List of Royal Ordnance Factories facts for kids

The Royal Ordnance Factories, often called ROFs, were special places in the United Kingdom where weapons, ammunition, and explosives were made. These factories were owned by the government and played a super important role, especially during big wars like World War I and World War II. They made sure that soldiers had the guns, bullets, and bombs they needed to protect the country.

What Were Royal Ordnance Factories?

Royal Ordnance Factories were like giant workshops. Their main job was to produce military equipment. This included everything from small rifle bullets to large artillery shells. They also made the powerful explosives that went inside these weapons.

The idea for these factories came from the need for the UK to make its own weapons. This way, the country wouldn't have to rely on other nations. During wartime, these factories worked non-stop. Thousands of people, including many women, worked in these factories. They helped produce the huge amounts of supplies needed for the war effort.

Different Kinds of Factories

Not all ROFs did the same thing. They were specialized for different tasks. Here are some of the main types:

• Explosive ROFs: These factories made the actual explosive materials. Think of them as the places where the gunpowder and other powerful chemicals were created.
• Filling Factories: Once the explosives were made, they needed to be put into shells, bombs, or bullets. Filling factories did this dangerous but vital job.
• Engineering ROFs: These factories focused on making the metal parts of weapons. This included gun barrels, tank parts, and other heavy machinery.
• Small Arms Ammunition (SAA) Factories: These places specifically made bullets for rifles and machine guns.
• Rifles Factories: As the name suggests, these factories built the rifles themselves.
• Explosives Storage Depots: These were safe places where dangerous explosives were stored before being sent out.

Famous Royal Ordnance Factories

Many ROFs were built across the UK. Some of them were very well known.

• The Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, was one of the oldest and most famous. It was like the original ROF, making weapons for hundreds of years.
• The Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield in London was famous for making rifles. Many British soldiers carried rifles made here.
• The Waltham Abbey Royal Gunpowder Mills in Essex made gunpowder for a very long time. It was a key site for explosives production.
• Many Filling Factories were built during World War II. Places like ROF Chorley and ROF Glascoed were huge sites. They filled millions of shells and bombs.
• Some ROFs, like ROF Burghfield and ROF Sellafield, later changed their purpose. They became part of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) or nuclear sites. This shows how important these locations were for national defense, even after the wars.

These factories were crucial for the UK's defense. They helped the country stand strong during challenging times.

See also

• Filling Factories in the United Kingdom