Draft:Mukden Arsenal

The arsenal began as a series of shops, huts, and forges in 1897.^[1][2] It was named the "Fengtian Machine Bureau", functioning primarily as a mint and semi-industrial workshop.^[3]

The military arsenal was then formally established by Zhang Zuolin in 1921 as the Fengtian Arsenal to manufacture weapons for the Fengtian Clique, selecting the former site of the machine bureau.^[1][4] Workers included Austrians who were searching for work in the aftermath of the Great War, Russian exiles escaping the Bolsheviks, Britons, and Americans (could be confused with the Liaoning Trench Mortar Arsenal).^[2] A Dane by the name of Robert Christensen was also hired in 1922 to acquire machinery and to manage the plant.^[5] In April 1922, Zhang Zuolin undertook a major reorganization of the Fengtian Army, and the Fengtian Arsenal was renamed the Northeastern Arsenal (东三省兵工厂), but was still referred to as the Mukden Arsenal. A new site was developed outside the Dadongbian Gate (roughly 41°52'22.8"N 123°30'16.4"E), and a platform was built with railway tracks on the west side of the factory buildings, allowing trains to enter directly. Subsequently, a steel plant, machinery plant, boiler room, water tower, and water supply system were added, and a military engineering school was established. By 1928, the expansion was complete, making it the largest arsenal in China at the time with around 20,000 workers.^[3][4] In 1931, the arsenal successfully test-produced a derivative of the Czechoslovakian ZH-29 semi-automatic rifle.^[3][6]

Following the Mukden Incident (September 18, 1931), the Japanese army occupied Shenyang and renamed the Arsenal to the Kwantung Army Field Weaponry Plant (关东军野战兵器厂), which was later reorganized as Hoten Arsenal, some sources say Hoten Zoheisho KK (奉天造兵所株式会社).^[7] The arsenal was rebuilt and expanded upon to become the largest Japanese arsenal outside of the Home Islands.

The Soviet Invasion of Manchuria and the subsequent looting destroyed much of the Arsenal's infrastructure.

On July 7, 1946, the entire plant resumed operations. On November 9, it was established as the 90th (North China) Arsenal (兵工署第90工厂).^[8] In 1947, three branch factories were established in Liaoyang, Wenguantun, and Fushun. The arsenal also successfully test-produced the American M3 Grease Gun known as the North China Type 36.^[2] These weapons were used in the Korean War by the PVA.

The Chinese Communist Party established the Northeastern Bureau of Military Industry (东北局军工部) on October 14, 1945. On December 2, 1948, the Military Industry Department took over the Shenyang Arsenal, making it the largest center for firearm production at that time.

The most notable production was the Liao Type 13, otherwise known as the Mukden Arsenal Mauser, of which around 140,000 copies were produced. Copies of Mauser C96 and Japanese weapons were also produced under warlord control.^[2][3]