Indian Army Ordnance Corps
| Army Ordnance Corps | |
|---|---|
| Active | April 8, 1775 |
| Country |
 British Raj India
|
| Allegiance |
 British Indian Army India
|
| Branch |
 Indian Army
|
| Role | Material and logistic support |
| Motto(s) | Sua Tela Tonanti English: To the thunderer – His Arms or To the Soldier – His fighting needs |
| Colors |
Navy blue & Red |
| Anniversaries | 8 April |
| Engagements |
World War I World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Sino-Indian War of 1962 Indo-Pak War of 1965 Indo-Pak War of 1971 1999 Kargil Conflict |
| Website | Indian Army Ordnance Corps Official Site |
| Commanders | |
| Director General Ordnance Services | Lieutenant General Amit Sarin, AVSM, SM, VSM |
| Colonel Commandant | Lieutenant General Amit Sarin, AVSM, SM, VSM |
The Army Ordnance Corps (abbreviated as AOC) is an active corps of the Indian Army and a major formation responsible for providing material and logistical support to the Indian Army during war and peace. The history of the Ordnance Corps dates back to the 18th century, which makes it one of the oldest formations of the Indian Army.
The history of ordnance in India dates back to the 15th century. The early ordnance stores in the Indian sub-continent were established by the British East India Company for their logistical requirements. Following the military expansion of the company, the needs of military troops increased which in turn required the support of an ordnance department. By accepting the report of then Commander-in-Chief of the Bengal Army, Lieutenant General Sir John Clavering, the Board of Ordnance was established on April 8, 1775. This is considered to be the first step towards the recognition of the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC). Initially the board was put under the control of the Bengal Presidency.
With the increasing influence of the British crown over the sub-continent, the number of British troops increased significantly. In 1874, a "Special Ordnance Commission" was appointed by the government to prepare a report on the establishment of a new ordnance system at the national level. The report which was submitted on 7 April 1875 recommended a centralized system and the establishment of ordnance factories in the country. A report by the Army in India Commission, which was constituted in May 1879 by Lord Lytton, recommended the establishment of a centralized all-India organisation, headed by a Director General of Ordnance. On 1 April 1884, the Ordnance Department of India came into existence. The Ordnance's three Presidencies of the British Raj were integrated into one. An Inspector General of Ordnance was appointed to each Presidency and was responsible to the Director General at the national level. Following the Partition of Bengal (1905), the Ordnance was split into two, each with an Inspector General. Several reorganizations took place during the tenure of Lord Kitchener as the Commander-in-Chief of India.
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Wikipedia