Southern Indiana Business Report
CRANE – Crane Army Ammunition Activity marked the completion of its new Rail Depot Operations Yard during a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 19.
Brig. Gen. Daniel Duncan of US Army Joint Munitions Command attended the event and in remarks to those gathered, said the new depot yard is a crucial investment in the Army’s ability to modernize its operations.
“This milestone aligns with a yearlong recognition of the Army’s 250th birthday,” Duncan said. “Since its founding, the Army has led a crucial role in shaping the military’s organic industrial base – a network that has sustained warfighters for centuries.”
The investment is part of a 15-year, $18 billion modernization plan launched by the US Army in 2023.
According to information from CAAA, the new explosive railcar holding yard provides CAAA a 1 million pound, new rail holding yard (approximately 11,000 linear feet of track) for explosive munitions storage, renovation and outload operations. The holding yard enhances safety, efficiency and warfighting readiness – protecting employees, reducing workloads and saving taxpayer dollars.
Crane Army Ammunition Activity ships, stores, demilitarizes and produces conventional munitions in support of U.S. Army and Joint Force readiness. It serves as the second largest Army ammunition depot, holding roughly a fourth of the U.S. Department of Defense’s conventional munitions.
Duncan said such projects “ensure that installations like Crane Army remain at the forefront.” Modernization is no longer an option, he said, but imperative for the Army’s future readiness.
Duncan thanked the CAAA team, led by Col. Franyate Taylor, and Krempp Construction in Jasper for its role in constructing the new depot yard.
Taylor said the holding yard’s expanded capabilities will increase Crane Army’s capabilities to handle additional work, while reducing labor costs and improving efficiency.
“This achievement would not be possible without the dedication of our railroad team whose efforts ensure smooth and efficient operations,” she said. “Our railroad team is the best of the best.”