Jesse Beckett

Jesse is a U.K.-based writer for Tank Roar, passionate about military history and storytelling through digital content. With a special focus on tanks and ships, Jesse brings a deep enthusiasm for historical narratives to every piece.

Articles by Jesse Beckett:

The FGM-148 Javelin is Feared and Incredibly Deadly – But How Does it Work?

US cavalryman firing an FGM-148 Javelin while sitting on the ground

The FGM-148 Javelin is part of a line of systems designed to allow infantry to deal with armored targets. This formidable weapon came into service…

Simon the Cat Received A Military Honor After Suffering Injuries During the Yangtze Incident

From March 1948 to November 1949, the British frigate HMS Amethyst was accompanied by a friendly cat named Simon. The crew of the ship took…

The Navy Used To Love Flying Boats For Their Versatility

US Navy - Seaplane

Prior to the end of the second world war, flying boats were an important tool for navies all around the world. The US Navy was…

Did A Tornado Spare Washington, DC During the War of 1812?

The White House Burned Down

Usually the British are used to unexpected changes in the weather, but during the War of 1812, the British were caught out by a sudden…

The M42 Duster Played A Crucial Role in Vietnam

M42 Duster with soldiers on top and inside.

From 1966 until the end of the Vietnam War, the relatively small yet extremely deadly M42 Duster was brought out of retirement and used against…

The USS Scorpion Was Lost At Sea And Some Mysteries Still Remain About The Nuclear Submarine

USS Scorpion Submarine

In 1968 a US nuclear submarine suddenly disappeared in the Atlantic ocean, one of only two nuclear submarines to have been lost by the US.…

The BV 238 was the Heaviest Plane of WWII and an Example of Extreme German Engineering

For the first few decades after humanity conquered flight, flying boats consistently ranked among the largest aircraft in the world. In fact, the H-4 Hercules,…

The CIA Stole a Soviet Satellite During the Space Race

AI rendering of three CIA agents standing around a stolen Soviet satellite in a wooden crate

The Space Race was an amazing display of technological excellence, but it also doubled as a direct metric for the United States and Soviet Union’s…

Last Ditch Effort: German Tanks Were Disguised To Look Like American Tanks For The Battle of the Bulge

German Panther Tank disguised to look like M10 Wolverine tank destroyer during Operation Greif + Otto Skorzeny (1908-1975), photographed during his trial in Nuremberg.

Deception is a useful and commonly used military tactic. It can be used to confuse your enemy, feed them wrong information so they draw up…

This Multiple Purple Heart Recipient is the Most Decorated Native American Soldier in US History

American soldiers during the Vietnam War

Pascal Cleatus Poolaw was a veteran of WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, receiving the Purple Heart in each. Over his military career,…

The Absurd Rules-of-Engagement GIs Had to Follow During the Vietnam War

Michelin Tire Company and Vietnam War rubber trees plantation

The United States’ withdrawal from Vietnam is viewed as one of the most humiliating moments for the mighty nation. The most powerful military on earth,…

This RAF Tail Gunner Jumped From A Burning Plane Without A Parachute And Only Twisted His Knee

Lancaster PA474

On a cold March night in 1944, a British airman jumped out of a Lancaster bomber at an altitude of 18,000 feet. His aircraft was…