United States Army In World War II: The Technical Services: The Quartermaster Corps
Organization, Supply, and Services, Volume I
by Erna Risch
Center of Military History
United States Army
Washington, D.C.
1953
. . . to Those Who Served
Contents
Part One: Administration
Historical Background—Status of QMC in 1939—Effect of World War II
Chapter 1: Administrative Organization
Expansion of the Organization—Transfer of Functions—General Reorganization after Pearl Harbor—Problems of Adjustment Under Office Order 84—Readjustments in 1942—Evolution of Functional-Commodity-Type Organization, 1943-45—Field Organization—Relations with Other Agencies
Part Two: Supply
Chapter 2: Factors Shaping Research Activities
Influence of World War I Surplus Property—Lack of Integrated Research Program—Financial Restrictions—Influence of Procurement Planning—Impact of Global War—Effect of Materials Shortages on Design
Chapter 3: The Development of Army Clothing
Organization for Product Development—Development and Standardization Procedure—Winter Combat Clothing—Summer Combat Clothing—Jungle Combat Clothing—Combat Headgear—Combat Footgear—Clothing for Women in the Army—Textile and Leather Problems—Summary
Chapter 4: The Development of Personal and Organizational Equipment
Personal Equipment—Organizational Equipment—Summary
Chapter 5: The Development of Subsistence
Administrative Background—The Development of Special Rations—Development of Components of A and B Rations—Development of Packaging and Packing—Summary
Chapter 6: Forecasting War Requirements for Quartermaster Supplies
Administrative Background—Theory of Forecasting Requirements—Elements in the Determination of Requirements—Evolution of the Army Supply Program—Quartermaster Contributions to Improved Techniques—Development of Supply Control System—Computation of Task Force Requirements—Overseas Requirements Tables—Subsistence Requirements—Elements in Subsistence Forecasting—Petroleum Requirements—Summary
Chapter 7: Procurement Policies and Procedures
The Quartermaster Supply System in 1939—War Procurement Plans—Developments in Procurement Organization—Expansion of Centralized Procurement—Experimentation with Decentralized Procurement Operations—Streamlining Procurement Methods—Contract Placement Policies and Problems—Special Procurement Responsibilities
Organization for Production Control—Causes of Contract Delinquency—Expediting Efforts of Contractors and Depots—Flow of Materials and Equipment—Production Planning and Scheduling—Other Aids for Expediting Production—Inspection of Quartermaster Procurements
Chapter 9: Quartermaster Storage Operations
Administrative Background—Depot Storage Operations—Expansion of Depot Storage Facilities—Use of Commercial Storage Space—Space Control—Materials Handling—Packing Operations
Chapter 10: Stock Control Operations
Supply Administration Prior to 1942—Establishment of New Methods of Stock Control—Stock Control System in Operation—Administrative Developments—Excess Stocks—Disposal of Surplus Property
Charts
1. The Quartermaster Corps in the War Department: 1941
2. The Quartermaster Corps in the War Department: March 1942
3. Office of The Quartermaster General: 31 July 1942
4. Office of The Quartermaster General: 15 July 1944
5. Research and Development Branch, OQMG: 16 June 1944
6. Quartermaster Board Shoe Test Track
7. Quartermaster Board Combat Course (1,700 Feet)
8. Principal Changes in K Ration Components
9. Supply Pipeline (Quartermaster Items)
10. Quartermaster Corps Depot System: 1939
11. Quartermaster Corps Depot System: 1 December 1944
Illustrations
Lt. Gen. Edmund B. Gregory Frontispiece—Service Uniforms of 1918 and 1941—Utilization of the Layering Principle—Field Jacket M-1943—Combat Uniform with Hood—Footwear Developed by the Quartermaster Corps—Shoepacs and Wool Ski Socks—The Original WAAC Uniform—Army Nurse Corps Uniforms—Nurse’s Seersucker Uniform—Jungle Pack—Barracks Bag—Duffel Bag—Intrenching Shovel M-1943—Combination Intrenching Tool—Filling Blitz Cans from Railroad Tank Car—Field Range M-1937—Gasoline Cooking Stoves—Small Detachment Cooking Outfit—20-Man Cooking Outfit—Army Field Bake Oven No. 1—Portable Repair Units—Ten-in-One Army Field Ration—Dehydrated Food Products—Fork-Lift Truck
All illustrations in this volume are from U. S. Department of Defense files.