USS California (BB-44): The Battleship That Survived Pearl Harbor and a Kamikaze Strike
The USS California (BB-64) was the second of two Tennessee-class battleships. The vessel saw service throughout World War II, including being targeted by the Japanese…
The Sinking of U-559 and the Ultimate Sacrifice Made By Three Royal Navy Sailors
In the midst of World War II, the demise of German U-boat U-559 became a pivotal event in the relentless battle for supremacy beneath the…
Northrop YB-49: The Flying Wing Strategic Bomber That Was Years Ahead of Its Time
The Northrop YB-49 was an American prototype jet-powered strategic bomber. The Northrop Corporation developed it following the Second World War for service with the US…
The Tragic Disappearance and Loss of the Argentine Submarine ARA San Juan (S-42)
In November 2017, the Argentine submarine ARA San Juan (S-42) went missing while returning to her home base at Mar del Plata. It took just…
E-boat: The Effective German Fast Attack Boat of the Second World War
The Schnellboot – or S-Boot – was a German fast attack craft that served with the Kriegsmarine during the Second World War. It was referred…
Higgins Boat: The Landing Craft That Helped the Allies Win World War II
The landing craft, vehicle, personnel (LCVP) – or Higgins boat – was used by the Allies to conduct amphibious operations during the Second World War.…
‘Star Wars’ Almost Started a Real-Life War… Over a Sandcrawler Model
In 1976, when George Lucas shot Star Wars, filming almost started a real-life war between Tunisia and Libya. Tatooine, Luke Skywalker‘s home planet, was filmed…
BMPT Terminator: Russia’s Supposedly ‘Invincible’ Armored Fighting Vehicle
The BMPT Terminator is a Russian armored fighting vehicle (AFV) produced by UralVagonZavod. Its mission is to support main battle tanks (MBTs) and other AFVs…
POW Camp 198 Was the Site of the ‘German Great Escape’
Throughout the Second World War, a number of prisoner of war (POW) escape attempts stood out, such as the development of the Colditz Cock and…
Goodyear Once Developed An Inflatable Aircraft Known As The ‘Inflatoplane’
During the 1950s, Goodyear became more involved with the US military, trying its hand at creating an aircraft that was compact enough to be delivered…
US Navy Pilots Were Afraid to Fly the Vought F7U Cutlass
The Vought F7U Cutlass was a carrier-based aircraft that served with the US Navy between 1951-59. Developed with the use of German research taken by…
How An F/A-18 Hornet Pilot and His Wingman Returned to Base After a Mid-Air Collision
On April 22, 1996, two US Navy McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets got into a mid-air collision during an exercise off the coast of Virginia. Both…