William Mclaughlin

William Mclaughlin is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE

Articles by William Mclaughlin:

1904-5 The Russo-Japanese War: Japan Shatters Russia’s Navy and Global Perceptions

While Japan is today known as a leading nation in terms of technology, this was not the case in the late 19th and early 20th…

Against All Odds – Three Impressively Valiant Stands In War History

Sometimes men are faced with impossible odds, hopelessly outnumbered or facing a merciless enemy with better weapons or other overwhelming advantages. Occasionally these terrible odds…

Solid as a Rock: Holding Gibraltar Against All The Odds

Gibraltar is a small place, but it is full of history. Its total area is only 2.6 square miles, and this tiny landscape is dominated by…

From The Roman Republic To The Third Reich: Four Other Battles Fought At Thermopylae

The Battle of Thermopylae was quite the epic stand. We have talked about the bravery of the Spartans a thousand times over and made multiple…

Winning Isn’t Always Worth It – Pyrrhic Victories Of Military History

The term Pyrrhic victory can be used where someone technically “wins”, or achieves their objective, but the cost makes the victory almost not worth the…

When Discretion Was The Better Part of Valor – From Ancient Rome To The Civil War

In war, standing and fighting in an unfavorable battle is certainly the brave and honorable choice, but it isn’t always the best choice to actually…

A Different Look At History – The Teutoburg Disaster

“What if” history questions can be a divisive. Some view them as an exercise in futility, a place where no serious historians should go. Others…

Legion Vs Phalanx: Two Powerhouse Formations of Ancient Warfare

The organization from Homeric style hero warfare to tightly packed hoplite warfare was world changing. This powerful Hellenic formation allowed the ancient Greeks to hold…

The Spartans Had Never Surrendered Until The Brutal Battle Which Changed The Course Of The War

It is often said that the Spartan warriors never retreated and never surrendered. They would fight to the death no matter the odds, and were…

Devastating Surprise Attacks In Military History

In War, surprise attacks, traps and ambushes can help to even the odds in an otherwise uneven fight. Guerrilla fighters can cause terrible damage both…

1st Louisiana Native Guard: The All Black Regiment Which Fought For The South And The North In The Civil War

Throughout American history African Americans and most people of color, including Native Americans, were traditionally discriminated against and given little opportunities in the military. Taken…

The Reasons Why Rome Fell – And How It Has Lived On

The Fall of Rome is a heavily debated topic with an extraordinary range of theories as to how such a great power ultimately fell, and…