How HMS Speedy Captured The El Gamo, Which Was 3 Times Her Size & Had 5 Times Her Crew
On March 28th, 1800, a Scottish aristocrat took command of the small Brig-Sloop HMS Speedy, based at Port Mahon. The Scotsman, Thomas Cochrane, was an…
The Hero of the Battle of Trafalgar: Lord Nelson Was Pickled in Liquor
A long used euphemism in sailing circles, and in some pubs and bars, refers to slurping liquor from a straw directly from the barrel. The…
The Ingenious Ancient Romans Used Mining Operations To Mercilessly Break Siege Defenses
The Romans were the great masters of siegecraft in the ancient world. With their combination of military and engineering prowess, they were experts at building blockades…
How the Royal Navy kept order, Through Caning, Flogging, and Hanging
By the end of the 18th century, the wooden walls of England, as her Navy was so often called, was comprised of one of the…
Awarded the Medal of Honor For Bravery, His Country Locked up His Family in an Internment Camp
George “Joe” Taro Sakato is a second-generation-born American of Japanese descent, which was why his family had to relocate during WWII. Despite this, he joined…
VC: Despite Being Shot And With His Plane On Fire, This Pilot Refused To Bail Out Without Taking Down A German Fighter
On a bright sunny morning in August 1940, No. 249 Squadron, Royal Air Force, was patrolling near Southampton, in southern England. There was hardly any…
Devastating Missile Power – The Archers Of The Ancient Roman Army
Although the armies of Rome were famous for their hard-hitting legionaries, they also used a range of other troops. Cavalry, slingers, and light infantry all…
The US Special Forces Major who fought in the SS
Some men choose sides, others choose battles, and others fight regardless of the side or battle. One such man not only fought for three different…
The Gallipoli Campaign, 1915 – A Bloody And Terrible Ground Invasion
In November 1914, Turkey entered the First World War on the side of the Central Powers. It was a disappointment for Britain and France, who…
Eight Of The Worst Leaders In Military History
There are few figures more inspiring than a great commander and few disasters worse than putting the wrong man in charge. Publius Quintilius Varus A…
Day of Infamy: The Lessons and Legacy of Pearl Harbor Day
War History Online presents this guest blog by Christopher Kelly On Sunday December 7, 1941, seventy-six years ago, planes of the Imperial Japanese Navy streaked…
The Plane That Flew Itself – After The Pilot Ejected, This F-106A Flew for Miles Before Landing Gently in a Field
In 1970, a plane got fed up with its pilot so it hatched an audacious plan. First, get rid of the pilot. Second: land. Third:…