Weapons | War History

Mk 47 Striker: The US Military’s Modern Automatic Grenade Launcher

Ryan McLachlan
Three US Army Special Forces members manning an Mk 47 Striker

The Mk 47 or Striker 40 – often called the Mk 47 Striker – is an American 40 mm advanced automatic grenade launcher. It was…

Sturmpistole: The German Handheld Grenade Launcher That Failed to Match More Powerful Anti-Tank Weaponry

German soldier aiming a Sturmpistole

The Sturmpistole was a multi-purpose weapon developed for the German Army during World War II. A modified flare gun, it was capable of firing a…

The M18 Recoilless Rifle Obliterated Enemy Machine Gun Nests In Korea

Group of men standing near an M18 recoilless rifle in the snow

The M18 is a 57 mm shoulder-fired, anti-tank recoilless rifle the US Army equipped troops with during the Second World War and in Korea. The…

Panzerschreck: Germany’s Much More Powerful Version of the American Bazooka

Two German soldiers manning a Panzerschreck in the rubble of a semi-collapsed building

The Panzerschreck was an anti-tank weapon designed and primarily used by Germany during World War II. Officially known as the Raketenpanzerbüchse 54, it was based…

The Darne Machine Gun Could Be Used as Both a Ground and Aerial Weapon

Soldier manning a Darne machine gun on a boat

Of the many weapons created at the end of the First World War, the Darne machine gun is certainly one of the less popular. It…

M1903 Springfield: The World War I-Era Rifle That Continues to See Service With the US Army

Ryan McLachlan
Members of the US 3rd Infantry Regiment's Drill Team holding M1903 Springfields

The United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903 – commonly known as the M1903 Springfield – was a rifle used primarily by the US military.…

M28/M29 Davy Crockett Weapon System: The Tripod-Mounted Recoilless Rifle That Fired a Nuclear Warhead

Soldier standing with an M28/M29 Davy Crockett Weapon System outside

Throughout the Cold War, the United States was concerned about the Soviet nuclear threat. As such, the US military constantly came up with weapons designed…

The Degtyaryov Light Machine Gun’s Pan Magazine Made It Immediately Recognizable On the Battlefield

Degtyaryov DP-27 light machine gun on display

The Degtyaryov became the standard Soviet infantry light machine gun shortly after being introduced to the Red Army during the interwar period. While it had…

RPD Machine Gun: The Soviet-Era Weapon That’s Seen Nearly 80 Years of Action

Australian soldier firing an RPD Machine Gun

The Soviet Union developed a number of effective machine guns during World War II and the Cold War. Some were only used for a short…

Puckle Gun: The Early Machine Gun That Fired Both Round and Square Bullets

Puckle Gun replica on display

Many consider the Maxim to be the world’s first machine gun – and they’re technically not wrong. Developed in 1884, it was the first automatic…

Sprint Missile: The ABM That Traveled So Fast a Plasma Ring Formed Around It

Samantha Franco
Sprint missile being launched + Sprint missile preparing to be launched

After years of speculation and planning, the US military began developing an anti-ballistic missile (ABM) that could intercept Soviet re-entry vehicles (RVs). Called the Sprint…

Folding Gun Models That Allow Operators to Hide Their Weapons In Public

PP-90 on display

A folding gun is a unique weapon that offers concealment, while also ensuring the operator is ready for action. Unfortunately, the designs are typically expensive,…