Weapons | War History

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…

Carcano: The Italian Firearm That Has Been Completely Forgotten By History

Lee Harvey Oswald holding his Carcano rifle and a newspaper in his backyard + John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy riding in a car with Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, Nellie Brill

On a sunny November day in Dallas, Texas, Lee Harvey Oswald leaned out the sixth-floor window of the Texas School Book Depository and aimed his…

Grease Gun: The US Military’s Longest-Serving Submachine Weapon

Infantryman aiming an M3 "Grease Gun"

When the lightweight and cheap US Submachine Gun, Cal. 45, M3 was introduced into service in 1944, it was intended for use across all theaters…

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…

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…

M270 MLRS: The Incredible Rocket Launch System That Continues to See Combat

Samantha Franco
M270 MLRS launching a rocket

The M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) is an armored multiple rocket launcher that has been used by the US Army for decades. Jointly developed…

The M320 Grenade Launcher is a Serious Step-Up From the M203

Samantha Franco
Soldier aiming an M320 grenade launcher

The M320 grenade launcher is one of the newest in the US military’s arsenal. It was created with the intention of having an equally effective…

How the Legend of the Gurhkas’ Kukri Blade was Forged

Gurkhas standing in a line with their Kukri blades

In 1814, the British Army first encountered Nepalese soldiers known as Gurkhas. While both were initially enemies, the British later brought the Gurkhas into their…

The M1 Garand was ‘The Greatest Battle Implement Ever Devised’

Rosemary Giles
Two soldiers aiming their M1 Garands

Of the many guns to see combat during the Second World War, the M1 Garand was the first standard issue autoloading rifle used by the…

The Type 4 Grenade was a Last Ditch Effort By the Japanese

Rosemary Giles
Two Type 4 Grenades placed beside each other

As the Second World War drew to a close, the Japanese were in a difficult position. By 1944-45, most of their industrial buildings had been…

The Ukrainian Military Has Repurposed the Soviet DShK as a Shoulder-Fired Infantry Weapon

The Russian-produced DShK is among the longest-serving machine guns still in use today. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Ukrainian military found itself…

Panjandrum: Britain’s Failed WWII-Era Rocket-Propelled Explosive

Panjandrum parked on a beach

By 1943, the Germans had heavily fortified the European coast against an Allied invasion. This defense system, known as the Atlantic Wall, spanned along the…