ROF Glascoed facts for kids

ROF Glascoed is a special factory in the UK. It was built by the government to make military supplies. Today, it's known as BAE Systems Munitions Glascoed. It was one of 20 factories designed to put together different kinds of military equipment.

Unlike some other factories, Glascoed was meant to stay open even after World War II ended. In the 1980s, the government sold these factories, and Glascoed became part of a company called Royal Ordnance. Later, it joined BAE Systems.

A railway line from the Great Western Railway served the factory from 1940 until 1993. This helped transport materials and workers.

Why Glascoed Was Built

In the late 1930s, before World War II began, the British government had a plan. They wanted to spread out where weapons and military supplies were made. This was to protect them from air attacks, especially in big cities and southern England. So, the government built several Royal Ordnance Factories (ROFs).

Choosing the Location

Glascoed was chosen for a factory that would fill military supplies. It's in a quiet valley between Pontypool and Usk in Monmouthshire, Wales. The area was perfect because it was hidden by hills. Its damp weather was also good for handling explosives safely.

The government bought farmland to build the factory. This project also helped many people in the area find jobs. This was important because many were unemployed during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Safe Factory Design

The new factory, called 'ROF 54', was designed by experts from the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich. Safety was the most important thing. Each building where work happened was far apart. They were separated by wide open spaces and tall grass hills, about 20 feet (6 meters) high. The buildings also had very thick concrete walls.

These special earthworks and walls were designed to send any explosion upwards. This would stop it from spreading to other buildings nearby. The site also had many underground storage areas and lightning protection. Paths, roads, and railways connected all the buildings.

Building started in February 1938. A company from Cardiff did the work. The factory officially opened in April 1940. It was making full production by 1941-1942.

Glascoed During Wartime

At its busiest, ROF Glascoed had almost 700 separate buildings. Each building was used for a specific step in making military supplies. Even today, it has over 10 miles (16 km) of roads. It also has an 8-mile (13 km) fence around its edge. Until recently, it had its own 17-mile (27 km) railway system.

Transporting Workers and Supplies

The factory's railway included a passenger station and yards for freight trains. It connected to the main Great Western Railway line. This allowed up to 13,000 workers to travel in and out three times a day. It also brought in raw materials and sent out finished military supplies. A small group of houses was built nearby for managers. This allowed them to respond quickly in emergencies.

What Glascoed Produced

At first, ROF Glascoed was meant to make sea-mines for the Royal Navy. But it also made large bombs and special fireworks (called pyrotechnics) for the RAF. These included huge 8,000lb bombs for RAF Bomber Command. It also made the 'Highball' bouncing bomb, which was a smaller version of the famous 'Upkeep' bombs. These were used by RAF 617 squadron in May 1943.

Air Raids and Safety

During the war, people worried about air raids. A nearby tower, The Folly Tower, was thought to be a target for German planes. So, it was taken down at the start of the war. It was rebuilt in 1994 and is now a tourist spot.

ROF Glascoed was bombed only twice during the war. On October 31, 1940, a worker was killed and several were hurt. A single German bomber dropped 12 bombs. But it only caused minor damage to the factory. After the war, records showed the bomber crew thought they had bombed an airfield far away.

After World War II

After the war, Glascoed started making concrete building products. It also helped to get rid of extra military supplies. As the Cold War began, especially during the Korean War, Glascoed made even more types of military items.

These included supplies for field guns, howitzers, and tanks. They also made mortar and aerial bombs. Glascoed produced warheads for missiles and torpedoes, flares, and smoke bombs.

Glascoed Today

The Royal Ordnance Factories were government-run until 1987, when they became private companies. Today, Glascoed is run by BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions. Many other ROFs have closed, but Glascoed is still the only place in the UK that fills ammunition. It sells its products to other countries and to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Glascoed now has about 400 employees. It has invested a lot in new research and better ways to make things.

Safer Munitions

In recent years, Glascoed has become very good at making "Insensitive Munitions." These are military supplies designed to be much safer. They use special materials that make them less likely to explode by accident. This could happen from being dropped, heated, rubbed, or hit. This technology helps prevent accidents like one that happened on the USS Forrestal in 1967.

For many years, maps from the British Ordnance Survey did not show details of ROF sites for security reasons. They showed how the land looked before the factories were built. But more recent maps now show the buildings, roads, and rail lines. They are simply labeled "Depot" or "Works."

On August 20, 2008, the Ministry of Defence announced a big contract. They agreed to a 15-year deal worth £2 billion with BAE Systems. This was to supply British forces with medium and small arms ammunition.

See also

• Royal Ordnance