How is the term "ordnance" best defined?

The term "ordnance" is best defined as referring to weapons, ammunition, and related military equipment. This comprehensive definition encompasses not only the weapons themselves but also the various types of ammunition they use, as well as other ancillary equipment involved in their operation and deployment. In military contexts, ordnance can include items such as artillery shells, bombs, missiles, and other explosive devices, alongside the systems that support their use, including launchers and handling equipment.

Other options are less comprehensive: civilian tools and resources do not fit within the military context of ordnance; transport vehicles, while essential for moving military assets, are not classified as ordnance; and ammunition only on its own doesn't capture the full breadth of what ordnance entails, as it excludes the weapons and related equipment necessary for utilizing that ammunition. Thus, option A accurately reflects the traditional military usage of the term "ordnance."