MSN | War History

The Polish MANPADS Piorun Beats the Stinger In Every Aspect – And Might Replace It

PZPR Piorun with a CTP-1 termovision sight

If someone thought the era of MANPADS was coming to an end, they couldn’t be more wrong. While western NATO countries neglected the effectiveness of…

John Levitow: The Lowest-Ranking US Air Force Airman to Receive the Medal of Honor

Todd Neikirk
Tracer rounds in the sky at night + Military portrait of John Levitow

John Levitow came from humble beginnings, but achieved great things. By the time he retired from his career with the US Air Force, he was…

The Sinking of the USS Housatonic was a Turning Point in Naval Warfare

A print showing the sinking of the USS Housatonic

The US Navy has existed longer than the country itself. The branch was established in August 1775 and re-established in 1794 during the French Revolution.…

How Did Bravo Zulu Come To Mean ‘Well Done?’

Madeline Hiltz

The military can be a rather thankless place. So when you do get a compliment, it should be celebrated. Arguably, the most famous form of…

The Molotov Cocktail: A Quick History Of The Surprisingly Effective Weapon

Todd Neikirk
A protester throws a Molotov cocktail in Kiev, Ukraine in 2014

Russian forces invaded Ukraine on February 24th of 2022. Ukrainian soldiers are taking on the Russian troops, but so are a number of Ukrainian civilians.…

Did the Term ‘Grunt’ Originate in Vietnam or During WWII?

Todd Neikirk
Infantrymen walking through a creek

For decades, infantry soldiers in the US Army and Marine Corps have been called “grunts,” wearing the moniker like a badge of honor. Grunts are…

USS Clamagore (SS-343) to Be Dismantled and Recycled

USS Clamagore docked

The USS Clamagore (SS-343), currently stationed at the Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum in South Carolina, is slated to be dismantled and recycled, after…

Wild Weasels Undertake the US Air Force’s Most Dangerous Missions

General Dynamics F-16CJ Fighting Falcon in flight + Wild Weasel patch

There is nothing we love more than a good motto! The unofficial slogan for the US Air Force’s Wild Weasel crew is “YGBSM” – an…

Iskander-M: Russia’s Hypersonic Ballistic Missile System

Iskander-M in a snowy field

The Iskander is a Russian mobile short-range hypersonic ballistic missile system that was developed shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Officially entering service…

War Dog That Served in the Pacific Theater Awarded Distinguished Service Medal

Monument dedicated to Smoky and "Dogs of All Wars" + Animals in War & Peace Distinguished Service Medals displayed on a table

Dogs are a semi-common sight on the battlefield, but one you wouldn’t expect to see is a Yorkshire Terrier. Despite the breed’s small size, one…

R. Lee Ermey: US Marine Corps Sergeant and Respected Hollywood Actor

R. Lee Ermey speaking into a handheld microphone

R. Lee Ermey may best be known for playing Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, but he was also a real-life Marine…

Letters of Last Resort: What Happens When the UK Enters Nuclear War?

Trident II (D-5) missile being launched from underwater + HMS Vengeance at sea + Brown envelope

Imagine: the United Kingdom has been hit by a nuclear blast by an enemy nation. Not only is a large portion of the population dead,…