Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant
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The Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant was the first manufacturing plant ever built for the mass production of tanks in the United States. Established in 1940 under Chrysler, this plant was owned by the U.S. government until 1996. It was designed by architect Albert Kahn. Notwithstanding its name, it was located in Warren, Michigan.
During World War II, the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant built a quarter of the 89,568 tanks produced in the U.S. overall. The Korean War boosted production for the first time since World War II had ended; the government would suspend tank production after each war. In 1982, Chrysler sold the plant to General Dynamics. It became the United States Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center. It also produced the M1 Abrams tank (along with another plant in Lima, Ohio) until 1996.
This important arsenal of democracy is memorialized by a Michigan Historical Marker.[1]
The structure of the plant was designed to survive bombardment by the weapons of the day. It included three foot thick concrete walls in some areas and a reenforced roof with slats to direct bombs away from vulnerable windows and exhaust fans.
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The base's fire station has a Thunderbolt siren on top. It is a model 1000
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