Liaoning Trench Mortar Arsenal

The Fengtian Trench Mortar Arsenal, also known as the Liaoning Trench Mortar Arsenal or 53 Factory, was an arsenal established in 1922 by the Fengtian warlord Zhang Zuolin in Fengtian Province, Fengtian City, China. Its former site is located at No. 62 Zegong South Lane, Huigong Street, Shenhe District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province.

In October 1922, Zhang Zuolin established the Ordnance Repair Department to manufacture mortars. The department hired the Englishman Sutton as its head, assisted by Li Yichun. In June 1926, Zhang Zuolin reorganized the Ordnance Repair Department into the Fengtian Trench Mortar Factory, with subordinate shell, foundry, and manufacturing plants.

After joining Chiang Kai-Shek in 1928, there was no need for wartime production. Li Yichun, then the factory director, converted the factory into the Minsheng Factory (民生工厂) and hired the American Myers as chief engineer to produce heavy-duty trucks. In May 1929, the factory purchased an American Reo truck for research and analysis. On May 31, 1931, China's first domestically produced automobile, the Minsheng Type 75 truck, rolled off the assembly line at the factory.^[1]

Following the Mukden Incident (September 18, 1931), the factory was occupied by the Japanese Kwantung Army and later renamed Dowa Jidosha Kogyo (同和自動車工業). After the Second Sino-Japanese War, the factory was renamed the 90th Factory. In September 1949, the Third Arsenal of the Military Industry Department was renamed the 53 Factory.