The sinking of U-864: The only time a submarine has sunk another submarine while submerged
Although movies like to portray intense cat and mouse submarine battles that are fought solely underwater, this type of combat is actually extremely rare. So…
The British Army stopped walking in-step on bridges because of an incident in 1831
In 1831 a suspension bridge in Greater Manchester, England, collapsed while British troops marched over it. The bridge had a few design flaws, but the…
Here’s why US Military Helicopters are named after Native American Tribes
You may have noticed that US helicopters follow a pattern of being named after Native American tribes. This is not a coincidence; almost every single…
Here’s why British Soldiers were forced to have Mustaches and Why the Practice Ended
When one imagines the British Empire, it’s hard not to think of a British soldier standing proud with a neatly trimmed mustache. This tradition was…
Meet The Tanks Worthy Enough To Be Named After General Patton
Since WW2 US vehicles have been named after notable American historical figures, but this ongoing tradition of the US’ tank names was actually started by…
The Strangest Military Units That Ever Existed – and Why
Over the course of human history, there have been an innumerable amount of military groups, squadrons and divisions formed for one reason or another. Some…
77 Years Later: Soldier Identified from WWII Will Be Laid To Rest In North Carolina
The remains of an Army servicemember who was declared missing during WWII have been successfully identified almost 77 years later. The lieutenant from Parkton, North…
Demon Core: A Third Atomic Bomb Intended For Japan That Ended Up Killing Americans
In August 1945 the United States dropped two atomic bombs on two Japanese cities. These bombings remain the only time nuclear weapons have ever been…
Berserkers: Soldiers who fought in a trance and gave us the modern-day word for “Berserk”
Old Norse literature details stories of wild soldiers who fought battles in a trancelike state, feeling neither pain nor fear and not stopping until, they,…
A Marine Pilot Used His Propeller To Down An Enemy Plane, Here’s How It Happened
On May 10, 1945, two U.S. Marine pilots were on a combat air patrol when they came across a lone Kawasaki Ki-45. Realizing there was…
The Potsdam Giants: A Prussian Infantry Regiment Of Nothing But Very Tall Soldiers
Under the direct control of Frederick William I during his reign was a military regiment filled with giant soldiers. Officially they were called “The Grand…