Machinery & Gear | War History

Why Did Flying Boats Experience a Dip in Popularity Following WWII?

Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina patrol bomber taking off on water

Starting from as soon as man conquered flight to the end of the Second World War, flying boats were an extremely popular type of aircraft.…

The First Successful Drone Strike Occurred in 1944

A TD-1

One of the longest-running missions that have continued throughout warfare is finding ways to reduce human involvement in conflicts. Today, drones have enabled this goal…

FG-42: The ‘Fallschirmjäger 42’ German Paratrooper Rifle

FG 42 Automatic Rifle

The FG 42 was a powerful automatic rifle developed by the Germans during WWII and served in a similar role to the Browning Automatic Rifle…

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 ‘Sturmböcke’ Was Designed to Take On the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 parked in grass

In the early stages of World War II, aerial combat over Europe was dominated by two particular aircraft: the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Supermarine Spitfire.…

The M60 Machine Gun Has Withstood the Test of Time, Here’s Why

M-60 Machine Gun and Julie Andrews

The M60 machine gun is as much a symbol of the Vietnam War as the peace sign. This weapon was loved and loathed – it…

The Iconic Colt Single Action Army Certainly Earned Its ‘Peacemaker’ Name

The Colt Peacemaker

The Colt Single Action Army, also known as the Peacemaker, was a handgun that has been seen everywhere from the gunfight at O.K. Corral to…

The HMS Dreadnought (1906) is the Only Battleship to Sink a Submarine

1906 Dreadnought

The HMS Dreadnought was a vessel that quite literally changed the path of naval warfare and design philosophy. She brought in a whole host of…

The Shotguns of WWII: Model 1897 and Model 1912

Model 12 during Okinawa

Aside from a flame thrower, there are few close-range weapons as deadly as a shotgun. Shotguns are terrifyingly effective at short ranges, as their shot…

Weird Military Aircraft: de Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

Selmer Sundby aboard a de Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle

Many unusual military vehicles have been developed throughout history, yet there are few as strange as the de Lackner HZ-1 Aerocycle. Designed to be piloted…

Smith & Wesson Model 29: Dirty Harry’s Go-To Pistol

The .44 Magnum, the most … famous handgun in the world. The original quote is about the Smith & Wesson Model 29, a double-action revolver…

The Bofors 40MM Revolutionized Anti-Aircraft Combat

Boros 40mm Anti-Aircraft Gun

The job of an anti-aircraft gun is surprisingly demanding. It must be able to destroy or deter a fast-moving target by aiming not where it…

The Japanese Knee Mortar That Terrified Enemies

Japanese Knee Mortar

During the United States’ war against the Japanese, they often enjoyed a technical advantage in terms of equipment and weapons. US flamethrowers, semi-automatic rifles, shotguns,…