US Naval Aircraft Celebrate the Signing of the Japanese Surrender Aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63)
Following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki by American forces, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan’s surrender on August 15, 1945. Just over two weeks later,…
HMS Sussex (96): The British Heavy Cruiser That Survived a Kamikaze Strike
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
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 WWII-Era Disappearance of a Grumman J2F Duck Over Greenland
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
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…
Exercise Tiger: The D-Day Live-Fire Rehearsal That Resulted In Over 700 Allied Deaths
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…
RAF Members Preparing to Bomb German Industry Targets During the Battle of the Ruhr
Throughout World War II, the Allied forces – in particular, the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) – conducted several…
Can You Spot the Finnish Coastal Defense Ship Väinämöinen In This Image?
Camouflage and optical illusions have long been a key part of conflict. Such tactics were heavily used throughout World War II, with examples being the…
Sunken Remains of German U-boat U-166 In the Depths of the Gulf of Mexico
A total of 23 U-boats were stationed in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II. Over the course of the conflict, they took out…
Malaysia Accuses Chinese Barge of Looting World War II-Era Shipwrecks
The Malaysian Maritime Agency has detained a Chinese barge it accuses of looting two British shipwrecks in the South China Sea. The accusations come after…
A Gloster Meteor Once Deflected A V-1 Flying Bomb With Its Wing
The V-1 flying bomb was an early cruise missile developed by Germany as part of its V-weapons (Vergeltungswaffen) program. Starting on June 13, 1944, V-1s…
HMS Centurion (1911): The British Dreadnought That Saw Action At Jutland and Was Purposefully Sunk After D-Day
The HMS Centurion (1911) was the second of four King George V-class dreadnought battleships. She served with the Royal Navy between 1913-44, seeing action throughout…