World War II | War History

The USS Utah (BB-31/AG-16) Was Sunk By the Japanese During the Attack on Pearl Harbor

Aerial view of the USS Utah (BB-31) Memorial

The USS Utah (BB-31), the second ship in the Florida-class of dreadnoughts, served with the US Navy in various engagements during the first half of…

US Naval Aircraft Celebrate the Signing of the Japanese Surrender Aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63)

US naval aircraft flying over the USS Missouri (BB-63)

Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by American forces, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945. Just over two weeks later,…

HMS Sussex (96): The British Heavy Cruiser That Survived a Kamikaze Strike

Kamikaze strike on the side of the HMS Sussex (96)

The British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (96) was a London sub-class vessel within the Royal Navy’s County-class. Operated by the service between 1929-50, she participated…

The Battle of Wake Island Lifted the Spirits of the American Public

Aircraft flying over Wake Island

Hidden behind the tragedy of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is the lesser-known Battle of Wake Island. Enemy attacks were launched on both locations,…

The WWII-Era Disappearance of a Grumman J2F Duck Over Greenland

Grumman J2F Duck in flight

The Grumman J2F Duck was an amphibious aircraft that served the US military in various capacities during the Second World War. It could operate from…

Panzerbüchse 39: The German ‘Tank Hunting Rifle’ That Saw Action In Poland and the USSR

German soldier aiming a Panzerbüchse 39 (PzB 39)

The Panzerbüchse 39 (PzB 39) was an anti-tank rifle operated by Wehrmacht during the Second World War. The PzB 39 saw use during the invasion…

Exercise Tiger: The D-Day Live-Fire Rehearsal That Resulted In Over 700 Allied Deaths

Allied troops crawling across the beach at Slapton Sands

An immense amount of preparation was involved in ensuring the success of D-Day. The Allies had to make sure they’d achieve the desired outcome, meaning…

RAF Members Preparing to Bomb German Industry Targets During the Battle of the Ruhr

A Royal Air Force (RAF) airman and Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) member standing with a bomb with "ON A VISIT TO THE RUHR" written on it in chalk

Throughout World War II, the Allied forces – in particular, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) – conducted several…

Can You Spot the Finnish Coastal Defense Ship Väinämöinen In This Image?

Väinämöinen anchored while covered in natural camouflage

Camouflage and optical illusions have long been a key part of conflict. Such tactics were heavily used throughout World War II, with examples being the…

Sunken Remains of German U-boat U-166 In the Depths of the Gulf of Mexico

U-166's deck gun covered in algae on the ocean floor

A total of 23 U-boats were stationed in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II. Over the course of the conflict, they took out…

Malaysia Accuses Chinese Barge of Looting World War II-Era Shipwrecks

Chinese barge Chuan Hong 68 anchored in the water

The Malaysian Maritime Agency has detained a Chinese barge it accuses of looting two British shipwrecks in the South China Sea. The accusations come after…

A Gloster Meteor Once Deflected A V-1 Flying Bomb With Its Wing

Gloster Meteor in flight + V-1 flying bomb in flight

The V-1 flying bomb was an early cruise missile developed by Germany as part of its V-weapons (Vergeltungswaffen) program. Starting on June 13, 1944, V-1s…