Military
Defense, national security, geopolitical risk, and the forces that shape the balance of global power.
25 articlesLatest Military
5 Prototype Nazi Planes You've Probably Never Heard of
Discover five obscure Nazi aircraft prototypes that never made it to service, from the variable-sweep wing Messerschmitt P.1101 to the bizarre Focke-Achgelis Fa 225 helicopter-glider hybrid.
The Most Terrifying Traps Used in the Vietnam War
Discover the deadliest Viet Cong booby traps of the Vietnam War, from punji sticks and bamboo whips to snake pits, tiger traps, and ingenious grenade devices that terrorized American troops.
5 Weird British Tanks
Discover five of the strangest tanks ever designed by Britain, including the massive TOG II, the bunker-busting Tortoise, the FV4005 with its enormous 183mm cannon, the five-turreted Independent, and the bizarre Praying Mantis.
M-50 Ontos: The Little Tank with 6 Cannons
Discover the M-50 Ontos, the bizarre Vietnam War armored vehicle with six 105mm recoilless rifles. Learn why Marines loved this pint-sized "Thing" despite its many flaws.
50 Military Facts That Will Blow You Away
Discover 50 shocking, weird, and wondrous military facts from history, including a cat who survived three ship sinkings, a toilet bomb dropped on Vietnam, and a penguin who became Norway's second highest-ranked soldier.
M65: The Atomic Cannon
Discover the M65 Atomic Cannon, the Cold War howitzer that could fire nuclear artillery shells up to 20 miles—the only nuclear cannon ever tested.
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More in Military
History's Most Wasteful Military Spending
Discover the most extravagant wastes of military money in history, from the trillion-dollar F-35 program and Hitler's failed Atlantic Wall to nuclear-tipped missiles that never saw deployment.
FOUR 'Great' WWII Tanks That Were Actually Terrible
Discover why four of World War II's most celebrated tanks—the Tiger I, Panther, T-34, and Tiger II—were actually deeply flawed designs plagued by logistical nightmares, mechanical failures, and production shortcuts.
Five Lesser-Known WWII Guns
Discover five obscure but fascinating firearms from World War II, including the Romanian Orița M1941, Hungarian Danuvia 39M, Italian Armaguerra Mod. 39, German MG13, and MP3008.
5 French Tanks That Prove They Just Do Things Differently
Discover five of the strangest tanks in French military history, from the colossal Char 2C Bis to captured German Panthers pressed into French service.
Illegal Warfare: The Weapons the Military Can't Use
Discover the weapons banned by international law, from pepper spray and napalm to land mines and blinding lasers, and why nations continue to use them despite treaties.
5 Terrible Tanks.
Discover five of history's most disastrous tanks, from the overheated British Covenanter to the overhyped German Panther. These armoured failures prove that not every war machine deserves its reputation.