MSN Slideshow | War History

Rip the Terrier-Mix Rescued Over 100 People During The Blitz

Rip sitting on a pile of rubble + Dickin Medal

Throughout the Second World War, a number of animals stepped up to the plate to help their human companions. Some served on the front after…

Flashbang Grenade: Among the First Modern ‘Non-Lethal’ Weapons Ever Developed

Clare Fitzgerald
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl tosses a flashbang grenade while two other armed servicemen watch

Stun devices are among the most important non-lethal tools at a soldier’s disposal. They have the ability to disorient a target without causing harm, allowing…

The Loss of Kaga and Three Other Aircraft Carriers Ultimately Led to Japan’s Defeat in WWII

Aerial view of Kaga at sea

Early on in World War II, it looked like the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy would be an unstoppable force. Their servicemen were brave and…

North American X-15: The Fastest Manned Rocket Aircraft Ever Developed

North American X-15 in flight

Known as the fastest manned rocket aircraft ever flown, the North American X-15 is an engineering marvel. It made the first manned flights to the…

Operation Unthinkable: Winston Churchill’s Plan to Invade the Soviet Union

Winston Churchill aiming a Thompson "Tommy Gun" while standing with American soldiers

The “Big Three” heads of the Allied countries during the Second World War – British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt and…

Seven Reasons Why the Italian Forces Performed So Poorly During World War II

Italian soldiers walking down a street while waving white flags

When it comes to the Second World War, France is often made the butt of the joke for its surrender to Germany in 1940. However,…

Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat Meaning: Does Fortune Actually Favor the Bold?

Fortune cookie cracked open with a slip of paper reading "fortune favors the bold"

The Latin phrase fortis Fortuna adiuvat – which translates to “fortune favors the bold” or “fortune favors the brave” – has a long and storied…

The Cessna O-1 Bird Dog Flew Missions in Korea and Vietnam

Cessna O-1 Bird Dog in flight

Following the Second World War and the creation of the US Air Force, the US Army was in need of a new observation and liaison…

The M202 FLASH Has Been in Pseudo-Retirement for Decades – Why?

Clare Fitzgerald
US Marine aiming an M202 FLASH while another kneels beside him

The US military has designed a number of rocket launchers for use in combat. Some have seen years of service, while others have seemingly faded…

Battle of Norfolk: The Largest Tank Battle of the First Gulf War

Clare Fitzgerald
Destroyed Iraqi tanks in defensive entrenchments

The First Gulf War consisted of a number of fierce battles between the Iraqi and coalition forces. The first phase of the conflict, dubbed Operation…

The Remarkably Effective WWII-Era PIAT Anti-Tank Weapon

Rosemary Giles
Two soldiers lying on the ground while aiming a PIAT

By 1942, the Second World War had dragged on for three years. The British had seen a good deal of combat in various theaters, frequently…

Operation Tracer: The Secret British Military Operation for Gibraltar

Naval officers standing on the deck of a ship that's docked off the coast of Gibraltar

Of all the secret operations of the Second World War, none were less appealing than Operation Tracer, which involved spies being buried alive (literally). This…