The USS Intrepid Survived Four Kamikaze Attacks And Continued In Service For Decades
The USS Intrepid was an Essex-class aircraft carrier built during WWII. Initially operating in the Pacific Theatre, Intrepid would end up serving a wild 30-year…
The Colt Walker 1847: The Most Powerful Sidearm Ever Issued By the US Military
In 1846 the United States Army brought the Colt Walker 1847 into service – a revolver that is the most powerful sidearm ever issued by…
America’s Black Hawk Helicopter Still Has A Lot Of Work To Do
The famous and long-lasting UH-60 Black Hawk, which has been flying since the 1970s, will likely remain in service until the 2030s. The airframe is…
Why WWII’s M1 Carbine was Ahead of Its Time
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
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…
Did Tin Buttons Cause Napoleon’s Army To Retreat From Russia?
October of 1812 saw a major turning point in Napoleon’s invasion of Russia. Although the French had recently claimed victory at the Battle of Maloyaroslavets,…
The USS Olympia Is a Cruiser with a Battleship’s Guns And A Very Long History
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
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…
Hundreds of WWII-Era Munitions Detonated Off Okinawa
After the discovery of hundreds of WWII munitions this year leftover from the Battle of Okinawa, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force has begun to destroy…
The Tragic Crash that Took Out the B-24 “Hot Stuff” and Its Crew
Over three months before the B-17 Memphis Belle completed 25 missions, the B-24 Liberator “Hot Stuff” had already returned home from its 25th mission. The…
Here’s Why the US Didn’t Attempt To Match Russia’s Titanium Submarines
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…
Why Do US Navy Sailors Have 13-Button Pants?
Navies across the world have traditions, some dating back hundreds of years. Many are so old that their origins have long since been forgotten. However,…