Starting in the 1870s, the Quartermaster Department, created "Specifications." These continued to the end of WW1 also. The QM, like the O.D., was independent; reporting to the Secretary of War.
The "General Staff" was created after the SpanAm War. This didn't really affect supply too much at that time.
After WW1, the Army stepped in. US Army Specifications and whatnot.
Fast forward to WW2. The Army was organized into three bits: United States Air Forces, Army Ground Forces, and Army Service Forces. Not included in this were the Theater Commands. We'll skip them for this. Army Service Forces included the Ordnance Department and Quartermaster Department.
I'm going to wind back to those "Description and Rules for the Management" pamphlets.
After WW1, those disappeared. They were replaced by three items:
Standard Nomenclature Lists.
Field Manuals.
Technical Manuals.
The Field Manual is for the soldier. The Technical Manual is a bit more technical. Behind that, was the Standard Nomenclature List (SNL).
If one was to take the "Description and Rules for the Management" pamphlet for the M-1903 rifle (#1923), and separate out the list of parts, that would be put into SNL B003. Direct replacement.
The SNLs had grouping. "A" was automatic weapons. Up to a certain size. "B" was small arms. Pistols, Rifles, Bayonets, etc., "G" was various vehicles.
With the Services of Supply in charge of it all, they started slamming it together to make a virtual "Army Supply Catalog." This came about:
Section 3: List of Items for Troop Issue.
Section 4: Allowances of Expendable Supplies for Troops, Posts, Camps, and Stations.
Section 5: Stock List of All Items.
Section 6: Sets of Equipment.
Section 7: Organizational Spare Parts.
Section 8: Higher Echelon Spare Parts
Section 9: List of All Parts or List of All Service Parts.
Section 10 and above are used by technical services for material which does not fit into other sections.
Given the above, this makes sense:
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Section 3 in the Army Supply Catalog is List of Items for Troop Issue. Each bit uses their code. QM 3-1.
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This too fits into that system. Section 5 is "Stock List of All Items." Class 55 is Textile-Clothing: Knitted Goods.
Switching to Ordnance, this is the result:
ORD 1 = Ordnance Catalog (Introduction to the Ordnance Supply Catalog)
ORD 2 = Ordnance Publications for Supply Index
ORD 3 = Major items and assemblies.
ORD 4 = Data plates?
ORD 5 = Stock list of all items.
ORD 6 = Tool kits (individual and small unit)
ORD 7 = Organizational Spare Parts and Equipment
ORD 8 = Higher Echelon Spare Parts and Equipment
ORD 9 = List of All Service Parts
ORD 10 = Tools and Supplies for bigger units.
ORD 11 = Ammunition
ORD 12 = Obsolete General Supplies (OGS)
The original SNL B003, the M-1903 rifle SNL, is now ORD 9, SNL B003.
Ammunition is ORD 11.
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With SNL T002 being revolver and SMG ammunition, ORD 11, SNL T002 is the result.
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All of that should make sense now. ORD 9, SNL G-502. List of All Service Parts.
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It just kept morphing.
Now, add the Training and Technical Regulations. These, 1920s and 1930s documents, were replaced by the Field and Technical Manuals.
Picture almost complete.