MSN | War History

Why Were Pigeons Onboard America’s First Aircraft Carrier?

USS Langley (CV-1) at sea + Pigeon sitting in someone's hand

The first American aircraft carrier was commissioned 100 years ago and onboard was a crew of small, winged comrades who proved their service was invaluable…

Junkers Ju 87Bs Utilized Psychological Warfare Against Allied Ground Troops

Junkers Ju 87Bs in flight

The Germans during the Second World War hoped to take over the world, and they didn’t just plan to do so by using military force.…

US Navy Sailors, Command Treated to Advanced Screening of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Clare Fitzgerald
Tom Cruise as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun: Maverick'

Nearly 1,000 active sailors serving with the US Navy were recently treated to an advanced screening of the new Tom Cruise film Top Gun: Maverick,…

Here’s Why the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 Has Withstood the Test of Time

Sukhoi Su-27 in flight

The Sukhoi Su-27, nicknamed the “Flanker” by NATO, is a Soviet-made aircraft that has withstood the test of time and continues to perform in almost…

The History of the US Navy’s TOPGUN School

Tom Cruise and Larry Gilyard starring in 'Top Gun'

The popular Tom Cruise movie Top Gun debuted in theaters in 1986, and features Cruise and his co-stars attending the US Navy’s TOPGUN school –…

Study Confirms Gulf War Illness Caused By Exposure to Toxic Nerve Agent

Clare Fitzgerald
Two British soldiers dressed in chemical warfare suits and holding weapons

After over 30 years of not understanding the cause of Gulf War Illness, veterans of the Persian Gulf War appear to finally know why they…

Atomic Annie: The Cold War-Era Cannon Capable of Firing a Nuclear Warhead

Mushroom cloud + M65 atomic cannon parked on grass

Toward the start of the Cold War, the United States government looked into developing atomic weapons capable of launching an attack on the Soviet Union,…

The Secret Military Plans Switzerland Put In Place to Survive the Cold War

Todd Neikirk
View of the Bad Seckingen covered bridge

Switzerland has long been considered one of the most neutral countries in the world, having always endeavored to avoid war. That resistance to conflict, however,…

PzH 2000: One of the Most Powerful Artillery Systems Ever Developed

Two PzH 2000s driving through muddy land

In 1998, the German Army adopted the Panzerhaubitze (PzH) 2000, an incredibly powerful artillery system that remains in use to this day. It made a…

Bomb-Sniffing Dog Awarded State Honors By Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Clare Fitzgerald
Myhailo Iliev petting Patron, the bomb-sniffing dog

The majority of military enthusiasts are aware of the importance of bomb-sniffing dogs, especially in times of war. One recently received state honors from Ukrainian…

Remember When Three Bored POWs Escaped Camp and Climbed the Second Highest Peak in Africa?

Mount Kenya with barbed wire in front.

Generally speaking, when prisoners of war concoct a plan to escape their confinement, their biggest fear is getting caught and being thrown back into camp.…

Simo Häyhä: The Deadliest Sniper in the History of War

Simo Häyhä with his sniper rifle + Military portrait of Simo Häyhä

The Winter War of 1939-40 was a true test of the Finnish Army’s strength and resolve. While the country ended up ceding border areas to…