Category: Weapons and Technology
The ‘Iron Elephant’ — How a 17th Century German Inventor Devised a Primitive Battle Tank
“Leibniz vividly described a mobile fortress, a weapon of unimaginable power and destruction that could single-handedly sow havoc among enemy forces.” By Lloyd Strickland WITH WARFARE in the 17th century dominated by sieges, cannons, artillery…
The A13 Mk III ‘Covenanter’ — Could this Be the Worst British Tank of World War Two?
“The BEF had been forced to withdraw from France in May and June, leaving behind most of its tanks. There seemed a real prospect of a German invasion of Britain and replacement vehicles were desperately…
The Last Sailing Warship – Inside the Amazing Voyage of the Kaiser’s Commerce Raider ‘Seeadler’
“Von Luckner preferred to capture his prey rather than kill. In its entire career as a raider, Seeadler’s guns only took a single life.” By Blaine Pardoe THE STORIED AGE OF SAIL was long over…
The Hedgehog — Meet the Allies’ Devastatingly Effective U-Boat Killer
“The Hedgehog had several advantages over the depth charge.” By Mark Lardas THE U.S. NAVY’S Mk. 10 and Mk. 11 ahead-throwing spigot mortar projector was the deadliest submarine killer of World War Two. The proper…
‘The Automation of Genocide’ — How the Nazis Used IBM Technology to Bring About the Holocaust
“It’s the story of the world’s first personal information catastrophe, and that catastrophe ushered in the worst atrocities of World War II.” By James Grippando WHEN ACCLAIMED theatre director Joe Adler asked me to write…
Crash Landings Only — The Harrowing Job of the WW2 Combat Glider Pilot
“Their missions were so dangerous that they earned an Air Medal for each, the equivalent of a Bronze Star.” By Scott McGaugh WHEN WARS begin, those who volunteer or who are drafted enter a universe…
