| AdminHistory | <p>Source: The National Archives</p>
<p>The Ordnance Board was an inter service body. Initially presided over by the army with a permanent naval vice president, the presidency was rotated between all three services after the inclusion of a vice president (Air) in 1940. The board provided independent authoritative advice on the development and design of weapons, ammunition and explosives.</p>
<p>When the Ministry of Supply was set up in August 1939 it took over from the War Office the superintendence of the Ordnance Board. This was a consultative and research body dealing with artillery matters, consisting of experts from and working for all three services.</p> |