par. 140) . The stock record
section posts the stock record cards from the shipping ticket
(par. 83) . The shipping ticket Is forwarded to the consignee
for his signature (par. 83) .
c. Company headquarters. — Performs all operations con-
nected with the military administration of the company.
This Includes the preparation of personnel records, mess
management, supervision of transportation, supply of organ-
izational equipment, preparation of training programs and
schedules.
d. Property office. — Performs all operations necessary to
maintain the property records and files of the depot. These
operations include preparation of requisitions and shipping
tickets, maintenance of the stock record cards, preparation
of depot reports and correspondence, and Inventory of depot
property.
e. Storehouse office. — Acts as the coordinating agency be-
tween the property office and the storehouse. This office
supervises the receiving, storing, maintaining, and issuing
of ordnance materiel. It will prepare and maintain location
charts, make periodic Inspections of Items stored In ware-
houses, prepare tally-ln's and tally-out's, and maintain the
locator card file.
23
22-24
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
/. Storehouse platoon. — This platoon prepares, organizes,
and operates the storage areas and storehouses in accordance
with the storage plan of the property office. Other operations
include the storage of material received, maintenance of items
in storage, preparation of items for issue and storage, assem-
bling items for issue, and preparation of signs for stacks,
bins, and storage areas.
fir. Service platoon. — This platoon performs the operations
connected with the receiving, checking, packing, crating, and
issuing of depot property. It also transports materials within
the depot.
h. Guard and labor platoon. — This platoon furnishes the
necessary guard for the protection of the depot and assists the
other sections whenever extra laborers are needed. It also
unloads and loads shipments.
■ 23. Policy Book. — a. Description. — A policy book is a note-
book, or folder, in which is recorded for the future reference
of interested personnel —
(1) Policies of the officer in charge of the echelon to which
the book pertains, on problems the solutions of which are
discretionary with such officer.
(2) Procedures adopted for handling matters not covered
by authorized publications.
b. Uses. — (1) The policy book serves as a set of "com-
pany standing orders" for the guidance and information of
subordinate and of successors in command.
(2) Well-kept policy books will provide the Chief of Ord-
nance with valuable information concerning the operations
they govern.
c. Posting. — The subjects covered should be arranged
within the framework of a simple outline under such head-
ings as "Leaves of absence," "Promotions," etc. Each enun-
ciation or change of policy should be fully identified, as for
example, "Co. order No. — , date," "Depot order No. — , date,"
or "VOCO, date." Indexing must be kept up to date. A
loose leaf notebook is ideal for use as a policy book.
■ 24. Checking Shipments. — a. Procedure. — Checking, as
applied to storehouses, is the process of comparing the quan-
24
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
.24
tity and quality of supplies as shown on a statement, such as
an invoice, shipping ticket, packing list, etc., with the sup-
plies involved. After supplies are received and stored, the
identity of each -individual shipment is lost. It is, essential,
therefore, that the checking of such shipment be done im-
mediately upon receipt and before storing. In the case of
an outgoing shipment, the reverse is true. Checking of such
a shipment is accomplished at the last possible moment be-
fore the supplies are crated for delivery to the carrier. The
check of an outgoing shipment made too far in advance
of the time such shipment leaves the warehouse loses much
of its value because of the possibility of changes in the qual-
ity or quantity of such supplies subsequent to the time of
the check. An invoice specifies a certain quantity or qual-
ity of an item, and the goods when received are checked
against the invoice. The time and place of occurrence of
loss or damage are readily fixed by efficient checking. If,
however, a considerable delay is allowed to occur before the
shipment is checked, and if. at the time of this check some
of the articles are noted to be in a damaged condition, it is
difficult to fix definitely the time and manner of occurrence
of such damage and the responsibility therefor.
b. Triple check. — To be of value a check must be accurate.
In order to assure such accuracy, it is often necessary to
make a double or even a triple check of the supplies. The
triple check serves a definite purpose:
(1) Check at the railroad car or auto truck to insure that
the carrier is delivering according to the bill of lading or
invoice.
(2) Check upon arrival at warehouse (not necessary if
material is unloaded from truck or car directly into ware-
house) to insure that the intermediate carrier is completing
delivery properly.
(3) Check in warehouse when' packages are stacked or
opened to determine whether or not the detailed inventory
of contents as listed on shipping ticket is correct. Sealed
packages bearing a list of the contents stenciled on outside
may be accepted as listed. The contents of sealed packages
must be inventoried at the time of opening. (See par. 58.)
c. In time of war, — It is obvious that detailed checking
25
2^27
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
which is necessary in time of peace must not be allowed to
hamper or delay operations in time of war.
■ 25. Depot Police. — Every effort should be made to maintain
a high degree of cleanliness and order in the' depot. To assist
in attaining this end, there should be provided a number of
cans or deep pits in which all scraps and storehouse refuse may
be deposited. Cans should be emptied daily; pits may be
burned out when the fire or smoke will not be objectionable.
■ 26. Policy Governing Handling of Keys. — The property
office chief clerk should prepare and post a roster of the
noncommissioned officers who will be responsible for the
custody of the keys for the storehouses and offices. Each man
should serve for a definite period. He should be responsible
for opening the principal offices and warehouses in the morn-
ing, and checking to determine that they are locked in the
evening. He should also remain in the depot vicinity after
duty hours in case of an emergency. The duplicate set of the
depot keys should be kept in a key box in the property office.
All keys borrowed from the key box will be signed for on a list
provided, and returned as soon as the need for them has
passed. All persons charged with the security of buildings
will assure themselves that such places are secure before
leaving them.
Section V
DUTIES OF INDIVIDUALS
■ 27. General. — The duties of individuals, as outlined herein
for various individuals, are intended merely as a guide to
the company commander. He should make such reassign-
ments of duties and responsibilities, and assignments of addi-
tional duties and responsibilities, as the situation may de-
mand. It will be found that certain duties within the com-
pany, such as recorder of the company fund, have not been
assigned. There will be many odd duties in connection with
company administration which should be apportioned among
the junior officers of the company. Since the operations per-
formed by the members of the sections of the depot company
are essential to the proper supply of the command, the per-
26
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
27-28
sonnel of the company should be exempt from all duty out-
side the organization. 1 The following statement,' extracted
from AR 45-30, authorizes exemption of ordnance troops from
other than ordnance work: "Detachments or units of the
Ordnance Department are exempt from detail for any duty
outside their own organization work and duties, except when,
in the judgment of the commanding officer, the importance
of the other duty will not permit exemption."
■ 28. Depot Commander. — a. Responsibilities. — When the
company is operating alone, the company commander is also
the depot commander. When two or more companies are
operating a depot, the senior company commander or some
ordnance officer senior to all will be designated as depot com-
mander. For the sake of brevity, however, a one-company
depot will be assumed. The company commander is responsi-
ble for all the activities of his company and depot. Among
his responsibilities are —
(1) Administration (see AR 245-5 and TM 12-250) .
(2) Tactical and technical efficiency of the company.
(3) Preparation of all plans for operation and training of
the company.
(4) The proper storage, care, maintenance, and issue of
all supplies pertaining to the depot.
(5) Supervision of the loading and unloading of depot
supplies.
(6) Necessary arrangements with transportation agencies
for shipments.
(7) Proper marking of all shipments.
(8) .Timely transmission, through prescribed channels, of
information with respect to shipments.
(9) Maintenance of all records necessary in the operation
of the depot.
(10) Maintenance of stock levels.
(11) Preparation of all official correspondence pertaining
to the company.
(12) Preparation and maintenance of an officer of the
day roster for the depot guard when necessary.
(13) Security of his command against "enemy- action.
27
28
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(14) Ultimate responsibility for all phases of operation
of the company.
b. Delegation of responsibility to subordinates. — (1) Gen-
eral. — He should, without unduly interfering in the internal
administration of subordinate sections, establish the major
policies governing the operation of the company or depot.
The responsibility for the performance of specific duties
should be delegated to the proper subordinate, and that
subordinate held strictly accountable for the results. With
every such responsibility, however, there should be appor-
tioned a corresponding measure of authority and other means
for the execution of the responsibility. Although the com-
pany commander cannot delegate his authority for the ad-
ministration of punishment under the 104th article of war,
nor his power of promotion, the recommendations in these
matters of a responsible subordinate concerning a member
of his section should be given great weight. The company
commander should require all section leaders to keep him
fully informed as to the status of matters pertaining to their
respective sections.
(2) Property accountability. — Accountability for the prop-
erty of the company or depot lies with the commander there-
of and cannot be delegated.
c. Planning and supervision. — Planning and supervision are
two very important functions of the company commander.
He should be alert at all times for improvements in methods
of operation. He should make the fullest use of the experi-
ence and imagination of his subordinates, and should, when-
ever possible, be accessible to them for consultation. In
general, major changes of policy should not be made until
after all interested parties have been consulted and all phases
of the subject considered.
(1) Planning for future requirements. — At all times he
should consider the probable future demands on the depot,
and prepare plans and take such steps as may be necessary
to meet future requirements. The preparation of specific
plans for the various sections of the company should be
delegated to the responsible persons.
(2) Inspecting camp and depot. — He should move about In
the camp and depot, observing the manner in which duties
28
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
28-30
are being performed and orders and policies carried out.
Periodic formal inspections should be held of both men and
equipment. The highest state of efficiency consistent with
conditions of service and state of training should be required.
Neatness, orderliness, and cleanliness should be stressed at
all times.
d. Personnel management. — (1) General. — In matters
pertaining to personnel, the company commander should
be tolerant, fair, and cool-headed. He should endeavor to
know as well as possible all the men in the company. He
should have an estimate of the personality and capabilities
of every man.
(2) Changes in assignments of personnel. — He should, from
time to time, reassign the officer and noncommissioned offi-
cer personnel in the company to different sections or duties.
Such a practice will assist in the preparation of the com-
pany to meet emergencies. (See par. 21.)
e. Maintaining (policy books. — He should endeavor to in-
sure continuity of policy within the company by requiring
the maintenance of policy books by each section. (See par.
23.)
■ 29. Property Officer. — The company commander is also
the property officer. All official communications and prop-
erty papers are prepared for his signature. Although he
cannot delegate accountability for depot property to an-
other officer, he may delegate responsibility for the operation
of the property office to a subordinate officer, who will act as
the assistant property officer.
■ 30. Assistant Property Officer (fig. 5). — The assistant
property officer is responsible to the company commander
for the efficient operation of the depot property office. He
will exercise immediate supervision over the property office
through the chief clerk. He must be thoroughly familiar
with the operations of all sections of the office. The assist-
ant property officer is responsible for compliance with the
provisions of AR 45-30 pertaining to the issue, loan, lease,
storage, care, preservation, loss or damage, safekeeping, ship-
ment, expenditure, and other disposition of depot ordnance
475461°— 42 3 29
30-32
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
property. All such transactions and the accounting for army
supplies or property will be accomplished by authority of
law, regulations, or special instructions of the War Depart-
ment. He will, in case of sickness, absence on leave, etc., of
the property officer, assume the duties of acting depot prop-
erty officer, and in such capacity will sign papers "For the
depot property officer." (See AR 210-10.) He will keep' the
company commander informed of matters pertaining to the
operation of the depot. He will hold the noncommissioned
officers in charge of sections responsible for the efficiency of
their sections.
■ 31. Storehouse Officer (fig. 12). — a. Functions. — The
storehouse officer is responsible to the property officer for
the operation of the storehouse office and of all storage facil-
ities. He will exercise immediate supervision over the store-
house office, through the storehouse chief clerk. He is re-
sponsible for the detailed storage plans for each storehouse
and storage area, including the floor plan, dimensions, stor-
age capacity, and the location of the items stored therein.
He will inspect the storehouses and storage areas to see that
the materials are properly stored and maintained. He will
maintain the necessary files and records incident to the oper-
ation of his office.
b. Planning. — He should plan constantly far enough into
the future to meet the probable future storage requirements.
He should be prepared to submit, when necessary, a plan
for the movement of his stores to a new depot location.
■ 32. Storehouse Platoon Commander (fig. 14) . — The store-
house platoon commander is responsible to the storehouse
officer for the efficient operation of his platoon and the
training of his personnel. He exercises immediate super-
vision over the storehouse platoon through the storehouse
superintendent. He will see that all material is properly
stored and that the instructions relative to safekeeping and
preservation of all small arms and other weapons, including
artillery stored in the open, are complied with. He is re-
sponsible for seeing that the regulations for the storage
of grease, oil, paint, and other inflammable items are com-
30
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
32-34
plied with; that Are aisles in storehouses are not blocked;
and that delicate parts and equipment are properly pro-
tected and stored. He will exercise vigilance to prevent the
accumulation of stocks over and above the requirements of
the depot, and will inform the storehouse officer of such
items of stocks as appear to be moving slowly. He will insti-
tute a reminder or information system in all warehouses,
whereby warehouse personnel will keep him informed con-
cerning any items the stock of which is growing low, and
he will relay all such information to the storehouse officer.
He will make such scheduled and unscheduled inspections as
may be necessary to insure the readiness of all sections to
function efficiently. He will determine the size and number
of storehouse groups and will coordinate the activities of
such parties. (See par. 96.)
■ 33. Service Platoon Commander (fig. 16) . — The service
platoon commander is responsible to the storehouse officer
for the efficient operation of his platoon. He will personally
assume active direction and supervision of the preparation,
loading, and forwarding of all outgoing shipments and of the
unloading of all incoming shipments. He will hold the non-
commissioned officers in charge of the sections responsible for
the efficiency of the sections.
■ 34. Guard and Labor Platoon Officer (fig. 18). — a. Func-
tions. — This officer is responsible to the storehouse officer
for the operation of his platoon. Normally, he will also
function as the mess officer, supply officer, personnel officer,
and transportation officer of the company. He will be pre-
pared to submit a recommendation to the company comman-
der concerning the strength of the guard needed to protect
depot property. He will assign depot police duties to his
personnel. He will furnish labor, on request, to the store-
house superintendent.
b. Inspections. — He will make such scheduled and unsched-
uled inspections of the guard as may be necessary or pre-
scribed to insure the proper performance of guard duty.
31
35-37
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
Section VI
DOWN TIME
■ 35. Down Time in Depot Companies. — The mission of the
ordnance company includes the issue to the troops of the
quantities and types of ordnance stores which they require
at the time they require them. Ordnance depot companies
must be trained to accomplish this mission with the minimum
of lost time or down time. Down time, to a depot company,
means the time lag between the receipt of a request for ma-
terials from the troops and the moment when such materials
are ready for issue.
■ 36. Factors Affecting Down Time. — In order to reduce
down time, methods must be devised to eliminate time lost —
a. In the preparation of papers incident to issues.
b. In securing the materiel from the storage space and
delivering it to the shipment assembly area.
c. In boxing or packaging the materiel for issue.
d. Due to improper or careless binning or storage pro-
cedure.
e. Through failure to maintain adequate stocks on hand
to meet the requirements of the units served.
/. Hunting for materiel which is not adequately marked
or which is not stacked so that the markings are discernible.
ff. In unloading or loading freight cars or vehicles.
■ 37. Reducing Down Time. — Down time may be reduced by
careful planning and by continuous well-directed activity on
the part of office and storehouse personnel. This time may
be saved by —
a. Having storehouse personnel collect the materiel requisi-
tioned while necessary papers are being drawn up in the depot
office.
b. Retaining boxes, crates, and blocking materials from
previous shipments so that packing may be expedited.
c. Properly training and selecting personnel to do certain
types of work.
d. Maintaining accurate records and requesting replenish-
ments as minimum levels are reached.
32
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
37-41
e. Plainly marking the correct nomenclature of the items
on bin tags and stacks so that errors in storing will be kept
to a minimum.
/. Stacking packages or crates so that the markings can
be easily read from the aisles.
g. Training labor platoon personnel to unload and load
heavy equipment safely and quickly.
h. Training all personnel in the various sections in the
duties of other members of the section, in order that casual-
ties or other losses will not unduly hinder depot operation.
i. Training storehouse personnel in the ready recognition
of all types of ordnance materiel.
Section VII
PROPERTY ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
■ 38. General. — All public property, whether acquired by the
War Department or the Army at large, by purchase or by
transfer from other agencies of the Government, and whether
paid for or not, must be accounted for on an appropriate
property account (see AR 35-6520, and Circular No. 147, War
Department, 1940).
■ 39. In Time of Peack. — In time of peace, and also within
the zone of the interior in time of war, property records must
be diligently and properly maintained in strict accordance
with the applicable Army Regulations.
■ 40. Accountability in Communications Zone. — The com-
mander of the theater of operations will prescribe the type
of accountability records, based on policies announced by the
War Department, which must be maintained to account for
property issued by supply establishments of the communica-
tions zone, or transferred from one service to another within
the communications zone.
■ 41. Accountability In Combat Zone. — In the combat zone
no formal accounting for supplies is required. When supplies
are issued to troops or are transferred from one service to
another, the receiving officer receipts for the supplies with
a notation showing the organization or work for which the
33
41-44
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
supplies are required. Property officers must honor author-
ized requests for supplies made in any manner by those re-
sponsible for filling supply needs of troops engaged in active
operations. However, the normal method of requisitioning
supplies is used whenever practicable. The same care is
taken of all equipment, supplies, and materiel, and the same
economy in their use is observed as in cases where a formal
accounting is required. All commanders are charged with
insuring that neither men nor organizations of their com-
mands waste or misuse supplies, materiel, and equipment fur-
nished to them, or accumulate an unauthorized surplus
thereof. Organizations or individuals demanding quantities
much in excess of the average amounts required by other like
units under similar conditions will be reported to the army
ordnance officer.
■ 42. Changes in Accountability. — Pursuant to AR 35-652'0,
and paragraphs 520, 521, and 522, FM 100-10, accounting for
property will change as the organization responsible for the
property moves into or put of the zone of the interior and
the theater of operations.
■ 43. Dropping Nonexpendable Organizational Items. —
When serving at a post, camp, or station in the zone of the
interior, the property officer may drop from accountability
certain minor items, if necessary. Certain restrictions are
made, dealing with total cost of items, serially numbered
items, etc. Information on this matter may be found in
current War Department Circulars and Army Regulations.
■ 44. Responsibility. — a. Company commander. — All com-
pany property, of whatever nature, is charged to the ac-
countability of the company commander. It is the duty of
the company commander and of all subordinate personnel
at all times to safeguard such property against loss or
destruction.
- b. Suballotment — Since it is impracticable for one person
to exercise immediate supervision over property as widely
distributed as that of the depot company, this responsibility
is suballotted to the section chiefs and the persons actually
34
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
44
receiving, storing, and issuing equipment and ordnance
general supplies.
c. Section chiefs and personnel. — Section chiefs will sign
for and be responsible for all tools and equipment assigned
to the section and not signed for by the personnel of the sec-
tion. The personnel of a section will sign for and be responsi-
ble for the tools or equipment assigned specifically to them
and necessary in their work. This responsibility extends to
payment by the individual (in the zone of the interior) for
such tools and equipment as he may not be able to produce
when he is separated from the organization or particular
assignment or goes on leave.
d. Provision for safeguarding assigned property. — Each
person signing for property should be provided with a means
for securing such property. No one may take or borrow prop-
erty or break into or enter the container or place where prop-
erty is stored, without the knowledge and consent of the
person responsibile for such property. An immediate report
should be made to the property officer or assistant property
officer whenever there exists evidence of such breaking and
entering.
e. Property lost or stolen. — In time of peace or in the zone
of the interior, property lost or stolen, whether in garrison
or in the field, must be replaced or paid for, on a statement
of charges, by the individual responsible for the same, or the
loss may be made the subject of a report of survey. The
decision of the surveying officer that the property was lost
through the fault and neglect of an individual is proper au-
thority for compelling that individual to pay for the property
in question.
/. Memorandum receipts.— -Each soldier signing for prop-
erty will receive a duplicate copy of the debit memorandum
receipt, which he will keep for use in checking his property,
so that he may know what he has signed for. Whenever he
turns in any item of equipment, he will be given a credit
memorandum receipt signed by the property officer.
35
45-46
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
Section VIII
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES IN POSTS, CAMPS, AND
STATIONS
■ 45. Requisitions (see pars. 79 and 129). — a. To whom ad-
dressed. — (1) When serving at a post, camp, or station (not
under immediate control of army) , the depot company will
prepare requisitions in the same manner as prescribed for
. any other type of unit. The requisition will be addressed to
the commanding general of the service command, Services
of Supply, in which the company is serving, and will be
transmitted through post headquarters. Sufficient copies
must be prepared to meet the requirements of all offices
through which it will pass.
(2) If the depot company is in the field or serving as an
integral part of an army, the requisition will be addressed
to the army ordnance officer. This officer, in turn, will for-
ward the requisition to the proper supply point with a letter
attached either in the form of a wrapper indorsement or
by other means. Requisitions prepared in the field for the
army ordnance officer must be in sufficient number of copies
to provide one for each interested agency. This will usually
include a copy for the file of both the army ordnance officer
and the regulating officer and a copy for the proper com-
munications zone depot. The actual number of copies re-
quired will usually be prescribed by the army ordnance officer.
(3) Figures 21 and 22 are tentative distribution charts of
-property papers for the guidance of depot personnel. The
actual distribution of papers must be prescribed by proper
authority in each case.
b. Expediting items. — All personnel in the supply system
must be alert to the fact that any item on a requisition bear-
ing a notation W/O No. is needed at once for current
work now in a shop, and the supply of the material must
be made as expeditiously as possible.
■ 46. Stock Record. — a. Definition. — Wherever property is
stored for issue to the army, a uniform, complete, and accu-
rate record showing quantities on hand, received, and issued
will be maintained on W. D., Q. M. C. Form No. 423. (Stock
36
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
46
Record Card) or its equivalent, and will be known as the
stock record account. The stock record account is the writ-
ten compilation of all property for which the depot com-
mander or unit supply officer is accountable. (See par. 131.)
b. Purpose. — The stock record account serves as the writ-
ten record from which the property officer is able to deter-
mine the status of depot stock as to quantities on hand,
amounts received and issued in any given period of time,
and the requirements for replenishment.
c. Preparation of form. — (1) Entries on stock record cards
will be complete in that the date, voucher number, quantities
received or issued, and the balance on hand will always be
shown in the appropriate columns.
(2) Only one card will be prepared for each item of stock,
and the exact nomenclature of the item as shown in the
pertinent Standard Nomenclature List will appear on the
card in the appropriate space. It is desirable that only the
descriptive noun be listed on the line marked "Article." In
the blank space labeled "Description" shall be entered the
actual description of the article or material. In the space
marked "Unit" is entered the unit of measurement, for ex-
ample, "each," "quarts," "ounces," etc. The cost, is the price
as indicated in the Standard Nomenclature List. The maxi-
mum requirement is tha,t imposed by the stock level pre-
scribed by the army commander. The minimum requirement
is that below which the stock should not be permitted to
drop. This is controlled by the rate of consumption and the
time required to obtain replacement. The "Stock No." blank
will contain the drawing number or stock number shown in
the Standard Nomenclature List. It is customary to enter
the applicable Standard Nomenclature List number in a place
on the card where it will be readily visible.
d. Accounts maintained. — (1) One stock record account
will be kept for general ordnance supplies other than or-
ganizational equipment, that is, depot stockage.
(2) A second stock record account will be kept for all
organizational equipment, that is, for the actual company
property.
(3) A third stock record account may be kept for all prop-
erty normally issued on memorandum receipt to units and
37
46-47
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
individuals. This is usually maintained only during time of
peace and in the zone of interior during time of war.
(4) A fourth stock record account will be kept for the
so-called "true surplus" property. True surplus is that ma-
terial which has been declared by the Secretary of War to
be surplus to the needs of all Government agencies. This
Is usually necessary only during time of peace.
(5) Fifth and sixth stock record accounts possibly might
be kept at a depot for C. M. T. C. and R. O. T. C. property.
This is usually necessary only during time of peace.
e. Vouchers affecting stock record account. — (1) A valid
voucher may be defined as any instrument that authorizes
an accountable officer to pick up or drop property from his
stock record account. Each entry made in the stock rec-
ord account must be supported by a valid voucher. The ship-
ping ticket is the voucher most frequently encountered in the
maintenance of stock record accounts.
(2) Other vouchers affecting the stock record account are —
(a) Receiving report (par. 135) .
(b) Report of survey (par. 132) .
(c) Statement of charges (par. 133) .
(d) Inspection and inventory report (par. 134) .
(e) Over, short, and damaged report (par. 137).
(3) Each of the above-mentioned vouchers will affect the
balance of the stock record account. The issuing of prop-
erty on memorandum receipt does not in any way affect the
balances of the stock record account.
(4) All vouchers should be reviewed by the commanding offi-
cer of the depot company, who is the accountable officer for
the property in the depot. He must sign all vouchers for
incoming property. (See par. 28.)
■ 47. Audit of Stock Record Account. — a. General. —
Army Regulations provide that all property accounts be
audited at least once each fiscal year, under the supervision
of the Finance Department. Property officers will habitually
be notified in advance of the scheduled audit in order that
they may bring all records up to date for audit. A property
auditor checks his file of vouchers against the entries in
38
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
47-48
the stock record account, verifies all entries and supporting
vouchers, and physically checks certain stock items.
b. Purpose. — AR 35-6740 states: "The general purpose of
an audit is to determine —
"(1) Whether regulations governing property accounta-
bility have been observed;
"(2) Whether any irregularities in vouchers, postings, or
handling of property with fraudulent intentions have oc-
curred; and
"(3) Whether the stock record account reflects a true ac-
counting of all property."
c. Inventory. — It is essential that the continuous inventory
to be maintained by the depot be complete and accurate if
the property account is to meet the requirements of AR 35-
6740, with reference to auditing of property accounts. Care-
less and incomplete inventories will result in discrepancies
in the property account, which will be reported by the prop-
erty auditor in accordance with AR 35-6740.
d. Certificate of audit. — A certificate of audit, discussed in
detail in AR 35-6740, is furnished for the files of the account-
able officer after completion of the audit and adjustment of
all discrepancies noted. In the event that an accountable
officer fails to make satisfactory adjustments of discrepancies
after having been afforded a reasonable opportunity therefor,
he will be required to pay for any property not accounted for.
e. Disposition of old property records. — After the audit, all
Stock record cards completely filled and all vouchers up to
the date of the audit are filed in a dead file. Final disposi-
tion is effected as shown in AR 35-6700.
■ 48. Inventories. — a. Regulations governing. — Under the
provisions of AR 35-6520, it is required that an accurate,
complete, and detailed inventory be taken of all property
carried on the stock record accounts at least once each fiscal
year. In the case of the depot company, the inventory sec-
tion maintains a continuous and progressive inventory of all
property. This answers the requirements of the Army Reg-
ulations if every item on all stock record accounts is inven-
toried during the fiscal year. This inventory will be made
under the supervision of the property officer. In time of war
39
48
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
this requirement may be relaxed by order of a proper com-
mander or the War Department.
b. Posting to stock record account. — The actual balance
on hand, as determined by inventory after deducting there-
from any quantities that may have been dropped from the
stock record account but not actually shipped prior to the
physical inventory, will be entered on the stock record card
in red ink immediately after inventory. The inventory bal-
ance will be entered regardless of whether or not it agrees
with the stock record balance. On the same line in the
"Received and issued" columns, there will be written the
notation "as per inventory," and in the "Date" column the
date of the inventory. If the inventory balance does not
agree with the stock record balance, the red ink entry will
also be given a serial voucher number. (See c below.) No
other entries will thereafter be made on the stock record to
balance the inventory figures.
c. Adjusting discrepancies. — In each case where the inven-
tory balance does not agree with the stock record balance,
the necessary vouchers to adjust the discrepancy, such as
over, short, and damaged reports and reports of survey, will
be prepared as soon as practicable. The vouchers required
to adjust such a discrepancy in full, whether one or several,
will all be given the serial number assigned to the red ink
entry and will be filed together, in proper serial number order,
along with the other vouchers to the account. In certain
cases it may be desirable to adjust the discrepancies of several
items on one over, short, and damaged report or on one
report of survey, in which case the red ink inventory entries
on the stock record cards will be given the same serial number.
Thus all refer to the one adjusting voucher.
d. Taking inventory. — (1) In taking the actual inventory,
it is not necessary to open original packages or packages
that have been assembled, verified, and sealed locally if there
is no evidence indicating that they have been tampered with.
Sometimes it is sufficient for inventory purposes to compare
the total weight of all such articles on hand with the ascer-
tained weight of one or of a definite number of such articles;
a similar system may be employed on cubic dimensions. In
case the balance determined by weight differs not more than
40
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
48-49
2 percent from the balance shown on the stock record cards,
the latter will be considered as the true balance on hand.
(2) The inventory sheets (OFM Form 402) or memoranda
of the actual physical count, which will be prepared in ink
or indelible pencil, and from which are taken the red ink
inventory figures entered on the stock record cards as de-
scribed in paragraph 46, will be signed by the person or
persons who made the count of the articles listed thereon.
These sheets will be held until all entries have been made on
stock record cards. They may then be destroyed unless a
discrepancy exists, in which case they will be filed and kept
available for examination by the inspector and property
auditor. (See fig. 10.)
■ 49. Procedure Governing Issues to Troops. — See AR 35-
6520, AR 35-6540, AR 35-6560, AR 35-6620, AR 35-6720, AR
45-80, and AR 310-60.
a. Publications showing allowances. — (1) Tables of Basic
Allowances prescribe the authorized allowances of equipment
for units and individuals, with exceptions as listed in AR
310-60. Property listed in these tables is carried on the
property account of the unit supply officers.
(2) The Table of Allowances for posts, camps, and stations
list post, camp, or station equipment. This property is
usually carried on the stock record account of the post prop-
erty officer, is issued on memorandum receipt, and is not
ordinarily taken with a unit into the field or on change of
station. (See AR 310-60.)
b. Organisational equipment. — The initial requirements of
organizations newly activated, or to be activated, are fur-
nished, in the Ordnance Department, by means of shipping
orders issued by the Chief of Ordnance. The War Depart-
ment will have established a list of priorities on which is
indicated the organization, the date of activation, and the
station to which the initial equipment should be shipped.
c. Replenishment of supplies. — When the depot officer also
functions as post property officer, the units being served by
the depot may obtain replenishment of their supplies in
accordance with the provisions of AR 35-6540. Nonexpend-
able items are issued under different restrictions from ex-
41
49-51
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
pendable items, and care must be exercised by the depot
officer that the proper procedure is followed in each case.
■ 50. Property on Memorandum Receipt. — a. Records kept. —
All post, camp, and station Table of Allowance property is
carried on the stock record account of the depot officer when
he is acting as post ordnance property officer. It is issued on
memorandum receipt to the units being served. A record of
all property so issued will be maintained on W. ,D., Q. M. C.
Form No. 488 (Abstract of Memorandum Receipt) if a sep-
arate stock record is not maintained for the Table of Allow-
ance property. New consolidated memorandum receipts will
be compiled periodically, as required by Army Regulations,
and also whenever the responsible officer is changed. A con-
solidated memorandum receipt will be prepared for and
sent to each unit which has any of this type of property. It
will include every item the unit has drawn up to date and,
after being signed and returned to the property officer, will
supersede all the previously dated individual memorandum
receipts held by him against that unit. The property officer
may either destroy the superseded individual memorandum
receipts or return them to the unit. (See par. 138.)
b. Exchange of property. — Under normal conditions, un-
serviceable property held on memorandum receipt will not be
exchanged except by the action of a report of survey. If,
however, an item is of minor value, it may be exchanged di-
rectly upon presentation to the accountable officer. It must
be accompanied by the responsible officer's certificate that the
item was worn out through fair wear and tear while in the
public service. (See AR 35-6540.)
■ 51. Expendable Property. — a. Definition. — As shown in AR
35-6620, -property which is consumed, such as cleaning and
preserving material, fuel, forage, etc., and all spare parts
which lose their identity when issued and installed, are
classed as expendable property. Other types of expendable
property are materials used in manufacturing or issued for
experimental uses. Expendable ordnance items are indicated
in the Standard Nomenclature Lists.
b. Issues on requisition. — Issues of expendable property
authorized in Tables of Basic Allowances will be made on
42
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
51
requisitions submitted by the unit and approved by the com-
manding officer of the unit and by the ordnance officer. If
the depot company is issuing direct to the unit, the requisition
will be receipted thereon by the officer to whom issue is made,
the receipted requisition acting as a valid voucher authoriz-
ing the depot officer to drop the property from his stock record
account. In the case of a unit receiving expendable property
where the allowances are fixed by War Department publica-
tions, the officer receipting for the property will certify on. the
requisition that the articles receipted for, added to those pre-
viously drawn during the period, do not exceed prescribed
allowances. (See AB 35-6560.)
c. Issues for local use. — In the case of a depot or post
supply officer issuing expendable supplies to and for use by
activities for which he is responsible, it is unnecessary for
him to receipt to himself for the supplies so issued. Instead
he may certify, on the requisition or the shipping ticket on
which issues are made, that the property was expended in the
public service. He Will have the paper approved by the
commanding officer and will use it as a voucher to drop the
property from the stock record account. In lieu of using
the above system for each item, the work orders or memo-
randum lists of materials used, properly signed by a respon-
sible person connected with the activity, may at the end of
the month be abstracted on a shipping ticket to which the
work orders or memoranda are attached as supporting vouch-
ers. This shipping ticket is then taken to the commanding
officer for his approval after which it may be used as a valid
voucher to drop the property from the stock record account.
The shipping ticket will be consigned to certificate of
expenditure.
d. Receiving for immediate use. — In a case of this nature,
the officer concerned does not have to pick up the property
on the stock record account, but instead he may place a
certificate on the shipping ticket or receiving report, as
follows: "I certify that the expendable supplies listed hereon
are procured for immediate use in current service and will
not be taken up on the stock record account; that the unused
residue thereof, if any, will be taken up and accounted for as
prescribed in paragraph 3, AB 35-6520." The receiving re-
43
51-53
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
port or shipping ticket will be assigned a serial number and
filed as a valid voucher.
■ 52. Nonexpendable Property. — o. Definition. — Property
other than expendable property is classed as nonexpendable
property.
b. Issues. — Within a post, camp, or station, nonexpendable
property is issued on a shipping ticket, prepared in quadrupli-
cate. The original and one copy are sent to the consignee,
who will receipt for the property on the original and return it
within a reasonable time to the shipping officer to act as a
valid voucher to the latter's stock record account. The third
copy of the shipping ticket will be sent by the shipping officer
to the service command, Services of Supply, auditor and the
fourth copy will be retained in the voucher file pending re-
turn of the original. For shipments outside post, camp, or
station, see paragraph 53.
■ 53. Procedure Governing Shipments From Depot. — See
AR 30-955, AR 35-6560, OFSB 2-1, and OFSB 2-2.
a. General. — Separate shipping tickets are prepared if
property being shipped is from different branches of the
service, as Ordnance, Quartermaster, Signal Corps, etc. Ord-
nance property will be consigned to the depot ordnance officer
or the post ordnance officer. If the property is meant for re-
issue to a specific organization, a statement to this effect will
be included. When unserviceable or excess property is
shipped, the shipping ticket must show the authority for such
shipment, for example, "Approved inventory and inspection
report," "Report of survey," "Statement of charges," etc. The
authority must be shown in a statement on the face of the
voucher.
b. Local shipments. — Shipments of any kind are usually
made as the result of an approved requisition or instructions
from higher headquarters, the transfer of accountability
ordinarily being accomplished by means of a shipping ticket.
Upon receipt of an approved requisition a tally-out is pre-
pared in quadruplicate by the storehouse office clerk and
signed by the checker, packer, or shipper. The consignee,
upon calling for the property, signs one copy of the tally-out
and leaves it with the depot officer, retaining one copy him-
self. In the meantime, the shipping ticket is prepared from
44
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
53
the office copy of the tally-out. (See par. 136.) The neces-
sary entries are obtained from the tally-out, and the voucher
number from the voucher register. The shipping ticket is
then sent to the consignee for signature; when returned, it
acts as a valid voucher authorizing the accountable officer
to drop the property from his stock record account. 'For de-
tails of procedure see paragraphs 82 and 83.
c. Shipments outside post, camp, or station.— (1) The same
general procedure in the preparation of the property for ship-
ment as that described in b above will be used for ship-
ments outside a pbst, camp, or station.
(2) The primary difference in the two cases cited above
starts with the actual shipment. In the former case, a regu-
lar shipping ticket is prepared from the copy of the tally-
out sheet; in the latter case, the tally-out is used to prepare
a memorandum shipping ticket in quadruplicate, three copies
being sent to the quartermaster who actually ships the prop-
erty. The memorandum shipping ticket is nothing more than
a regular Shipping Ticket (W. D., Q. M. C. Form No. 434) with
the word "Memorandum" typed in front of the two words
on the heading. It shows the number and type of containers
instead of the standard nomenclature of the items which
appears on a normal shipping ticket. In addition, the mem-
orandum shipping ticket will show the total weight and will
include a request to the quartermaster to accomplish the
shipment.
(3) The quartermaster will determine the cost of ship-
ment and the routing, will' prepare the bill of lading, and will
deliver the shipment to the carrier. He will also complete the
original copy of the memorandum shipping ticket, showing
the bill of lading number, the routing, and the cost of trans-
portation, and send it back to the ordnance officer who re-
quested the shipment. He will attach one copy of the mem-
orandum shipping ticket to a copy of the bill of lading and
forward them to the quartermaster at the station where the
consignee is located. The third copy of the memorandum
shipping ticket will be retained by the local quartermaster for
his files.
(4) Upon receipt of the original copy of the memorandum
shipping ticket, the ordnance officer (shipper) will prepare
475461°— 42 4 45
53-55
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
a regular shipping ticket with the necessary number of
copies, normally an original and six copies. One additional
copy is required if serial numbered items make necessary a
copy for the Chief of Ordnance. The shipping ticket * pre-
pared will show the bill of lading number, routing, and cost
of transportation. Also, if the property has been in service
previously, a certificate, signed by the ordnance officer mak-
ing the shipment, must be placed on the shipping ticket,
stating that the property is in serviceable condition and
ready for immediate use. The normal distribution will be
as follows (see fig. 22) : '
(a) Original and one copy to the receiving officer, who will
sign and return the original copy to shipping officer.
(b) One copy to file pending receipt of signed original.
(c) Two copies to the service command auditor.
(d) One copy to the receiver's service command ordnance
officers.
(e) One copy to the shipper's service command ordnance
officer.
■ 54. Shipments by Freight. — The usual method of ship-
ping supplies, especially those of great bulk and weight, is
by freight. Most items need only be crated solidly and
packed tightly within the freight cars to meet railroad re-
quirements. Items such as artillery carriages and vehicles
of all types require great care in their preparation for ship-
ment. This matter is covered completely and in detail in
paragraphs 40 to 45, inclusive, FM 101-10. Local railroad
officials should be contacted regarding local policies on all
types of freight shipments. For shipping data see Ordnance
Storage and Shipping Charts (OSSC's).
■ 55. Shipments by Express. — a. Procedure. — An officer
desiring to ship property by express must make application
to The Quartermaster General on W.D., Q.M.C. Form No. 149,
stating the necessity for making the shipment by express.
If The Quartermaster General approves the shipment, he will
provide the shipping officer with a transportation order. This
order will be furnished the local quartermaster along with
* The requirement for the recording of serial numbers on ship-
ping tickets has been suspended by Circular No. 202, War Depart-
ment, 1942.
46
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
55-57
the property that is to be shipped. Memorandum shipping
tickets will also be prepared, one copy to be signed by the
quartermaster and retained by the shipping officer as a re-
ceipt for the property. The quartermaster will make the
arrangements for the shipment.
b. Exceptions. — As indicated in AR 30-955, there are a
number of instances where express shipments may be made
without specific approval by The Quartermaster General,
such as the shipment of valuable supplies, delicate instru-
ments, and small packages. Economy and emergency will
often justify express shipments. When an ordnance machin-
ist is traveling from one station to another in the perform-
ance of his duties, his hand tools are usually shipped by'
express, since they are ordinarily too heavy for him to carry,
and shipment by freight is too slow.
■ 56. Shipments by Parcel Post. — The Post Office Depart-
ment authorizes the shipment of Government property or
material, when it weighs 4 pounds or less, without the pay-
ment of parcel post charges. For this reason, the parcel post
system should be used to the fullest extent possible in making
shipments of small and comparatively inexpensive items. If
any item exceeds 4 pounds in weight, the full parcel post
rate must be paid for the shipment of the property. The
parcel post system will not handle any parcels exceeding 70
pounds in weight. The limitations in size are a total of 100
inches in girth and length combined.
■ 57. General Rules Governing Packing and Marketing
Shipments. — See AR 30-955, AR 45-80, and OPSB 2-1, OSSC's.
a. Packing. — An officer making a shipment is responsible
for seeing that the material is properly packed to prevent dam-
age en route, that the material is properly cleaned or oiled to
prevent deterioration in storage, and that salvaged ammu-
nition components shippet} contain no live rounds or other
extraneous matter. Weapons must be shipped unloaded.
They must be properly reported to the Chief of Ordnance.
The most economical system for freight rates must be used
for vehicles and tanks. Whenever possible, two or more ve-
hicles are shipped in the same car. Tools should be sep-
arately secured in the same car as the vehicle to which they
47
57-58
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
pertain, the vehicles should be listed on the shipping tickets
and bills of lading as complete, and the tools and parts carried
on separate lists. Weapons from open vehicles as compared
to closed vehicles such as tanks are packed separately and
shipped as first class freight. Ordnance officers doing con-
siderable shipping may obtain from the Interstate Commerce
Commission a catalog of shipping terms and instructions.
Normally the physical shipment of the property is the
responsibility of the local quartermaster.
b. Marking. — Each package to be shipped must bear the
name and station of the consignee, the name and station of
the consignor, the consignor's shipping ticket number and
bill of lading number, the serial number of the package,
weight, cubical contents if the shipment is to be made over-
seas, and the list of contents, which is placed on a packing
list in an oiled envelope on the outside of the package. (See
introduction to the OSSC's.)
H 58. Procedure Governing Receipt of Shipment. — a. Duties
of receiving officer (AR 35-6560). — The officer receiving a
shipment is responsible for the following (see par. 125) :
(1) Supervision of the checking of the shipment for quan-
tity and quality.
(2) Covering of shortages by means of an over, short, and
damaged report, or by a report of survey.
(3) Preparation of an over, short, and damaged report in
the event that no shipping ticket is received in a reasonable
length of time.
(4) Collection of evidence* to support a report of survey
in the event that a report of survey is required.
(5) Assumption of accountability and responsibility for the
property if the shipment is correct in every way. This he
does by accomplishing the shipping ticket and returning it
to the shipping officer. Army Regulations prohibit the sign-
ing of any receiving report, shipping ticket, etc., in blank.
(See AR 35-6560.)
b. Original package. — A package in the original sealed
container as made up by a manufacturing establishment or
by a permanently established ordnance depot is known as an
"original package." This type of package should have sten-
ciled on the outside the name of the manufacturer or arsenal,
48
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
58
the total weight, and the contents of the package. Original
packages must contain only one kind of article. If the pack-
age, upon receipt, shows no signs of tampering or damage, the
only check necessary is the weight. If it checks within 5
Pounds of the listed weight, no further check need be made,
and the package may be accepted at its face value.
c. Receiving shipments intended for specific organizations
(AR 35-6560) . — (1) Nonexpendable property that is not listed
in Tables of Basic Allowances will be picked up on the stock
record account of the depot and issued on memorandum re-
ceipt to the organization which requested it.
(2) Expendable property will not be picked up on the stock
record account, but, instead, will be issued to the organiza-
tion by certificate on the original shipping ticket on which
it was received at the depot.
(3) Property listed in the Tables of Basic Allowances that
is nonexpendable will be issued to the organization on a new
shipping ticket prepared by the depot. These two shipping
tickets will be assigned voucher numbers, and will be cross
referenced and filed as valid vouchers. It is not necessary to
make any entries in the stock record account, as there will
be no change in the balance shown.
d. Receiving reconditioned and/or reclaimed property. —
Normally, property that has been turned over to a reclamation
or salvage officer for reclamation of component parts will
have those serviceable parts removed by the salvage officer
and shipped to the depot officer on a shipping ticket to be
picked up on the stock record account.
e. Receiving property purchased locally (AR 35-6560) . —
The receiving report is prepared in quadruplicate as soon as
the normal procedure of checking in the property has been
completed. By means of this receiving report, which acts as
a valid voucher, the property is picked up on the stock record
account. (See par. 135 and fig. 29.)
/. Receiving property purchased from manufacturer (AR
35-6560) . — The Ordnance Department often makes purchases
from manufacturers for direct delivery to the ultimate con-
signee. There are two methods of operation used:
(1) If the shipment, is made at Government expense the
authorized commissioned representative will inspect and ac-
49
58-59
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
cept for the Government at destination. The receiving officer
will prepare a receiving report in quadruplicate, signing the
certificate as to inspection, receipt, and acceptance on the
original only. He will then forward the signed original and
one copy to the disbursing officer designated to make pay-
ment, will forward one copy to the contracting officer for
his files, and will retain the other copy "as his debit voucher.
(2) If the purchased property is to be forwarded at the
vendor's expense, the technical inspection may be made at
the plant by a Government inspector. This inspector will
then prepare the receiving report in quadruplicate, listing the
correct nomenclature, ink out the words "and accepted" in
the inspection certificate, sign the modified certificate on the
original copy, and forward all four copies to the depot. Upon
receipt of the material and the receiving report, the account-
able officer will cause an inspection to be made for quantity
and condition and will accomplish the accountable officer's
certificate on the original copy, adding the words "and ac-
cepted" after "received" in the second line thereof. He will
then file one copy as his debit voucher and forward the orig-
inal and two copies to the contracting officer. The con-
tracting officer will retain one copy for his files and forward
the original and one copy to the disbursing officer designated
to make payment.
g. Ammunition. — In the event that the depot company is
required to handle ammunition, the method of accounting
and handling of the property is similar to that used for gen-
eral supplies. (See FM 9-20.)
■ 59. Procedure Governing Procurement of Property by
Local Purchase (fig. 3.) — Information on this subject may
be found in the 5-series of Army Regulations.
a. Maker of actual purchase. — The actual purchase of the
property required is made by the local quartermaster.
b. Obtaining funds. — The depot ordnance officer must
write the service command ordnance officer requesting the
authority and funds for making the purchase. The letter
must include —
(1) Reasons why it is necessary to purchase the items
specified.
50
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
59-60
<2) Bids by three commercial concerns on the items, as
obtained by the ordnance officer.
c. Granting authority. — The service command ordnance
officer will review the request submitted by the depot ordnance
officer. If it is approved, the service command ordnance
officer will issue a W. D. Form No. 23 (War Department Pro-
curement Authority) in duplicate and send it to the depot
ordnance officer.
d. Subsequent action of depot ordnance officer. — (1) Upon
receipt of the procurement authority, the depot ordnance
officer will furnish the local quartermaster with complete
specifications of the items and the quantity to be purchased.
He will quote the procurement authority, whether by letter
or by a new subprocurement authority on W. D. Form No.
23, repeating the information shown in the body of the
procurement authority as received from the service com-
mand ordnance officer. (See par. 143.)
(2) After making the purchase, the local quartermaster
notifies the depot ordnance officer of the actual amount
of funds expended, either by indorsement on the letter or
by completion of the reverse side of the subprocurement
authority.
(3) Upon receiving the necessary information from the
quartermaster, the depot ordnance officer will complete the
Form No. 23 he received from the service command ordnance
officer and return it to that officer. The service command
ordnance officer will post this information to his allotment
ledgers to show the amount of funds that are still available
for apportionment to stations for future purchases of similar
supplies.
■ 60. Procedure Governing Disposition of Unserviceable
Property. — See AR 20-35, AR 30-2145, AR 35-6540, AR 35-
6640, and AR 345-300.
a. Classes of unserviceable property. — All unserviceable
property is placed in one of two classes:
(1) Class I. — Property which has become unserviceable
through fair wear and tear, or declared obsolete by competent
authority, is known as class I property, and may be disposed
of by means of an inventory and inspection report.
51
60
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
Commanding
General
Finance
Officer
(Auditor)
Disbursing
Officer who
pays acc't.
Has supervision and
control of all funds of
corps area.
Ordnance
Officer
Commanding
General
Quarter-
master
4
n 10
Has direct control
of ord. funds under
C.G.
Ordnance
Officer
Local Stock
Record Acc't.
Manufacturer
or Dealer
Figure 3. — Local purchases.
1. Ordnance officer initiates request through channels.
2. Service command ordnance officer allots funds on War De-
partment Form No. 23 (Procurement Authority).
3. Requests quartermaster to make purchase.
4. Quartermaster makes purchase order and sends to local dealer
who has given lowest informal bid.
5. Dealer sends supplies to ordnance officer. Note. — Here ordnance
officer prepares receiving report in quadruplicate, certifying
tile original only.
6. Triplicate copy to stock record account as voucher on which
to pick up the property.
7. Two copies, original and duplicate; sent to disbursing officer
who will pay the bill.
8. Copy to quartermaster who purchased items to file with his
purchase accounts.
9. Disbursing officer pays the account, uses original as voucher
to his money accounts, and sends duplicate to Service com-
mand finance officer for auditor's file.
10. Auditor uses copy in auditing ordnance officer's accounts.
52
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
60
(2) Class II. — All other unserviceable property is known as
class II property, and must be disposed of by means of either
a report of survey or a statement of charges.
b. Inventory and inspection reports. — (1) Relief from ac-
countability for class I property is accomplished by means
of the inventory and inspection report. This matter is dis-
cussed fully and in detail in AR 20-35. Every officer having
property accountability must be thoroughly familiar with the
provisions of this regulation. (See figs. 21, 22, and 25.)
(2) Only two official copies of the report are required, but
good practice dictates the making of four by the responsible
officer. The third copy is given to the inspecting officer for
use as a work sheet during the physical inspection of the
property, and the fourth copy is retained by the accountable
officer pending return of the original. In most cases, the
action of the inspecting officer is final, and the original copy
of the report is turned over to the accountable officer for
use as a property voucher. In certain cases, as indicated
in AR 20-35, both official copies must be sent forward by
the inspecting officer, and the copy retained by the account-
able officer is then a temporary voucher. The retained copy
should be made to conform in every way with the official
copies as forwarded by the inspecting officer. No action
toward the actual disposal of the property is to be taken
by the accountable officer until the original copy of the report
has been returned to him with the proper dispositions indi-
cated thereon.
c. Statement of charges. — A statement of charges is the
means whereby an enlisted man is compelled to reimburse
the Government for property which he admits having lost
or damaged. It is discussed fully and in detail in AR 345-300
and AR 35-6640. (See fig. 28.)
d. Report of survey. — (1) A report of survey determines the
responsibility for loss, damage to, or unserviceability of prop-
erty when due to causes other than fair wear and tear, and
recommends the disposition to be made of the property. Re-
ports of survey are discussed fully and in detail in AR 35-6640.
Every officer having property accountability must be thor-
oughly familiar with the provisions of this regulation. (See
fig. 27.)
53
60
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(2) A study of AR 35-6640, covering the duties of surveying
officers, will be of material assistance to a property officer
in preparing a report of survey. Clear and conclusive evi-
dence is required to substantiate all claims made regarding
losses or damages, and it is very desirable that written state-
ments from all witnesses and interested parties be obtained
as soon as possible after the loss or damage occurs.
(3) An officer or an enlisted man may be required, by the
recommendation of an approved report of survey, to reimburse
the Government for lost or damaged property. An enlisted
man reimburses, the Government on a statement of charges,
an officer by direct payment to the local disbursing officer.
Should the officer fail to make the required payment, the
amount will be obtained through a stoppage against his pay.
e. Unserviceable expendable property. — (1) Unserviceable
expendable property which has become unserviceable through
fair wear and tear will be .disposed of by a certificate of
expenditure. Such property will be mutilated to prevent
resubmission for exchange, and will be turned over to the
salvage officer on a shipping ticket.
(2) Unserviceable expendable property not worn out
through fair wear and tear will be dropped on a report of
survey or a statement of charges.
54
CHAPTER 3
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS
Paragraphs
Section I. Organization and equipment 61-62
II. Operations and duties 63-67
Section I
ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT
■ 61. Organization. — The company headquarters is provided
for the military administration of the company. This in-
Company
Commander
Company Headquarters
Company
Office
Company Supply
Office
Transportation
Figure 4. — Organization of the company headquarters.
eludes the preparation of personnel records and company
reports, supervision of transportation, mess management, and
the supply of organizational equipment. The disposition of
personnel and equipment discussed in this chapter must be
adjusted as changes in the Table of Organization and Table
of Basic Allowances take place. The organizational chart
shown in figure 4 may be used as a guide.
55
62-64
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
■ 62. Equipment. — A detailed list of the equipment assigned
to the depot company will be found in T/BA No. 9 and SNL
N-ll. The company commander may assign vehicles to the
company headquarters for the following purposes: trailer,
1-ton, water, for the transportation of water; trailer, 1-ton,
cargo, for carrying rations; truck, 54-ton, for general mes-
senger and utility service; two or three trucks, cargo, 2Vfe -ton,
to carry office equipment and company impedimenta; one
truck, cargo, 2%-ton, to be used as the kitchen truck; and
one truck, %-ton, command, for his use.
Section II
OPERATIONS AND DUTIES
■ 63. Responsibilities of Subsections. — The responsibilities
governing the operations of the various subsections of the
headquarters section and the duties of the personnel in these
subsections are listed under the proper headings in para-
graphs below.
■ 64. Company Office. — a. Responsibilities. — This section is
responsible for the training and administration of the com-
pany (see TM 12-250) , including —
(1) Preparation of training programs and schedules for
the military training of the company.
(2) Preparation of training programs and schedules, in
conjunction with the property office, for the technical train-
ing of the company.
(3) Maintenance of personnel records, including service rec-
ords, morning reports, sick reports, duty rosters, and routine
reports when this function is not performed by a higher
headquarters.
(4) Maintenance of the company council book.
(5) Maintenance of correspondence files and of the cor-
respondence book.
(6) Preparation of plans in connection with changes in
the location of the company. Such plans will be initiated by
the battalion headquarters at the direction of the army ord-
nance officer, who will specify the principal requirements
and arrange for the necessary additional facilities. (Some
56
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
64
of these arrangements may be delegated to the battalion
commander.) Much detailed planning will devolve upon the
company headquarters, such as messing arrangements, truck
loading schedules, police of old bivouac, selection and prepa-
ration of exact location of new bivouac, conduct of motor
march, etc. Such plans will be coordinated, where necessary,
with the property office.
(7) Conduct of scheduled and unscheduled inspections of
all phases of the activities of the company.
b. First sergeant. — The first sergeant is responsible for the
efficient operation of the company office, and, as such, is the
company commander's senior enlisted representative in mat-
ters pertaining to company administration. The relationship
between the company commander and the first sergeant
shbuld be one of mutual understanding and confidence. For
maximum efficiency they must work as a closely coordinated
team. The first sergeant should make a point of understand-
ing and carrying out the policies of the company commander
in all matters over which he has direct supervision.
(1) Responsibilities. — The first sergeant is responsible to
the company commander for the efficient operation of the
company office, including —
(a) Enforcement of discipline.
(b) Preparation and issuing of company orders as directed
by the company commander.
(c) Preparation of collection sheets for the company fund.
(d) Preparation of routine correspondence.
(e) Preparation of daily strength, ration, gasoline, and oil
returns.
(/) Supervision of all formations.
(2) Functions. — The first sergeant should be thoroughly
familiar with all matters pertaining to company administra-
tion, including, whenever possible, matters concerning mess
and supply. He should be thoroughly familiar with all drills
which the company is required to perform. He should con-
duct himself with dignity, fairness, and force. Whenever
conflicts appear in matters pertaining to both the depot and
company administration, he should confer with the chief
clerk with a view to arriving at a solution suitable to both
depot and company requirements.
57
64-65
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
c. Company clerk. — The company clerk is responsible to
the first sergeant for the typing of all necessary corre-
spondence for the company office and the maintenance of
the necessary files and records kept by that office. He will,
when necessary, assist in the Unit personnel section of bat-
talion headquarters in the maintenance of the personnel
records of the company.
■ 65. Company Supply Office. — a. Responsibilities. — This
section is responsible for —
(1) Maintenance of the stock record covering all or-
ganizational property including voucher flies and registers.
(2) Maintenance of all records of individual equipment and
of files of memorandum receipts of property held by members
of the company.
(3) Preparation of all property forms, such as reports of
survey, statements of charges, inventory and inspection re-
ports, over, short, and damaged reports, etc., required in the
property administration of the company.
(4) Preparation of requisitions for organizational equip-
ment required by the company.
b. Supply sergeant. — The supply sergeant is directly re-
sponsible for the security, serviceability, and proper storage
of many thousands of dollars' worth of company equipment.
He should understand thoroughly all property regulations,
the use of Standard Nomenclature Lists, equipment charts,
and all form papers pertaining to property. He must keep
accurate and complete records and inventories. He must
keep abreast of, and thoroughly familiar with, all changes
in matters pertaining to the handling of property. He should
be a congenial, enterprising, industrious person with energy,
initiative, and imagination. The supply sergeant is re-
sponsible to the supply officer for —
(1) Maintenance of the stock record account for organiza-
tion property.
(2) Maintenance of the abstract of memorandum receipts.
(3) Maintenance of memorandum receipts on all prop-
erty (not belonging to the storehouse) in the hands of the
members of the company.
58
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
65-66
(4) Security of all company property not issued to the
personnel of the company.
(5) Completeness of the organizational and individual
equipment of the company.
(6) Serviceability of all equipment under his charge.
(7) Preparation of requisitions for organizational and
individual equipment.
(8) Preparation of reports of survey, certificates of unserv-
iceability, inventory and inspection reports, statements of
charges, shipping tickets, receiving reports, over, short, and
damaged reports, debit and credit memorandum receipts, in-
dividual clothing and equipment forms, lists of balances, and
other miscellaneous property and supply forms and records.
(9) Exchange of unserviceable property for serviceable
property,
(10) Neatness, cleanliness, preservation, and accessibility
of all property for which he is responsible.
(11) Completeness of, and preparation for, all inventories
of property for which he is responsible.
(12) Preparation of property location charts, where neces-
sary and desirable, for property in his possession.
(13) Preparation of statements of clothing settlements
when required.
■ 66. Mess. — a. Responsibilities. — This section is responsible
for securing, transporting, preparing, and serving of rations,
including those for attached personnel and visitors. Some
consideration of messing arrangements will be required in
the event company personnel are operating several sub-
depots. The method utilized will depend upon the circum-
stances. The following methods of procedure are suggested.
Any combination of the four methods may be utilized.
(1) All subdepots may be rationed from a central field kit-
chen by transporting hot food in insulated food containers.
The availability of transportation, distances to be covered,
and difficulties of the journey should be taken into considera-
tion.
(2) The units of the field range and proportionate shares
of kitchen personnel and equipment may be divided among
the subdepots for use at the subdepot locations. The delivery
59
66-67
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
of rations and fuel to the subdepots will require consideration
of factors similar to those given in (1) above.
(3) The personnel of the subdepots may be attached for
rationing to some nearby organization which is operating a
mess. The probable permanency of the messing organiza-
tion should be considered, as well as transportation require-
ments.
(4) The personnel of the subdepots may be fed in relays
at the parent depot kitchen by using motor transportation.
The availability of time for making the journey should be
considered, as well as transportation requirements.
b. Mess sergeant. — The mess sergeant is responsible to the
mess officer for the efficient operation of the company mess,
including —
(1) Preparation of all menus.
(2) Preparation and serving of all meals.
(3) Operation of all mess personnel.
(4) Drawing, storing, and transportation of all rations.
(5) Issuance of all rations, cooked or uncooked.
(6) Maintenance of ration accounts, including records of
boarders.
(7) Maintenance of the Inventory of Rations (Form No.
86).
(8) Police and maintenance of sanitary conditions in all
matters pertaining to personnel, equipment, and service of
the mess.
(9) Care and maintenance of all mess equipment.
(10) Preparation of rations for inventory whenever re-
quired.
■ 67. Transportation S e c t i o n. — a. Responsibilities. — This
section is responsible for —
(1) Maintenance of all records and motor books pertaining
to the motor vehicles of the company including, when desir-
able, the trip or dispatch record.
(2) Transportation of baggage and nontechnical company
equipment whenever necessary.
(3) Coordination of transportation requirements between
the various depot sections.
60
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
67
(4) Dispatch of all organic vehicles from the company biv-
ouac area.
(5) Repair and maintenance of the automotive vehicles
assigned to the company to the limit of the tools, time, labor,
and skill available. Such repairs will consist primarily of
first and second echelon maintenance, though some small jobs
may fall into the third echelon category.
b. Truckmaster. — (1) Responsibilities and duties. — The
truckmaster is responsible to the transportation officer for the
efficient operation of the transportation section. In the exe-
cution of his duties, he will —
(a) Maintain all the motor vehicle records for organic
transportation, except the small notebook kept in each
vehicle.
(b) Periodically check the condition of these latter books
to determine that drivers are properly recording the mileages
and the gas and oil consumed.
(c) Prepare monthly consolidations of data in the motor
books for signature by the transportation officer.
(d) Act as dispatcher for all organic transportation.
(2) Further responsibilities. — He is directly responsible to
the transportation officer for the good order and readiness
to function of the transportation assigned to the headquarters
and supply section. He is responsible for the training of
motor vehicle operators.
(3) March inspections and supervision. — (a) During halts
when the company is on a march, the truckmaster will check
with all vehicle operators to determine whether or not any
difficulties are being experienced, and will take appropriate
action to correct such difficulties.
(b) The truckmaster will supervise gassing operations and
the issue of oil as necessary. At the end of each day's march,
he will supervise the checking of oil levels, battery water levels,
and tire pressures. He will check the operation of all lights
and horns and, in general, insure that all necessary steps
have been taken to prepare the vehicles of the company for
the continuation of the march. He will familiarize himself
with the pertinent parts of PM 25-10, which he will use as
a guide in performing his duties.
475461°— 42 5 61
CHAPTER 4
PROPERTY OFFICE
Paragraphs
Section I. Organization and equipment.
n. Operations and duties
' III. Administrative details
68-69
70-78
79-89
Section I
ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT
■ 68. Organization. — The property office is organized to
handle all clerical work incident to the maintenance of
property records and files, and to prepare any reports and
correspondence required in the operation of the depot. It is
the central coordinating agency of the depot.
■ 69. Equipment.— The office equipment will consist of such
tables, chairs, files, typewriters, computing machines, and
miscellaneous office equipment as may be required. (See
T/BA No. 9.)
■ 70. General. — In order for the property office to perform
efficiently the administrative details related to property rec-
ords, it is necessary to divide the office personnel Into sections
which are responsible for the performance of certain tasks.
This office is under the supervision of the assistant property
officer, who is responsible through the chief clerk for coordi-
nating and correlating the work of the sections. The sections
and their tasks are listed in the paragraphs below.
■ 71. Property Office Chief Clerk. — The chief clerk is re-
sponsible to the property officer for —
o. Enforcement of all policies governing operation of the
property office.
6. Bringing to the attention of the property officer all
matters requiring his personal attention.
Section II
OPERATIONS AND DUTIES
62
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
71
c. Supervision and coordination of the activities of all
sections of the property office.
d. Maintenance of discipline in the property office.
Inventory Section
Property Officer
Captain
Ass't Property Officer
Lieutenant
Chief Clerk
Ass't Chief Clerk
Stenographer
Mail and Record Section
Shipping Ticket Section
Stock Record Section
Requisition Section
Fiscal Section
Figure 5. — Organization of the property office.
e. Maintenance of the property office policy book under the
immediate supervision of the assistant property officer. (See
par. 23.)
/. Maintenance of all property office records and files.
g. Checking of all papers which are to be submitted to the
property officer for his signature. He authenticates second
copy with his initials.
63
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ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
h. Disposition of all routine correspondence.
i. Preparation and maintenance of the roster of noncom-
missioned officers in charge of keys. (See par. 26.)
j. Approval of all depot issues and the initialing of requi-
sitions before turning them over to the storehouse office.
■ 72. Mail and Record Section.— The mail and record section
will receive, record, and distribute all depot mail. In order
to perform the above, it will be necessary for the section to —
a. Open all incoming mail (except personal) and record the
time and date thereon.
b. Prepare additional copies of correspondence when nec-
essary.
c. Index correspondence (except that which pertains to
requisitions or shipping tickets) according to the Dewey
decimal system, and maintain the correspondence file, .
d. Dispatch outgoing mail, telegrams, etc.
e. Provide an intradepot messenger service.
/. Attach Routing Slips (OPM Form 401) to all incoming
correspondence and indicate for whom it is intended. - (See
fig. 9.)
g. Prepare and maintain the serial number file when
required. (See par. 86 and figs. 42 and 43.)
h. Maintain a card index file of all correspondence sent or
received.
■ 73. Requisition Section. — a. Operations. — The requisition
section will receive, register, edit, distribute, and file all
requisitions. It will prepare periodic requisitions for the re-
plenishment of the depot stocks whenever the stock levels
approach the established minimum, or at other times when
directed by the property officer or the chief clerk. To per-
form the above general operations, it will be necessary for
the section to —
(1) Record requisitions received in the incoming requisi-
tion register. (See par. 82.)
(2) Record the property office serial number on incoming
or outgoing requisitions. (See par. 130.)
(3) Audit the requisition in order to determine —
64
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
73
(a) That the nomenclature is correct as listed in the Stands
ard Nomenclature List, and make necessary corrections in
ink.
(b) That the items have been properly grouped in accord-
ance with the Ordnance Catalog.
(c) That the piece marks or drawing numbers, and the
model numbers, are correctly given whenever such numbers
exist and are available. In the absence of proper identifica-
tion symbols, an adequate description showing the applica-
tion of the part or material- must be given.
(d) That the amounts being requisitioned are within pre-
scribed allowances as provided in appropriate tables.
(e) That, when the amount appears to be excessive, the
amount authorized is entered in the column "approved" in
red pencil.
Note. — In an emergency, (b), (d) , and (e) above are eliminated.
(4) Scrutinize carefully all requisitions from maintenance
units for any item bearing the notation W/O No. Such
work orders require immediate action and should be placed
in the course of supply without delay.
(5) Prepare outgoing requisitions from stock replenishment
sheets after receiving these from the chief of the stock record
section, or when instructed to do so by the property officer.
(See pars. 88 and 129.)
(6) Record requisitions originating in the property office
in the outgoing requisition register. (See par. 130.)
(7) Forward copy of audited incoming requisition to the
storehouse office, arid file original, if any, in the suspense
file.
(8) Pile completed requisitions.
(9) Place- partly filed requisitions in a suspense file with
attached notation of any pertinent information.
(10) Handle all correspondence pertaining to requisitions.
(11) Check requisitions originating in the depot against
incoming tallies.
b. Chief of requisition section. — The chief of the requisition
section is responsible to the chief clerk for the efficient opera-
65
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ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
tion of his section. In addition to the requirements imposed
by a above, he will —
(1) Maintain the files of requisitions, filled and unfilled.
(2) Devise and operate a system for the follow-up of all
requisitions, to insure as far as possible that they are receiving
proper attention and action.
(3) Assign to the members of the section the work required
to be performed by the section.
(4) Prepare routing of requisitions.
(5) Place special requisitions only on approval of the prop-
erty officer through the property office chief clerk.
■ 74. Requests for Cleaning and Preserving Materials. — It
must be remembered that although allowances of cleaning
and preserving materials for organizations are prescribed in
the SNL, the allowances are not for a prescribed period. They
merely indicate the maximum permissible quantities in the
hands of troops. All requisitions for such materials must be
filled within the quantities available for issue to the army
as a whole; The use of excessive quantities by particular units
should be reported to the army ordnance officer for his action.
■ 75. Stock Record Section. — a. Operations. — This section
is under the direct supervision of the chief of the stock
record section. It is the bookkeeping section of the depot.
The operations of the stock record section include the
following:
(1) Preparation of stock record cards for all property
stocked by the depot. (See par. 131.)
(2) Posting stock record cards from shipping tickets, re-
ceiving reports, inventory sheets, expenditure reports, over,
short and damaged reports, statement of charges, reports of
survey, and other valid vouchers.
(3) Preparation of stock replenishment requests. (See
par. 88.)
(4) Preparation and maintenance of separate stock record
accounts for #11 property which is carried for issue on mem-
orandum receipt. (See par. 139.)
b. Chief of stock record section. — The chief of the stock
record section is responsible to the chief clerk for the efficient
66
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
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operation of the stock record section. In addition to the
requirements imposed by a above, he will —
(1) Institute and operate a system for the follow-up of all
dues-in and the checking of dues-out. (See par. 131 and
fig. 26.)
(2) Edit all vouchers for correct nomenclature.
(3) Insure that all vouchers posted to the stock record
account are stamped with a rubber stamp bearing the follow-
ing information :
Posted to S/R
Date
Initials
and .complete the entries required by .the stamp.
(4) Post completed inventory sheets to stock record ac-
counts and call discrepancies to the attention of the chief
clerk. Such notices should Usually be in the form of memo-
randa and should only include notations of matters . not
within the province of the stock record chief to correct, or
which indicate the necessity for action on the part of the
chief clerk or the property officer.
■ 76. Shipping Ticket Section. — a. Operations. — This section
is charged with all activities pertaining to vouchers. It is
therefore required to —
(1) Prepare shipping tickets from tally-outs received from
the storehouse office; initial second copy to indicate it is
ready for property officer's signature; prepare memorandum
shipping tickets for items being shipped by commercial car-
riers. (See pars. 53c and 136.)
(2) Maintain the voucher register. (See par. 140 and fig.
35.)
(3) Prepare over, short, and damaged reports, reports of
survey, inventory and inspection reports, receiving reports,
certificates of expenditure, memorandum receipts, and the
necessary certificates on any requisitions -which are used
as vouchers to the account. (See pars. 46, and 132 to 138
incl.)
(4) Check incoming shipping ticket against tally-in.
(5) Maintain the voucher file and the tally file. (See pars.
140 to 142, incl.)
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ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
b. Chief of shipping ticket section. — The chief of the ship-
ping ticket section is responsible to the chief clerk for the
efficient operation of his section. In addition to the require-
ments imposed by a above, he will —
(1) Properly cross-refer shipping tickets and tallies.
(2) Assign various duties to the members of the section
in accomplishing the above.
■ 77. Fiscal Section. — The fiscal section initiates purchases
for commercial and other items in compliance with War
Department instructions and locally approved requests for
purchases. It prepares and makes proper distribution of
Purchase orders. This section maintains records of the
allotment of funds to the depot officer. (See par. 59.)
■ 78. Inventory Section. — This section is under the direct
control of the property officer. It is responsible for —
a. Continuous running inventory of all depot property.
(See fig. 10 and par. 48.)
b. Inspection of items as they are inventoried, and the
reporting of items showing deterioration to the storehouse
superintendent.
c. Return of completed Inventory Sheets (OPM Form 402)
to the storehouse location card section.
Section ni
ADMINISTRATIVE DETAILS
■ 79. Step-by-Step Procedure Applying to Outgoing Requi-
sition. — The chief of the requisition section will prepare
all periodic requisitions for the replenishment of depot
stocks basing the requirements on stock replenishment
requests or instructions of the chief clerk or property officer.
On all requisitions for items pertaining to groups A to M in-
clusive, a separate requisition will be prepared for each group;
that is, all group A items will be entered on one requisition;
all group B on another, etc. The correct nomenclature, piece
mark, drawing number, or model number, and the proper
grouping will be adhered to in the preparation of all requisi-
tions. In the absence of proper identification symbols, an
68
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
79
adequate description, showing the application of the part or
material, must be given. The. following steps are. necessary
to prepare requisitions originating in the depot office:
MAIL & RECORD S ECTION
TfiT
6 copies* — <
7 copies*
Property
Officer
(5)
Chief
Clerk
1 copy
(1) START
(7)
Outgoing
Requisition
File
Requisition
Register
7 copies*
* (4)
7 copies*
"TsT
Stock Record
Account
REQUISITION SECTION
♦--Original copy of requisition included.
STOCK RECORD SECTION
KEY TO DIAGRAM
1. Seven copies of the requisition are drawn up by the requisition
section.
2. The requisition is given a number and is posted opposite this
number in the requisition register.
3. The stock record section enters the pertinent data from- the requi-
sition as dues-in on the stock record card. The chief of the
- stock record section stamps the duplicate copy of the requisi-
tion with the "Posted to dues-in" rubber stamp, initials, and
dates it.
4. The property office chief clerk checks the requisition, and then
gives it to the property officer.
5. The property officer signs the original copy of the requisition
and initials the duplicate copy.
6. The mail and record section returns the duplicate requisition to
the requisition section. The original and the other copies are
mailed to the proper offices.
7. The duplicate copy of the requisition is filed in the outgoing
requisition file of the property office.
Pigtoe 6.— Route of outgoing requisition.
a. Step 1. — The requisition section will prepare requisi-
tions according to the directions listed above. The depot
requisition serial number, which is obtained from the requisi-
tion register, is placed on all copies of the requisition. The
requisition is entered in the requisition register. A routing
69
79^80
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
slip is attached to the requisition, which is forwarded to the
stock record section (see fig. 9) .
b. Step 2. — The stock record section enters the pertinent
data from the requisition as dues-in on the stock record card.
The chief of the stock record section stamps the duplicate
copy of the requisition with the "Posted to dues-in" rubber
stamp, initials, and dates it. All copies of the requisition are
then sent to property office chief clerk.
c. Step 3. — The property office chief clerk peruses the
requisition, initials the duplicate copy if he finds the requisi-
tion in order, and gives the requisition to the property officer.
<£. Step 4. — The property officer signs the original copy of
the requisition, initials the duplicate copy, and sends the
requisition to the mail and record section.
e. Step 5. — The mail and record section pulls the duplicate
copy of the requisition and delivers it to the requisition sec-
tion. The original and other copies are mailed to the proper
offices. For distribution charts see figures 21 and 22.
/. Step 6. — The requisition section files the duplicate copy
of the requisition in the outgoing requisition file.
■ 80. Step-by-Step Procedure Applying to Incoming Ship-
ping Ticket. — The following steps are taken by the depot
personnel when shipping tickets are received:
a. Step 1. — The mail and record section records on the
incoming shipping ticket the date of receipt. The shipping
ticket, with a routing slip attached, is forwarded to the
chief clerk for his perusal.
' b. Step 2. — The property office chief clerk reviews the
shipping ticket and will, if necessary, indicate any partic-
ular action he may require to be taken on it. He initials
the duplicate copy and forwards the papers to the shipping
ticket section chief.
c. Step 3. — The chief of the shipping ticket section records
the next voucher number obtained from the voucher register
on the original and duplicate copies of the shipping ticket.
The shipping ticket is then registered in the voucher register.
The original shipping ticket is pulled and put in the hold file
awaiting the completed tally-in. The duplicate copy is
initialed and forwarded to the storehouse chief clerk.
70
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
80
d. Step 4. — The storehouse chief clerk has the tally section
prepare the tally-in In triplicate from the shipping ticket
and assigns the tally-in a number from the tally register.
The tally-in number is posted to shipping ticket. (See par.
81 for tally-in procedure.) Two copies of the tally-in are
forwarded to the receiving section of the service platoon.
After the shipment has been received and checked against
the tally-in, a signed copy of the tally-in is returned to the
storehouse chief clerk; The chief clerk checks this copy
against the retained copy of the tally-in and makes any
necessary changes thereon in ink, marking these with his
initials. The tally section forwards signed tally-in with the
duplicate copy of shipping ticket to the shipping ticket
section.
e. Step 5. — The chief of the shipping ticket section checks
the tally-in against the shipping ticket and indicates in
pencil on the duplicate copy of the shipping ticket any dif-
ferences noted on the tally-in. He will immediately prepare
an over, short, and damaged report in quadruplicate for any
obvious discrepancies (see par. 137 for preparation). The
"Receipt" space on the original ticket is prepared for the
signature of the property officer. The original and duplicate
copies of the shipping ticket, and copies of the report, if
necessary, are sent to the chief of the stock record section.
The tally-in is placed in the hold file.
/. Step 6. — The chief of the stock record section posts the
shipping ticket to the stock record account, making sure
that all entries are made in the proper columns. Entries
required by the over, short, and damaged report will be
made on the stock record card in pencil (see par. 131) . The
duplicate copy of the shipping ticket will be initialed, dated,
and stamped "Posted." These papers are then sent to the
property office chief clerk.
g. Step 7. — The property office chief clerk checks over the
shipping tickets to see that they are in order. He initials
the duplicate copy and gives the papers to the property officer.
h. Step 8. — The property officer signs the original copy of
the shipping ticket and initials the duplicate copy. He will
also sign the original copy of the over, short, and damaged re-
71
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
80
KEY TO DIAGRAM
1. Original and duplicate copies of shipping ticket arrive at mail
and record section of property office. Date of receipt is re-
corded thereon, and a routing slip is attached.
2. Chief clerk initials duplicate copy of shipping ticket.
3. Voucher number is placed on both copies of the shipping ticket,
and the voucher is posted to the voucher register.
i. Original shipping ticket placed in hold file. Duplicate shipping
ticket initialed and sent to storehouse office.
5. Storehouse chief clerk has the tally section prepare a tally-in in
triplicate from the shipping ticket.
6. Tally-in receives a number, and is posted to the tally register.
7. Tally-in number is posted to the duplicate, shipping ticket which
is placed in the hold file. Shipping ticket number is posted
to tally-in.
8. Original and duplicate tally-in are sent to the receiving section
of the storehouse. Triplicate copy is placed in storehouse
office hold file.
9. Receiving section checks shipment, correcting tally-in in ink
where necessary. Original tally-in is signed and the duplicate
tally-in is initialed by the officer receiving the shipment.
10. The signed original tally-in is sent to the storehouse tally section,
and the duplicate copy is sent to the proper storehouse section
chief.
11. The tally section makes any changes on the triplicate tally-in
in the hold file necessary to make it agree with the signed
original tally-in. The original tally-in is attached to the dupli-
cate shipping ticket and sent to the shipping ticket section
of the property office.
12. The original shipping ticket is taken from the hold file. "Re-
ceipt" space of the original shipping ticket is prepared for the
property officer's signature. The tally-in is checked against
the shipping ticket, and an over, short, and damaged report
is prepared if required. The tally-in is placed in the hold file.
18. The shipping ticket is posted to the stock record account. The
duplicate shipping ticket is initialed, dated, and stamped
"Posted."
14. Chief clerk checks the shipping tickets to see that proper action
has been taken.
15. Original shipping ticket and over, short, and damaged report, if
any, signed; duplicate shipping ticket is initialed.
16. Mailing date is recorded on shipping tickets. Original shipping
ticket sent to consignor; duplicate shipping ticket sent to the
shipping ticket section. Original over, short, and damaged
report, if any, sent to consignor; duplicate copy sent to ship-
ping ticket section.
17. Duplicate shipping ticket and copy of over, short, and damaged
report, if any, are filed in the voucher file.
18. Original tally-in is extracted from the hold file and placed in the
tally-in file of the property office.
19. Proper storehouse section chief stores material and notes the
location after the items on the duplicate tally-in.
20. Quantities and locations posted to the locator card file from the
duplicate tally-in.
21. Duplicate tally-in is placed in the tally-in file of the storehouse
office.
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80-81
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
22. Triplicate copy of tally-in is extracted from the hold file Is
forwarded to the mail and record section if it bears serially
numbered items; otherwise it may be destroyed.
port, if any. All papers are then sent to the mail and record
section for distribution.
i. Step 9. — The mail and record section stamps the mailing
date thereon, pulls the duplicate copy of the shipping ticket,
and a copy of the over, short, and damaged report if there is
one, and forwards them to the shipping ticket section. The
original shipping ticket and two copies of the over, short, and
damaged report are sent to the consignor.
j. Step 10. — The shipping ticket section files the duplicate
copy of the shipping ticket in the voucher file along with a copy
of the over, short, and damaged report adjusting any dis-
crepancies. The related tally-in is taken from the suspense
file and put in the tally-in file.
■ 81. Step-by-Step Procedure Applying to Tally-in. — a.
Step 1. — Tally-in's are prepared in triplicate by the store-
house office from one of the following sources:
(1) Packing lists. (Normally received with the material.)
(2) Shipping tickets. (Normally received from the prop-
erty office.)
(3) Invoices. (Normally received with the material.)
(4) Physical inventory for material not otherwise listed.
Storehouse personnel perform this task under the direct
supervision of an officer.
b. Step 2. — A tally number from the tally register is as-
signed to the prepared tally sheets by the tally clerk in the
storehouse office. The tally-in number is posted to the dupli-
cate copy of the shipping ticket and the shipping ticket num-
ber is posted to the tally-in's. The tally-in's are distributed
as follows:
(1) The original and duplicate are sent to the service pla-
toon receiving section.
(2) The triplicate is placed in the hold file.
c. Step 3. — On receipt of material, the receiving section
checks actual quantities received against the tally-in and
makes changes: in ink to indicate true quantities. Such
74
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
81-82
changes should be initialed by the service platoon officer in
ink. The original tally-in is signed and the duplicate in-
itialed by the officer receiving the shipment.
d. Step 4. — The signed original tally-in is then sent to the
storehouse office.
e. Step 5. — The storehouse office makes the necessary
changes on the retained copy, and sends the signed copy of
the tally-in along with duplicate shipping ticket to the ship-
ping ticket section of the property office.
/. Step 6. — The receiving section gives the duplicate copy
of the tally-in to the proper storehouse section chief, who
then stores the material and notes the location after the
items on the tally-in.
g. Step 7. — The duplicate tally-in is sent to the storehouse
office and used as the basis for posting quantities and loca-
tions to the locator card file (see par. 146) .
h. Step 8. — The duplicate is then placed in the storehouse
office tally file.
i. Step 9. — The retained or triplicate copy of the tally-in is
sent to the mail and record section if it bears serially num-
bered items; otherwise it may be destroyed.
J. Step 10. — The original or signed copy of the tally-in sent
to the property office is used to check against the incoming
shipping ticket. An over, short, and damaged report is pre-
pared if necessary.
k. Step 11. — The tally- in is now placed in the property
office hold file, pending the receipt of the completed shipping
ticket.
■ 82. Step-by-Step Procedure Applying to Incoming- Re-
quisition. — a. Step J.— Mail and record section attaches a
route slip to. the incoming requisition, after recording the
date of receipt thereon. The requisition is then sent to the
property office chief clerk.
b. Step 2. — Chief clerk examines the requisition and turns
it over to the chief of the requisition section.
c. Step 3. — The requisition section records the requisition
in the requisition register and assigns it a depot requisition
number (see par. 130). One copy of the requisition is placed
in a suspense file. The other copy is sent to the storehouse
office.
75
ORDNANCE COMPANY, - DEPOT
82
KEY TO DIAGRAM
1. Original and duplicate copies of incoming requisition arrive at
mail and record section of the property office.
2. Date of receipt is recorded thereon. Routing slip attached to
requisition.
3. Chief clerk examines requisition and forwards it to the requisi-
tion section.
. i. Requisition receives depot requisition number, and posted to
the requisition register.
5. Duplicate copy of requisition is sent to the storehouse office.
Original copy placed in hold file.
6. Storehouse chief clerk peruses papers and forwards them to
tally section.
7. Tally section prepares a tally-out in triplicate from the requi-
sition. Tally-out receives tally-out number and is posted
to the tally-out register. Tally-out number is posted to
duplicate copy of requisition which is then placed in the
hold file.
8. Original tally-out is sent to the locator card section. Duplicate
and triplicate tally-but placed in the hold .file. The location
and the availability of the item is posted on the tally-out
from the locator card rile. . Number of items to be issued is
posted in pencil on the locator card.
9. Original tally-out is sent to proper storehouse section chief , who
assembles the material and corrects tally-out as to the number
issued if necessary.
10. Original tally-out is sent to the tally section where it is checked
against the. duplicate and triplicate tally-out in the hold ale.
These copies are changed, if necessary, to agree with the original
tally-out. Date of issue is entered on all three copies, and
the original is signed by the consignee or his authorized
representative. Duplicate tally-out is sent to the locator card
section.
11. Triplicate copy of the tally-out is sent to the consignee.
12. Any changes made necessary are accomplished. Discrepancies
are adjusted. Duplicate tally-out is placed in the tally-out
file of the storehouse office.
13. Original copy of tally-out is attached to the duplicate requisition
(taken from hold file) and sent to the storehouse office chief
clerk.
14. Chief clerk peruses papers and forwards them to the shipping
ticket section of the property office.
15. Shipping ticket section draws up five copies of a shipping ticket
from the information on the tally-out.
16. The shipping ticket receives a voucher number and is posted
to the voucher register. The shipping ticket number is re-
corded on both the requisition and the tally-out, and the
requisition and tally-out numbers are placed on the shipping
ticket. The five copies of the shipping ticket, the original
tally-out, and the duplicate requisition are attached together.
17. The stock record section posts the items shown on the shipping
ticket to the stock record account; then the duplicate copy
of the shipping ticket is initialed, dated, and stamped
"Posted".
475461° — 42-
82
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
18. The chief clerk examines the shipping ticket and initials the
duplicate copy. He forwards the papers to the mail and record
section.
19. The mail and record section sends the original and one copy of
the shipping ticket to the consignee. The duplicate copy of
the shipping ticket and the original tally-out are returned to
the shipping ticket section. The duplicate copy of the in-
coming requisition Is returned to the requisition section.
The remaining two copies of- the shipping ticket are sent to
the finance officer of the consignor's service command. If the
shipping ticket bears serially numbered Items, the mall and
record section will post them to the serial number file.
20. The original requisition is taken from the hold file and the tally-
out number Is posted. It is placed In the incoming requisi-
' tion file.
21. The original tally-out Is placed in the tally-out file of the
shipping ticket section.
22. The duplicate copy of the shipping ticket is placed In the
voucher file pending the receipt of the signed original from
the consignee. This copy may be destroyed when the signed
copy is returned.
d. Step 4. — The storehouse office tally section prepares a
tally-out in triplicate from the incoming requisition and
makes the following distribution :
(1) One to the storehouse section chief concerned.
(2) Two to the hold file.
(3) The tally-out number is placed on the requisition, and
the requisition is placed in the hold file.
e. Step 5. — The storehouse section chief uses his copy of
the' tally-out to —
(1) Check off total items as the material is assembled.
(2) Indicate thereon the actual quantity issued, in case the
amount required is not on hand.
/. Step 6. — The storehouse section chief forwards this copy
to the storehouse office.
g. Step 7. — The tally section of the storehouse office checks
these amounts against the retained copies and changes items
or amounts in ink whenever necessary. The storehouse offi-
cer or his authorized representative will initial such changes.
h. Step 8. — All tally-outs are held in the storehouse office
until the issue is made, in order that the date of issue may
be entered on all copies of the tally-out and in order that
one copy may be signed by the consignee or his authorized
representative.
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ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
82-83
i. Step 9. — Distribution of tally-outs:
(1) The signed copy, together with the retained copy of
the requisition, is sent to the shipping ticket section of the
property office.
(2) One copy is kept in the storehouse office.
(3) One copy is sent to the consignee.
J. Step 10. — The storehouse office copy is used to correct
the locator card file, if necessary, and then filed in the tally-
out file.
k. Step 11. — The property office copy of the tally-out is
used as a basis for the preparation of the shipping ticket.
(1) The tally-out and requisition numbers are placed on
the shipping ticket.
(2) The stock record section posts the stock record card
from the shipping ticket.
(3) The shipping ticket voucher number is placed on the
tally-out and the requisition.
(4) The tally-out is placed in the tally-out file, and the
requisition in the proper requisition file. The copy of the
requisition in the hold file may be destroyed.
■ 83. Step-by-Step Procedure Applying to Outgoing Ship-
ping Ticket. — The following steps are taken by the property
office in the preparation of the shipping ticket:
a. Step 1. — On receipt of the copy of the signed tally-out
from the storehouse office, the shipping ticket section will
prepare five copies of a shipping ticket from the signed
tally-out (see par. 136). The shipping ticket is registered
in the voucher register and given a voucher number.
b. Step 2. — The shipping ticket is sent to the stock record
section for posting the items shipped to the stock record
account. The chief of this section will initial, date, and
stamp "Posted" on the duplicate copy of the shipping ticket.
These papers are then sent to the property office chief clerk.
e. Step 3. — The property office chief clerk examines the
shipping ticket to see that everything is in order and turns
the papers over to the mail and record section.
79
8S-85
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
d. Step 4. — The mall and record section makes the follow-
ing distribution of the shipping tickets (see also distribution
charts, figs. 21 and 22) :
(1) Duplicate copy is returned to the shipping ticket section
of the property office.
(2) Original and one copy are sent to receiving officer.
(3) Two copies are sent to the finance officer of the con-
signor's service command.
Note.— This latter requirement may be modified by the service
command or field army in which the depot is operating.
e. Step 5. — The shipping ticket section places the copy of
the shipping ticket in its proper place in the voucher file
awaiting the signed copy of the shipping ticket from the
receiving officer.
/. Step 6.— When the signed shipping ticket arrives, it is
placed in the shipping ticket file, and the retained copy is
destroyed.
Note. — Shipping tickets are not required in the combat zone,
since tally-outs, properly signed, act as valid vouchers to stock
record accounts.
■ 84. Tally-Out Procedure. — a. In the zone of the interior. —
See paragraph 82 for procedure in the zone of the interior.
b. In theater of operations. — The procedure is the same as
that listed in paragraph 82, except that the signed copy of
the tally-out sent to the property office is used as a voucher
to the stock record account and is assigned a voucher number.
(See par. 114.)
c. Personnel. — Personnel may be shifted from the property
office to the storehouse office to assist the tally section prepare
tally-outs.
■ 85. Routing Slip (OFM Form 401) (fig. 9) . — The mail and
record section will attach a routing slip to all incoming
papers. The date and hour will be recorded on it, and the
sections for which the correspondence is intended are also
checked. If papers are to go to several sections in a certain
order, the mail and record section will number the sections
in the desired order. As each section finishes its require-
80
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
85-87
ments, a line will be run through its name. The entire depot
will use this slip in the transmittal of papers.
■ 86. Serial Number Pile. — The serial number file is main-
tained by the mail and record section. The purpose of this
file is to keep the serial number record of the major items
of ordnance general supplies, in compliance with AR 45-80.
The data for this record will be furnished on copies of tally-
ins, tally-outs, and Vehicle Serial Number Sheets (OPM Form
406). The debit and credit voucher numbers must be ob-
tained from the voucher register of the shipping section. A
3x5 card (see OFM Form 409 for vehicles, and OFM Form
408 for other items) will be filled out for each item received,
showing the serial number, model, manufacturer, date re-
ceived, voucher number, and from whom received. It will
also show the complete data concerning subsequent transfers
of accountability for the item. (See figs. s 42 and 43.) In
time of war the requirement for serial number flies may be
relaxed by the- proper headquarters.
■ 87. Inventory Sheet (OFM Form 402) (fig. 10).— a. De-
scription and use. — This sheet is used by the inventory section
to record the results of their inventory. There are two
methods by' which the sheet may be kept: The items may be
listed from the locator cards of the storehouse office before
the inventory is begun, or the personnel making the inventory
may list the items as they are inventoried. In either case,
the correct nomenclature of the items must be listed. Pref-
erably, each sheet should have listed on it items belonging to
the same group. The inventory section will mark the location
of the item and the actual count opposite the item. This
sheet will serve as a check against the items as listed on
the locator cards and the stock record cards.
b. Locator carfL check. — Inventory sheets are turned over to
the locator card section as they are completed. The locator
card section checks the actual count against the locator card
balance. In case of a discrepancy, the chief clerk of the
storehouse office will write in red on the inventory sheet, by
the side of the actual count, the total shown on the locator
card.
81
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
OFM Form 401
DEPOT COMPANY
ROUTING SLIP
MONTH
DAY
HOUR
TO
FROM
ComDanv Headouarters
Property Office
Storehouse Office
ComDanv Commander
Ass't Property Office
Storehouse Office Officer
Storehouse Platoon Officer _ . .
Service Platoon Officer
Guard and Labor Platoon Officer
Property Office Chief Clerk
Mall and Record Section
Reauisition Section
Stock Record Section
Shipping- Ticket Section
Fiscal Section
Storehouse Supt.
Storehouse Chief Clerk
Locator Card Section •
Tallv Section
Receiving Section
Shipping Section
Transportation Section
Guard Section
Labor Section
Mess
Supply'
Transoortation
FOR:
Necessary Action Your Information
Inves. and Report Recommendation
Remark File
Prepare Report Prepare Ind.
Prep. Ltr. Co. Com- Prep. Ltr. Asst.
mander's Sig. P. O.'s Sig.
Rtd. Contents Noted To Note and Return
For Signature See me about this
Figure 9. — Routing Slip (OFM Form 401).
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
87
c. Posting inventory. — The storehouse office then turns the
Inventory sheets over to the stock record section. The stock
OFM Form 402
Storehouse No.
Recorder
INVENTORY SHEET
Date of Inventory
Counter
Double space between Items. Use Indelible nenr.il or Ink
Loca-
tion
Item Description
Count
Out on
Memo.
Rec.
Total
Stock
Record
Figure 10. — Inventory Sheets (OFM Form 402).
OFM Form 403
STOCK REPLENISHMENT REQUEST
Piece Mark
Drawing No.
ORGANIZATION
REQUISITION NO.
DATE OF REQUISITION
Figure 11. — Stock Replenishment Request (OFM Form 403) .
record section personnel enter on the stock record card, in
red ink, the actual balance on hand as determined by inven-
83
87-89
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
tory. (See par. 48 for details of posting inventory to the stock
record card.)
■ 88. Stock Replenishment Request (OFM Form 403) (fig.
11). — Clerks responsible for the maintenance of the stock
record will use the stock replenishment request as a notice
to the chief of the stock record section that replenishment is
required. This will normally be when stocks on hand are
approaching the minimum level. In filling out the form, care
must be exercised to use the correct nomenclature as listed
in the standard nomenclature list and to enter items by
groups. The chief of the stock record section will review the
replenishment requests for accuracy and completeness before
sending them to the chief of the requisition section for prepa-
ration of the required requisitions.
■ 89. Property Office Piles. — The following files of the
property office are maintained by the sections indicated below:
a. Mail and record section. — (1) Serial number file.
(2) Correspondence file.
b. Requisition section. — (1) Requisition register.
(2) Requisition file.
c. Stock record section. — (1) Stock record card file.
(2) Memorandum receipt file.
d. Shipping ticket section. — (1) Voucher register.
(2) Voucher file.
(3) Tally file.
84
CHAPTER 5
STOREHOUSE OFFICE
Paragraphs
Section I. Organization and equipment.
II. Operations and duties
III. Piles and records :
90-91
92
93
Section I
ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT
■ 90. Organization. — The storehouse office Is the coordinat-
ing agency between the property office and the storehouse.
This office supervises the receiving, storing, maintaining, and
issuing of ordnance materiel. The chart shown in figure 12
may be used as a guide by the company commander in or-
ganizing the office. •
■ 91. Equipment. — The office equipment will consist of such
tables, chairs, files, typewriters, and miscellaneous office
equipment as may be required.
■ 92. General. — a. Scope of operations. — The operations of
the storehouse office include the following:
(1) Preparation and maintenance of location charts and
the marking of the location of items on the locator cards (see
par. 146).
(2) Marking the location of items on tally-outs before dis-
tributing them to the proper storehouse section chief or chiefs
for preparation of the material for issue. This will usually
be necessary only in the early phases of operation of a new
depot, or with new personnel.
(3) Preparation of tally-out sheets from incoming requests
received from the property office. (See pars. 84 and 142.)
(4) Maintenance of the storehouse office tally file and
register.
Section n
OPERATIONS AND DUTIES
85
92
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(5) Supervision of the receipt and issue of supplies.
(6) Issuing instructions concerning the proper preserva-
tion of items on hand, and the conduct of periodic inspections
to determine the effectiveness of the maintenance procedures. '
(7) Issuing verbal orders or memoranda to the storehouse
section chiefs for the preparation of rush order shipments.
Tally-outs are prepared while the storehouse sections are pre-
paring the shipments.
Storehouse Officer
Lieutenant
Storehouse Supt.
Chief Clerk
Locator Card Section
Tally and General Clerical
Section
Figure 12. — Organization of the storehouse office.
(8) Notifying organizations when shipments are ready, or
requesting other transportation when necessary.
(9) Preparation of memorandum shipping tickets for ship-
ments requiring commercial carriers.
(10) Preparation of tally-ins (see par. 81).
(11) Maintenance of locator card balances by posting from
tally-ins and tally-outs.
b. Duties of storehouse officer. — The duties of the storehouse
officer are discussed in paragraph 31.
86
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
92-93
c. Duties of storehouse superintendent. — The storehouse
superintendent is responsible to the storehouse officer for —
(1) Enforcement of all policies governing the operation of
the storehouses.
(2) . Maintenance of items in storage.
(3) Security of items stored in the "strong room" of the
depot. (See fig. 44 for depot lay-out.)
(4) Insuring that the safe floor load of the building is not
exceeded. (See par. 164.)
(5) Keeping down time to a minimum. (See par. 37.)
(6) Supervision of receiving and issuing operations.
(7) Issuing instructions and orders for fire prevention and
control.
(8) Storage plans to meet emergencies.
d. Duties of storehouse chief clerk. — The chief clerk is
responsible to the storehouse superintendent for —
(1) Preparation of tally-ins and tally-outs. (See pars. 81
and 84.)
(2) Preparation and completeness of location charts and
locator card file. (See par. 93.)
(3) Maintenance of the tally file.
(4) Preparation of memorandum shipping tickets.
(5) Supervision of the recording of locations on tallies.
(6) Distribution of tallies to proper storehouse section
chiefs.
(7) Notification of organizations or transportation agency
when shipment is ready.
(8) Forwarding completed tallies to the shipping section
of the property office.
(9) Assigning duties to the clerical section personnel.
(10) Posting quantities received or issued from depot stock
to locator cards from tally-ins and tally-outs.
Section HI
FILES AND RECORDS
■ 93. Files Maintained. — The storehouse office maintains the
following flies:
a. Locator card file. — The SNL group number, the nomen-
clature, and the location in the storehouse is recorded on a
87
93
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
locator card for each item stored in the depot. (See par.
146.) Charts are also prepared showing the location of open
area storage and storehouses and the SNL groups stored
therein. The locator card file is indexed according to the
SNL's. Storehouse office clerks lopk up the location of items
requested and record this information on requisition or tally-
outs for the use of the storehouse section chiefs. The locator
card shows the actual quantity on hand.
OFM Form 404
DATE
NUMBER
OF TALLY
FOR VOUCHER
NUMBER
FROM OR TO
IN
OUT
Figure 13. — Tally Register (OFM Form 404).
&. Tally, file. — A copy of each tally-in or tally-out prepared
by the storehouse office is filed in numerical order in ac-
cordance with the register. (See pars. 81 and 84 for prepara-
tion of tallies.)
c. Tally register (OFM Form 404) (fig. 13) . — A register is
kept in which tallies are listed in numerical sequence as they
are required. There will be only one series of numbers for
both tally-ins and tally-outs. The number series should
usually be started at the beginning of the fiscal year and
should consist of two numbers, separated by a dash. The
first number should be the serial number of the tally, the
last should be the number of the fiscal year.
88
CHAPTER 6
STOREHOUSE PLATOON
Paragraphs
Section I. Organization and equipment 94^95
II. Operations and duties 9&-97
Section I
ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT
■ 94. Organization. — a. General. — The chart shown in figure
14 may be used as a guide by the company commander in
organizing the platoon.
b. Sections. — The storehouse platoon, is composed of four
sections. In some cases four sections will not be needed,
whereas in other cases this number will be insufficient. The
number of sections needed should be left to the discretion of
the storehouse officer.
■ 95. Equipment. — The equipment of the storehouse platoon
will consist of the general tools and equipment listed in
SNL N-ll, T/BA No. 9, and T/O 9-57.
Section II
OPERATIONS AND DUTIES
■ 96. General. — a. Scope of operations. — This platoon must
prepare, organize, and operate storage areas and storehouses
in accordance with the storage plan of the property officer.
This plan is normally prepared by the storehouse officer from
information furnished by the property officer concerning the
quantities and types of material to be stocked. Other opera-
tions of this platoon include —
(1) Storage of all material received from the service
platoon. (See par. 101.)
(2) Maintenance of items in storage. (See chs. 11 and 12.)
(3) Preparation of Material Tags (OFM Form 405) to be
89
96
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
attached to bins and stacks. These tags will give the SNL
group, nomenclature, and location symbol. (See fig. 15.)
(4) Preparation of stack number signs, bin numbers, and
open area signs.
(5) Tagging at least one item of -each group with a material
tag.
(6) Preparation of items for issue or storage.
(7) Checking items on tally-out as the material is assem-
bled or making notations thereon if the total Quantity re-
quested is not on hand.
Storehouse
Office
Storehouse Platoon
Lieutenant
Section 2
Section 4
Figure 14. — Organization of the storehouse platoon.
ib. Subdepot operation. — In case the depot company is op-
erating four subdepots, each of the four sections will be-
responsible for the receipt, storage, and issue of supplies
for the subdepot to which it is assigned. (See ch. 9.)
c. Duties of storehouse platoon commander. — The duties
of the storehouse platoon commander are discussed in par-
agraph 32.
d. Duties of section chief .—The section chief is responsi-
ble to the platoon commander for the efficient operation of
his section. In the discharge of this responsibility, he will —
(1) Designate various members of the section as group
chiefs and assign their respective helpers. (An SNL group
or groups will be assigned to each group chief.)
(2) See that floor loads are not exceeded.
(3) Prepare bin tags for all materials stored.
(4) See that fire aisles and main aisles are not blocked
(see par. 168) .
(5) Forward tallies to the proper group chiefs.
90
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
96
(6) Require old stock of items which deteriorate when
stored for some time to be issued first.
(7) Allow only authorized personnel to enter the store-
house.
(8) Issue maintenance instructions to the group chiefs.
(See ch. 11.)
OFM Form 405
SNL #
Nomenclature
o
Ship to:
(Org.)
Date Tally*.
(Obverse)
NnmpnHntiiTP •
SNL #
o — .
Location
Div.
Sect.
Shelf Bin
OFM Form 405
(Reverse)
Figure 15.— Material Tag (OFM Form 405).
(9) Police the storehouse or storage area for which he is
responsible.
(10) Notify the service platoon when items for issue are
assembled, or deliver them to the shipping section.
91
96-97
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(11) Return completed tallies to the storehouse office plac-
ing his initials on the duplicate copy. The completed tally
will show the items actually issued, and any corrections in the
amount called for and the amount actually issued will be
made in ink and supported by his initials.
■ 97. Material Tag (OFM Form 405) (fig. 15). — As mate-
rial is assembled and laid out for issue by the storehouse
platoon, at least one item of each group should be tagged
with a Material Tag (OPM Form 405), which shows the
SNL number, nomenclature, name of organization for which
intended, and the tally number. This will not only assist
the service platoon in keeping items belonging to various sec-
tions from being mixed, but will also assist the consignee to
identify the item.
92
CHAPTER 7
SERVICE PLATOON
Paragraphs
Section I. Organization and equipment 98-99
II. Operations and duties 100-103
Section I
ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT
■ 98. Organization. — The chart shown in figure 16 may be
used as a guide by the company commander in organizing
the platoon.
■ 99. Equipment. — The equipment of the service platoon will
consist of such items contained in T/BA No. 9 and SNL N-ll
as are assigned to it by the company commander. In general
this will include some vehicles and such general tools as bits,
braces, chisels, files, • grinders, hammers, saws, screw drivers,
squares, vises, wrecking bars, and wrenches.
Section II
OPERATIONS AND DUTIES
■ 100. General. — The platoon is charged with receiving,
Platoon Commander
Lieutenant
Receiving Section
Shipping Section
Transportation and
Labor Section
Figure 16. — Organization of the service platoon.
checking, packing, crating, and issuing depot property. It
will also transport material within the depot. In order that
475461 °-
93
.100-102
.ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
these operations may be performed efficiently, specific opera-
tions are assigned to each subsection of the platoon.
■ 101. Receiving Section.-— a. Scope of operations. — The re-
ceiving section is responsible for the following operations:
(1) Checking and recording on suitable memoranda the
serial numbers of vehicles, artillery, etc., received. Vehicle
serial numbers are recorded on the Vehicle Serial Number
Report (OFM Form 406). (See fig. 17.) Completed forms
are sent to the storehouse office.
(2) Checking items against tally-ins or packing lists. Orig-
inal packages need not be broken to verify contents, provided
the contents are plainly marked on the package, and the
package appears not to have been tampered with. (See par.
58.)
(3) Spotting railroad cars or truck trains at the storehouse
or area where material is to be received.
(4) Turning items received over to the proper storehouse
section chiefs for storage. It may be necessary to call on the
transportation and labor section to move items from the
receiving point to the proper storehouse or storage area.
When vehicles are received, the transportation section will
furnish drivers to take the vehicles to the open storage area.
(See par. 115.)
b. Duties of foreman. — The section foreman is responsible
to the storehouse superintendent for the efficient functioning
of the receiving section. In the discharge of this responsibil-
ity, he will —
(1) Make inspections of incoming shipments of material
to see if they have been damaged in shipment.
(2) Check railroad car seals to see if they have been broken,
and immediately report any signs of tampering to the assist-
ant property officer.
(3) Determine the method of unloading shipments and be
alert to enforce safety rules.
(4) Submit his request to the storehouse superintendent
for laborers to assist in the unloading of material.
(5) Designate certain members of the section as checkers.
■ 102. Shipping Section. — a. Scope of operations. — The ship-
ping section is responsible for the following operations:
94
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
102-103
(1) Receipt and check of items assembled by the store-
house sections for issue and shipment.
(2) Packing or crating items preparatory to shipment.
(3) Including packing list (tally-out) with all shipments.
(4) Having tally-out signed by person in charge of the
organizational train calling for the items. The signed copy
is sent to storehouse office.
b. Duties of foreman. — The foreman is responsible to the
platoon commander for the performance of the following
duties:
(1) Inspecting materials to determine their condition prior
to shipment, and seeing that at least one item of each group
is tagged. The tag should show the proper nomenclature
and the name of organization for which it is intended.
(2) Supervising the loading of materials and seeing that
the provisions of the Ordnance Safety Manual and the regu-
lations of the Interstate Commerce Commission are complied
with. (See TM 9-1900 for safety precautions in handling
ammunition.)
(3) Checking packages and crates for marking to see that
the name of the organization for which it is intended, the
contents, and the weight (also the volume when necessary)
are clearly stenciled on the outside. (See par. 57.)
(4) Obtaining bills of lading from the quartermaster for
shipments being transported by commercial carriers.
(5) Submitting labor requirement request to the store-
house superintendent.
(6) Notifying the storehouse office when a shipment is
ready.
(7) Securing assistance from the transportation section
to operate the portable crane and the wrecker for loading
whenever necessary.
B 103. Transportation and Labor Section. — a. Scope of oper-
ations. — This section is responsible for the following
operations:
(1) Delivering items from the receiving point to the proper
storehouse or open area section chief.
(2) Collecting items from the various storehouses and de-
livering them to the shipping section.
95
103
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(3) Driving vehicles from the receiving point to the stor-
age area.
(4) Drawing necessary equipment from the storehouse
platoon for loading or unloading shipments, and operating
the portable crane or wrecker if and when required.
OFM Form 406
ORDNANCE VEHICLE SERIAL NUMBER REPORT
Recorder's Name: Date:
Type
of
Vehicle
U.S.
Reg.
Number
Ordnance
Serial
Number
Engine
Number
Manufacturer ' s
Number
Railroad
Car
Number-
Figure 17. — Ordnance Vehicle Serial Number Report (OFM Form 406) .
&. Duties of foreman. — The foreman of this section is re-
sponsible to the platoon commander for the functioning of
his section. He will maintain control over the members of
the section when they are not working under the supervision
of the foreman of other sections.
96
CHAPTER 8
GUARD AND LABOR PLATOON
Paragraph
Section I. Organization 104
JI. Operations and duties 105-107
Section I
ORGANIZATION
■ 104. Organization. — The chart shown in figure 18 may be
used by the company commander as a guide in organizing
this platoon.
Section II
OPERATIONS AND DUTIES
■ 105. General. — a. Scope of operations. — This platoon per-
forms the heavy labor tasks which may be required. Other
operations of this platoon include —
(1) Unloading or loading all incoming or outgoing ship-
ments.
(2) Assisting the service platoon in the checking of items
received or issued.
(3) Assisting the storehouse platoon in the stacking of
materials.
(4) Furnishing the necessary guard details for the pro-
tection of depot property. (This may not be necessary if a
guard is otherwise provided.)
(5) Operating the visiting vehicle booth at the depot
entrance. (See par. 107.)
(6) Assisting the shipping section in packing and crating.
(7) Providing a detail to police the depot offices.
b. Duties of sections foreman. — The sections foreman is re-
sponsible to the platoon commander for the efficient opera-
tion of the sections. In the discharge of this responsibility,
he will —
(1) Upon request assign members of the platoon to sections
requiring laborers in order to accomplish specific tasks.
97
105-107
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
(2) Maintain the guard roster and the office police roster.
(3) Inspect the guard detail, and see that full instructions
are issued as to the proper protection of the depot property.
(4) Act as supervisor when large groups of laborers are
used to load or unload freight cars.
Platoon Commander
Lieutenant
Section Foreman
Guard Section
Labor Section
Figure 18. — Organization of the guard and labor platoon.
■ 106. Labor. — For planning purposes labor requirements for
handling supplies are computed on the average of Vz
ton per man per hour for 10 hours each day. The maximum
number of men that can be employed advantageously in load-
ing or unloading one freight car is 11 (1 foreman and 10
laborers) . In the field or at a depot, trucks can be loaded or
unloaded at the rate of 20 minutes per truck, regardless of
tonnage, if sufficient labor is available. The number of trucks
that can be loaded or unloaded simultaneously is dependent
upon the amount of labor available and the conditions exist-
ing at the loading or unloading point. Experience tables
on this subject may be developed as operations progress. (See
par. 101, PM 101-10.)
■ 107. Visiting Vehicle Booth. — This is a booth or small
office established at or near the depot entrance to check on
98
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
107
the movements of transportation into and out of the depot
area and to provide any necessary information to visiting per-
sonnel. Truck trains will halt at this booth and present their
requests. The guard on duty will record on the Daily Report
of Visiting Vehicles (OFM Form 407) the vehicle registration
number, the organization, the driver's name, the destination,
and the clearance papers (see fig. 19) . When the depot covers
OFM Form 407
DAILY REPORT OF VISITING VEHICLES
Recorder's Name: Date:
Vehicle
Reg.
Number
Organization
Driver's
Name
Destination
Clearance
Papers
In
Out
— — —
Figure 19. — Dally Report of Visiting Vehicles (OFM Form 407) .
quite a large area, guides from the transportation section of
the service platoon will be assigned to this booth to direct
vehicles to the proper storehouse. Hie train commander will
present a tally-out sheet to the guard at the booth, as a pass
to permit him to proceed with the property. At the close of
the day, the daily reports (OFM Form 407) are turned over to
the assistant property officer.
99
CHAPTER 9
DEPOT COMPANY OPERATING SUBDEPOTS
■ 108. General. — In the . combat zone, under certain condi-
tions, such as a rapidly moving situation, a broad front, and
intensive bombardment, the depot company may be required
to operate several subdepots which are disposed laterally
and in depth. This, will necessitate the subdivision of the
company into, several groups, each group being responsible
for the operation of the subdepot assigned to it. These
groups will usually be subdivided into a storehouse platoon, a
service platoon, and a guard and labor platoon, each perform-
ing the same functions as outlined in paragraphs 94 to 105,
inclusive. The stocks of these depots will be determined by
the nature of the units served and other pertinent considera-
tions. The parent depot will be responsible for the mainte-
nance of their stock levels. Units operating in the vicinity of
a particular subdepot will Usually draw their supplies from
that depot. Subdepots are not permanently established at
certain points, but may be required to move into new positions
on short notice. The lieutenant in charge of a subdepot must
know the condition of his stock at all times and be prepared
to give quickly an accurate estimate of the truck tons required
to move his stock. He should have definite loading plans so
that the time required for loading and unloading will be kept
to a minimum. The material may frequently have to be
stored in the open, and it will be necessary to make as much
use of natural shelter as possible. Dunnage should be used
to keep the items off the ground, and tarpaulins should be
thrown over materials which deteriorate when exposed to
moisture. (See pars. 173 to 176, incl.)
■ 109. Organization. — See figure 20 for a chart of the organi-
zation of the depot company when operating subdepots. This
chart is intended merely as a guide and should be modified
as required to solve specific problems.
100
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
110-114
■ 110. Transportation. — Since the transportation facilities
of the depot company are rather limited, it will frequently
be necessary for the parent depot to secure quartermaster
transportation when vehicles are needed to replenish sub-
depot stocks. When possible, a Vi-ton truck should be allotted
to each subdepot.
■ 111. Traffic. — Traffic .through the depot area should be
one-way whenever possible. Roads which pass warehouses or
storage areas should be wide enough for trucks to back Up
and park across one side of the road without blocking the
flow of traffic. A guide should be placed at the depot
entrance to direct trucks to the proper area. (See par. 107.)
See FM 21-45 for suggestions on traffic flow.
■ 112. Subdepot Markers. — Subdepots should be adequately
posted with signs for both day and night operation. When
lighted signs are used, due regard to blackout restrictions
must be observed.
■ 113. Mess.— The personnel operating subdepots may be
rationed in any one of several ways. The method utilized
will depend upon the circumstances. See paragraph 66 for
suggested methods of procedure.
■ 114. Issue of Items. — a. General. — Subdepots will issue
items as called for, underlining those items not available, or,
in case they cannot furnish the number requested on the re-
quisition, the original figure will be lined out. The quantity
actually issued will be entered beside the first amount. The
responsible party calling for the material will be required
to sign a copy of the requisition as a receipt for the material.
He will be given one copy of the request, which he will de-
liver to his commander. The other copy is retained by the
depot. Prom it the locator card file is posted and tally-outs
are prepared. It is then filed in the requisition file. The
tally-outs are forwarded to the parent depot, so that the
master stock record card file may be posted. In case the
unit calling for items does not have a formal requisition
prepared, the subdepot personnel will prepare a tally-out and
follow the same procedure as though it were a requisition.
Signature for the property will be secured on the tally-out.
101
114
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
b. Helpful suggestions. — Experience has indicated that the
following suggestions are useful :
(1) Issues of stores "over the counter" by base installa-
Company Commander
Captain
Company Headquarters
Parent Depot
Lieutenant
Subdepot #1
Lieutenant
Property Office
Storehouse Office
Storehouse Platoon
Lieutenant
Service Platoon
— Guard & Labor Platoon
Subdepot #2
Lieutenant
Subdepot #3
Lieutenant
Storehouse Platoon | - | Storehouse Platoon
— j Service Platoon |
L Guard & Labor Platoon
Service Platoon
Guard & Labor Platoon L Guard & Labor Platoon
Storehouse Platoon
Service Platoon
Figure 20. — Organization of the ordnance company, depot (operat-
ing subdepots) .
tions should be reduced to the minimum. It gives preference
to nonflghting units and interferes with the forward flow.
(2) Wherever possible, associated parts and equipment
102
ORDNANCE COMPANY, DEPOT
114-116
pertaining to major items should be packaged with the major
item, in order that the major item may arrive complete.
(3) Where materials require priority in handling and ship-
ment, they should be specially marked with some such mark-
ing as "Urgent combat materiel" and marked with distinctive
color bands of a prescribed nature.
(4) Where night operations make it difficult to distinguish
particular materials which it is desired to segregate from
other materials, the use of large distinctive markings, such
as different colored crosses may prove useful.
■ 115. Protection of Stores. — a. Wherever possible, under-
ground protection should be provided for essential items such
as small arms, optical instruments, and spare parts for same.
b. The front part of vehicles may be run into shallow pits,
especially if there is a convenient rise in the ground. If
vehicles are stored nose downward in protective pits the angle
on which the vehicle is parked should not exceed 10° from the
horizontal. If this angle is exceeded, the level of the oil in
the sump may be below the oil pump, and the cold motor will
be damaged when started due to oil starvation.
c. New vehicles may be mixed with old in small groups to
simulate a derelict dump.
d. Vehicles should be dispersed, different types being mixed
in the area of dispersion.
e. Areas which have been bombed should as far as possible
be left with the appearance of being derelict. Craters should
not be filled unless absolutely necessary.
/. Miscellaneous stores can be protected in both forward
and rear areas by —
(1) Many small dumps, partially buried.
(2) For valuable major items by distribution to corners
of buildings with sandbag protection.
(3) Separation of bulk packings from broken packages.
(4) Careful consideration of shadow, that is, low wide
pyramid style of stacking and irregularity of design.
(5) Low tunnel-like brick constructions for storage of arms
and machine guns.
■ 116. Replenishment of Stjbdepot Stocks. — The personnel in
charge of the locator card file will make out replenishment
103
116-118
ORDNANCE FIELD MANUAL
request on OFM Form 403. (See par. 88.) The chief clerk
• of the subdepot will consolidate these requests and will pre-
pare a requisition or consolidated request, which is submitted
to the parent depot. The parent depot will issue items re-
quested by the subdepot on tally-outs prepared in duplicate.
The officer in charge of the subdepot will receipt for the items
by signing one copy of the tally-out and returning it to the
parent depot. The retained copy of the tally-out is marked
"tally-in" and the items thereon are posted to the locator card
file of the subdepot. It is then placed in the tally-in file.
If items are received without the usual tally-out, the sub-
depot personnel will prepare a tally-in in duplicate. One copy
of this tally-in will be signed by the officer in charge of the
subdepot and forwarded to the parent depot.
■ 117. Company Commander. — The company commander will
establish himself at a centrally located depot where he may
easily be located. He will visit each of the other depots at
frequent intervals so as to be personally acquainted with the
problems encountered by all. He should make such adjust-
ments in organizations as may be necessary to solve his
problems.
■ 118. Parent Depot Personnel Operations and Duties. —
The property office personnel will prepare requisitions (see
pars. 81 and 84) , and wiU maintain the master stock record
card file (see pars. 46 and 114). The storehouse office per-
sonnel will be mainly concerned with the preparation of
tallies (see pars. 81 and 84) and the maintenance of the tally
file (see par. 93) and the locator card file (see par. 93).
104
CHAPTER 10
PROPERTY ACCOUNTABILITY AND PROPERTY PAPERS
Paragraphs
Section I. General 119-123
II. Origin of accountability (gains) _'i 124-125
III. Cessation of accountability (losses) 126-127
IV. ^Property papers and-their use 28-148
Section I
GENERAL
■ 119. Purpose. — This chapter is intended for use as a guide
in connection with all transactions involving custody of
ordnance supplies and equipment in peace and war, insofar
as accountability and responsibility are concerned.
■ 120. Definitions.— a. Accountability. — AR 35-6520 states:
"Accountability devolves upon any person to whom public
property is intrusted and who is required to maintain a
property account thereof. * * * Property 'accountabil-
ity' will be checked by a property auditor." Thus, account-
ability directly applies to the depot ordnance officer, since all
the property intrusted to him must be properly recorded on a
stock record account which is periodically audited by . a repre-
sentative of the Finance Depa
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