Valor | War History

HMS Sussex (96): The British Heavy Cruiser That Survived a Kamikaze Strike

Kamikaze strike on the side of the HMS Sussex (96)

The British heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (96) was a London sub-class vessel within the Royal Navy’s County-class. Operated by the service between 1929-50, she participated…

The Battle of Wake Island Lifted the Spirits of the American Public

Aircraft flying over Wake Island

Hidden behind the tragedy of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is the lesser-known Battle of Wake Island. Enemy attacks were launched on both locations,…

The Soviet ‘Hiroshima’ Submarine That Inspired Harrison Ford’s ‘K-19: The Widowmaker’

Harrison Ford as Capt. Alexei Vostrikov in 'K-19: The Widowmaker'

K-19 was the first submarine of the Soviet Union’s Project 658, the first generation of Soviet nuclear submersibles that carried an armament of nuclear ballistic…

The Real-Life History Behind the British Television Series, ‘Sharpe’

Sean Bean as Richard Sharpe in 'Sharpe's Challenge'

The television series Sharpe (1993-2008) captivated audiences with its portrayal of the Napoleonic Wars. The show skillfully weaves a fictional narrative into historical events with…

Retired Soldiers ‘Strenuously Object’ to Removal of Confederate Names from National Ranger Memorial

75th Ranger Regiment personnel standing in front of the National Ranger Memorial

Over 100 retired US Army Rangers have signed a letter to Congress, in which they “strenuously object to the defacement and desecration of the National…

The WWII-Era Disappearance of a Grumman J2F Duck Over Greenland

Grumman J2F Duck in flight

The Grumman J2F Duck was an amphibious aircraft that served the US military in various capacities during the Second World War. It could operate from…

Panzerbüchse 39: The German ‘Tank Hunting Rifle’ That Saw Action In Poland and the USSR

German soldier aiming a Panzerbüchse 39 (PzB 39)

The Panzerbüchse 39 (PzB 39) was an anti-tank rifle operated by Wehrmacht during the Second World War. The PzB 39 saw use during the invasion…

The USS Oriskany Was Purposefully Sunk In the Gulf of Mexico to Form An Artificial Reef

USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) sinking into the Gulf of Mexico

Laid down in the middle of World War II, the Essex-class aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV/CVA-34) didn’t see action until after the conflict. She was…

Exercise Tiger: The D-Day Live-Fire Rehearsal That Resulted In Over 700 Allied Deaths

Allied troops crawling across the beach at Slapton Sands

An immense amount of preparation was involved in ensuring the success of D-Day. The Allies had to make sure they’d achieve the desired outcome, meaning…

Albert Hickman: The F3H Demon Pilot Who Refused to Eject and Saved the Lives of 700 Americans

McDonnell F3H Demon in flight

Disaster doesn’t just strike in the heat of battle; there are times when things go wrong during training, which put servicemen’s lives in danger. That’s…

US Navy Releases Photos, Video of Chinese Warship Harassing American Destroyer In the Taiwan Strait

Clare Fitzgerald
Luyang III (DDG-132) transiting near the USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) in the Taiwan Strait

The US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) has released photos and video of a Chinese warship performing dangerous maneuvers near the USS Chung-Hoon (DDG-93) while the vessel…

RAF Members Preparing to Bomb German Industry Targets During the Battle of the Ruhr

A Royal Air Force (RAF) airman and Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) member standing with a bomb with "ON A VISIT TO THE RUHR" written on it in chalk

Throughout World War II, the Allied forces – in particular, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) – conducted several…