Wow! Unintended Consequences in all it's glory. Geezus, they might as well put up a State sized billboard saying..HERE WE ARE!! Living proof the USG redlines the DUMB-O-METER every single day. quote: "The acquisition strategy for small-arms ammunition is based on the Government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) ammunition plant at Lake City, Missouri. Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (ATK), operates this GOCO facility for the Government. As a GOCO, the facility is commanded by an Army lieutenant colonel, but ATK is responsible for production operations and output capabilities. This relationship allows the Government to reduce its manpower costs and invite private-sector business initiatives to promote efficiency and improve production.2
Over 99 percent of all small-arms bullets (5.56-millimeter [mm], 7.62-mm and .50-caliber) consumed by the Army under its Title 10 responsibility to supply and equip its forces are manufactured at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. Production demand is driven by current operational requirements; any production shortfalls at Lake City are outsourced to private companies within the United States.3 Logisticians will argue that this strategy lacks adequate redundancy and responsiveness, especially when one considers that the Lake City facility was built in 1941.
The Army’s small-arms ammunition production is affected by more than the output of the Lake City facility. As with any manufacturing system, the supply chain is an integral piece in the production output process. Each small-arms-ammunition cartridge (single round) contains several components. The main ammunition used by virtually every Soldier and Marine is the 5.56-mm cartridge. Its design includes the cartridge case, the bullet or shot, propellant, and primer. Each of these components is fabricated from different commodities. The Army requires ATK to maintain a minimum of three suppliers for each of the components.4
The lead and steel for the bullet’s penetrator are obtained from sources located in the United States.5 The brass for the cartridge case is primarily supplied from companies within the continental United States (CONUS). Lake City purchases brass in the form of brass case cups and bullet jacket cups from a U.S.-based source. During the manufacturing process, these cups are pulled from their original configuration and reconfigured into the appropriate small-arms ammunition cartridge type. Alternative suppliers have been identified; however, they account for less than 5 percent of the total purchased.6 Lake City has taken the initiative to recycle unused and waste brass during the manufacturing process to reduce costs.
The main ingredient used in all small-arms ammunition propellants is nitrocellulose. The Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia is the sole producer of this essential ingredient for all propellants used throughout the Army’s ammunition industrial base. Radford has an acid-concentrator facility that produces the nitric and sulphuric acids that, when combined with cellulose, make nitrocellulose. Ninety-nine percent of all small-arms ammunition used in Afghanistan and Iraq contains nitrocellulose produced at this facility.
Finally, the primer in most cartridges is made from over 13 different chemicals, which are mixed at the Lake City plant. Lake City manufactures the primers for all small-arms ammunition produced at its facility. ATK continues to seek additional sources of supply for the primer mix chemicals. All suppliers are based in the United States. However, the U.S. suppliers obtain these chemicals from Canada, Europe, Mexico, India, Brazil, and China as well as the United States.7 " unquote
All an enemy would have to do is take out either Lake City or Radford. Then the ammo supply would dry up. Yes, I know that the military has millions of rounds in storage. We better not get into a long and bigger war than Iraq. With Obama reducing our nukes we could end up with our fanny in a jam.
2 comments:
Wow! Unintended Consequences in all it's glory. Geezus, they might as well put up a State sized billboard saying..HERE WE ARE!! Living proof the USG redlines the DUMB-O-METER every single day.
quote:
"The acquisition strategy for small-arms ammunition is based on the Government-owned, contractor-operated (GOCO) ammunition plant at Lake City, Missouri. Alliant Techsystems, Inc. (ATK), operates this GOCO facility for the Government. As a GOCO, the facility is commanded by an Army lieutenant colonel, but ATK is responsible for production operations and output capabilities. This relationship allows the Government to reduce its manpower costs and invite private-sector business initiatives to promote efficiency and improve production.2
Over 99 percent of all small-arms bullets (5.56-millimeter [mm], 7.62-mm and .50-caliber) consumed by the Army under its Title 10 responsibility to supply and equip its forces are manufactured at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant. Production demand is driven by current operational requirements; any production shortfalls at Lake City are outsourced to private companies within the United States.3 Logisticians will argue that this strategy lacks adequate redundancy and responsiveness, especially when one considers that the Lake City facility was built in 1941.
The Army’s small-arms ammunition production is affected by more than the output of the Lake City facility. As with any manufacturing system, the supply chain is an integral piece in the production output process. Each small-arms-ammunition cartridge (single round) contains several components. The main ammunition used by virtually every Soldier and Marine is the 5.56-mm cartridge. Its design includes the cartridge case, the bullet or shot, propellant, and primer. Each of these components is fabricated from different commodities. The Army requires ATK to maintain a minimum of three suppliers for each of the components.4
The lead and steel for the bullet’s penetrator are obtained from sources located in the United States.5 The brass for the cartridge case is primarily supplied from companies within the continental United States (CONUS). Lake City purchases brass in the form of brass case cups and bullet jacket cups from a U.S.-based source. During the manufacturing process, these cups are pulled from their original configuration and reconfigured into the appropriate small-arms ammunition cartridge type. Alternative suppliers have been identified; however, they account for less than 5 percent of the total purchased.6 Lake City has taken the initiative to recycle unused and waste brass during the manufacturing process to reduce costs.
The main ingredient used in all small-arms ammunition propellants is nitrocellulose. The Radford Army Ammunition Plant in Virginia is the sole producer of this essential ingredient for all propellants used throughout the Army’s ammunition industrial base. Radford has an acid-concentrator facility that produces the nitric and sulphuric acids that, when combined with cellulose, make nitrocellulose. Ninety-nine percent of all small-arms ammunition used in Afghanistan and Iraq contains nitrocellulose produced at this facility.
Finally, the primer in most cartridges is made from over 13 different chemicals, which are mixed at the Lake City plant. Lake City manufactures the primers for all small-arms ammunition produced at its facility. ATK continues to seek additional sources of supply for the primer mix chemicals. All suppliers are based in the United States. However, the U.S. suppliers obtain these chemicals from Canada, Europe, Mexico, India, Brazil, and China as well as the United States.7
" unquote
yesireeebob..dumb as a bowl of jello.
All an enemy would have to do is take out either Lake City or Radford. Then the ammo supply would dry up. Yes, I know that the military has millions of rounds in storage.
We better not get into a long and bigger war than Iraq. With Obama reducing our nukes we could end up with our fanny in a jam.
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