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The United States would be drawn into World War I in April 1917 and the subsequent demand for armaments skyrocketed. During this war, the army’s manpower increased by 41 times. Employment on the Rock Island Arsenal would skyrocket to 15,000 and new manufacturing methods improved efficiency. Prior to WWI, Arsenal Island was engaged in constructing the 1903 Springfield rifle and would update artillery production.

Courtesy of RIA Museum.

The U.S. would adopt the French pattern rapid-fire 75mm cannon as American artillery design had lagged behind in the pre-war years. The Arsenal would also construct 155mm artillery ammunition for the first time.  Women and African American workers would be integrated into the production process for the first time.  More than 1,417 women would be working at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1918 as opposed to 175 in 1914.

Post-war production quickly wound down and the women and African Americans who had entered the workforce were the first to be let go. In the meantime, additional construction occurred to handle the higher demands and need for greater storage. That pattern would occur again when construction ramped up for WWII.

Women in Ammo Loading, WWI. Courtesy of RIA Museum.

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