Machinery & Gear | War History

MD-160: The Aircraft-Ship Hybrid Known as the ‘Caspian Sea Monster’

MD-160 sitting on the beach

There have been some really unusual military vehicles built over the course of history, but none have amazed us more than the Lun-class MD-160. A…

Why WWII’s M1 Carbine was Ahead of Its Time

M1 Carbine Worn By Soldier

The M1 Carbine was a small, lightweight weapon that found itself in the hands of many Allied soldiers during WWII. Its relatively small cartridge led…

The USS North Carolina Was a Nightmare for Japan During WWII

USS North Carolina - Colorized Photo

The USS North Carolina was a mighty battleship that served throughout the Second World War. She was involved in intense combat on many occasions but…

The USS Olympia Is a Cruiser with a Battleship’s Guns And A Very Long History

USS Olympia

The USS Olympia is the physical representation of the saying “big things come in small packages”. Launched in 1895, the comparatively small cruiser was armed…

These US Military Jets Accidentally Shot Themselves Down

F-14

As a rule, most aircraft armed with offensive weapons either attack ground targets or other aircraft. Over the past century, we have gotten pretty good…

Here’s Why the US Didn’t Attempt To Match Russia’s Titanium Submarines

Alfa Class Submarine

In 1968 the Soviet Union produced a revolutionary new class of submarines; the Alfa-class. These vessels incorporated a number of advanced and innovative features that…

These 4 Weapons Created For Combat Were Cheap But Ingenious Game Changers

Sometimes, no matter how tactically adept a military force may be, if an opponent suddenly shows up with a particularly advanced or capable weapon, it…

Grumman F-11 Tiger: The US Navy’s Second Supersonic Aircraft has a Weird History

F11F-1

The Grumman F-11 Tiger was an interesting fighter from an era that saw rapid and continuous advances in aircraft design. It was the US Navy’s…

Only the Best of the Best Graduate from the US Army Sniper School

Clare Fitzgerald
US Army Sniper School trainee in the ghillie wash

There are few soldiers who can say they’ve graduated from the US Army’s prestigious Sniper School. The seven-week course is one of the most grueling…

The FGM-148 Javelin is Feared and Incredibly Deadly – But How Does it Work?

US cavalryman firing an FGM-148 Javelin while sitting on the ground

The FGM-148 Javelin is part of a line of systems designed to allow infantry to deal with armored targets. This formidable weapon came into service…

The Navy Used To Love Flying Boats For Their Versatility

US Navy - Seaplane

Prior to the end of the second world war, flying boats were an important tool for navies all around the world. The US Navy was…

The M42 Duster Played A Crucial Role in Vietnam

M42 Duster with soldiers on top and inside.

From 1966 until the end of the Vietnam War, the relatively small yet extremely deadly M42 Duster was brought out of retirement and used against…