The United States entered World War 2 with the largest industrial base in the entire world. Raw materials, manufacturing capacity, and able-bodied workers are part of what made the war effort swing in the US’s direction. Today, we’re looking at the weapons manufacturers of WW2.
American Locomotive Company
- Notable weapons: M7 Priest, M4 Sherman Tank
American Locomotive Company produced thousands of tanks in WWII. Perhaps the most notable were the M4 Sherman Tank and the M7 Priest. The company also made other weapons, like self-propelled howitzers or anti-aircraft guns.
Beech Aircraft Corporation
- Notable weapons: Beech AT-10 Wichita, Beech C-45 Expeditor
Beech Aircraft Corporation is known for its AT-10 Wichita, which trained thousands of pilots for World War II. The company was founded in 1932 in Wichita, Kansas, but Textron Aviation has since acquired it. Beechcraft continues to produce aircraft used in both civilian and military applications.
Bell Aircraft Corporation
- Notable weapons: Bell P-39 Airacobra, Bell P-59 Airacomet, Bell P-63 King Cobra
Bell is an American aircraft manufacturer known today primarily for its helicopters. However, during its early years in the 1930s, Bell was known for its fighter aircraft, such as the P-63 Kingcobra or the P-59 Airacomet. Textron Aviation bought out this company in the 1960s.
Boeing Company
- Notable weapons: B-17 Flying Fortress, B-29 Superfortress,
Boeing is one of the most famous companies on this list and still in operation today. The B-29 Superfortress gained notoriety as the aircraft that dropped the atomic bombs on Japan. Boeing has also been producing commercial aircraft outside of its military contracts.
Colt Firearms
- Notable weapons: Colt M1911 Pistol, Browning M1917, Colt Browning M1895 (Potato Digger)
Firearms manufacturer Colt was responsible for several of World War II’s iconic American firearms. The most recognizable and lasting of these is the Colt M1911 Pistol. The .45 caliber sidearm was developed to replace the U.S. Army’s standard-issue Colt .38 revolver. By the end of WWII, more than 2.5 million 1911s had been manufactured. The gun was so popular that the U.S. military continued to use it and its variants through 2023.
Consolidated Aircraft
- Notable weapons: B-24 Liberator, B-32 Dominator, PB2Y Coronado
Founded in Buffalo, New York, Consolidated Aircraft is known for producing one of the most iconic aircraft of World War II. The B-24 Liberator saw widespread use in the European Theater, as over 18,000 were produced in total, even though the plane only entered service in 1941. Consolidated Aircraft would later merge with Vultee Aircraft in 1943.
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
- Notable weapons: SB2C Helldiver, SC Seahawk, C-46 Commando
The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company produced several aircraft, including the SB2C Helldiver, used on aircraft carriers across the Pacific Theater. Reportedly, the Helldiver sank more ship tonnage than any other aircraft in World War II. Curtiss would later merge with the Wright brothers’ company to form Curtiss-Wright.
Detroit Tank Arsenal
- Notable weapons: M26 Pershing Tank, M4 Sherman Tank
The Detroit Tank Arsenal was the first plant built to mass-produce tanks. Founded in 1940 by Chrysler, the company produced Sherman and Pershing tanks that marched across Europe and helped secure the Allied victory.
Fisher Tank Arsenal
- Notable weapons: M10 Wolverine, M4 Sherman Tank, M26 Pershing Tank
Fisher Tank Arsenal opened in 1942 in Michigan, and throughout World War II, it produced over 12,000 tanks. Specifically, Fisher was responsible for the Sherman and Pershing tanks. Fisher transitioned to producing the M48 Patton tanks in the Cold War era.
Ford Motor Company
- Notable weapons: M10-A1 Tank Destroyer, Ford GP/GPW
Ford Motor Company is one of several companies that turned their factories from civilian automobile production to tanks and other vehicle production during the war. Ford estimates that it produced about 278,000 vehicles, including tanks, armored cars, and reconnaissance vehicles.
General Motors Company
- Notable weapons: M3 (Grease Gun), M18 Hellcat, M19 Air Defense Vehicle
General Motors started producing military land vehicles in 1940, shifting the focus of many of its factories to trucks, tanks, powertrains, and ammunition manufacturing. GM delivered hundreds of thousands of artillery and vehicles for the military, totaling more than $12.3 billion. Some of its most iconic weapons included the M18 Hellcat and the M19 Air Defense Vehicle.
Glenn L. Martin Company
- Notable weapons: Martin AM Mauler, Martin B-26 Marauder, Martin Baltimore
Glenn L. Martin Company was renowned for producing several bomber aircraft, such as the B-26 Marauder and A-22 Maryland. The company eventually became part of Lockheed Martin through a series of mergers and acquisitions.
Lockheed Aircraft
- Notable weapons: Lockheed Hudson, Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star
Lockheed produced one of the most famous aircraft to take flight in World War II, the P-38 Lightning. It was considered the most innovative plane of its day, adding incredible speed to four 50-caliber machine guns and a 20mm cannon. Today, Lockheed Martin’s newest jet, the F-35 Lightning II, draws its name from the original P-38 in World War II.
North American Aviation
- Notable weapons: North American P-51 Mustang, North American T-6 Texan, North American B-25 Mitchell
North American Aviation produced perhaps some of the most iconic aircraft of World War II. The P-51 Mustang and T-6 Texan were notorious for their exploits on the battlefield. Like many other aviation companies, North American went through a series of mergers and acquisitions to ultimately become part of Boeing.
Remington Arms
- Notable weapons: Remington Model 10 Shotgun, M1903A3
Remington Arms was founded early in American history. Renowned for rifles and shotguns, Remington supplied Allied troops in World War II with M1903s and Model 10. The company has since been broken up, but many arms still bear its name today.
Republic Aviation
- Notable weapons: Republic P-43 Lancer, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Although founded years before, Republic Aviation was reorganized in 1939 and produced a series of military aircraft. The P-47 Thunderbolt, designed as an escort for the B-29, was first delivered to the U.S. Army in June 1942. The P-47 would become the most-produced aircraft of the war, with 15,660 total being built.
Sikorsky
- Notable weapons: Sikorsky R-4, Sikorsky S-43
Sikorsky, known for its helicopters, is now owned entirely by Lockheed Martin. The Sikorsky R-4 utility helicopter, introduced in 1942, became the first widely produced helicopter in aviation history. Just over 130 units of this first-generation helicopter were produced.
Smith & Wesson
- Notable weapons: S&W Model 10 Revolver, S&W Model 27
Smith & Wesson gained notoriety throughout the 1800s through its series of pistols, specifically revolvers. Some of its revolvers, such as the Model 10 or Model 27, were standard issue for American soldiers. S&W is still considered one of the most iconic gunsmiths today.
Springfield Armory
- Notable weapons: M1 Garand, Springfield M1903 Sniper Rifle
Springfield Armory has been a staple of American arms since the Revolutionary era, and it has produced a bevy of guns since then. One of the most notable guns that saw action during World War II was the M1 Garand, which General Patton famously proclaimed one of the greatest battle implements ever.
Stinson
- Notable weapons: Stinson L-1 Vigilant, Stinson L-5 Sentinel, Stinson Reliant
Stinson, founded in 1920, primarily focused on aircraft production in Detroit. It is most well known for its production of the L-5 Sentinel, a light reconnaissance and observation aircraft that served in World War II up through the Korean War. Stinson produced nearly 4,000 L-5s in total.
Vought
- Notable weapons: Vought F4U Corsair, Vought OS2U Kingfisher, Vought SB2U Vindicator
Vought’s F4U Corsair fighter aircraft first entered combat in 1943 despite development beginning as early as 1938. The company would go on to produce thousands of aircraft throughout the war. Vought specialized in carrier-based aircraft for the U.S. Navy.
Winchester Repeating Arms
- Notable weapons: M1 Carbine, M1917 Enfield, Winchester Model 1912 Shotgun
Winchester Repeating Arms is an American gunsmith that became prominent in the Old West with its lever-action rifles. While these guns were popular, the company gained notoriety with its M1 Carbine, a standard issue for soldiers in World War II.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Alfred T. Palmer / Public domain.
