The IJN Shinano was converted from a battleship to an aircraft carrier after naval priorities shifted following the Battle of Midway
During World War II, the Imperial Japanese Navy embarked on an ambitious program to construct some of the most formidable warships ever designed. The Japanese…
The Last of the Romans: Why Belisarius is the Greatest General You’ve Never Heard Of
Most history books claim the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD. They are wrong. Less than sixty years after the “fall,” a single man nearly…
Movies often show soldiers pulling grenade pins out with their teeth, but this almost never happens in real life
Grenades are a staple of action films, yet their portrayal on screen often bears little resemblance to reality. Hollywood emphasizes spectacle—slow-motion throws, towering fireballs, and…
A submarine made it back to Hawaii with a sail made of blankets when seawater contaminated its fuel supply
In May 1921, the USS R-14 (SS-91)—a submarine dating back to World War I—found itself in a perilous situation when seawater contamination ruined its fuel…
March 23, 1943, The Battle of El Guettar: The Day Patton’s “Big Red One” Stopped Germany’s Best Tank Corps Dead in Their Tracks
83 Years Ago Today, a Band of American Soldiers Pulled Off One of WWII’s Most Remarkable Comebacks, and Changed the Course of the War in…
It took decades to locate the wreckage of the USS Grayback because the vessel was located over 100 nautical miles from what was believed to be its final resting place
The USS Grayback (SS‑208), a U.S. Navy submarine lost in World War II, remained hidden on the Pacific Ocean floor for nearly three-quarters of a century.…
Why is there a WWI-era German U-boat abandoned at the bottom of Lake Michigan?
Beneath the waters of Lake Michigan lies a 185-foot German U-boat—a surprising relic, considering enemy submarines never operated in the Great Lakes during wartime. Its…
Sniper vs Trumpeter: The Normandy Orchard Solo That Stopped a Bullet
In the summer of 1944, the orchards of Normandy were a deadly labyrinth of hedgerows and hidden snipers. For the men of the Ninth Air…
Knowing Japan likely wouldn’t win in a war against the U.S., Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto planned the attack on Pearl Harbor to be as destructive as possible
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, Japan’s leading naval strategist, viewed the coming conflict with the United States very differently from many of his peers in the Imperial…
A boy discovered tank tracks leading to Lake Mätasjärv, and years later, returned to help recover an abandoned Soviet tank submerged in the water
Since World War II ended, relics of the conflict have steadily come to light, discovered by historians, collectors, and battlefield explorers alike. Across Europe and…
They Fought for a Country That Refused to Fight for Them: The Double V Campaign and America’s Segregated WWII Army
On the International Day to End Racial Discrimination, let’s revisit the story of over one million Black Americans who stormed beaches and flew combat missions…
Billy Waugh was turned down when he attempted to enlist as a teenager, but when he came of age, he became a decorated Green Beret with a legendary career
Billy Waugh’s military career remains a striking testament to bravery, resilience, and unwavering commitment. Over decades of service, he earned an impressive array of honors,…