Category: Weapons and Technology
Brown Bess – The Story of History’s Most Famous Musket
“Soldiers knew its shortcomings, but considered it a sturdy and reliable friend. One veteran corporal said as much to his mess mate on the rainy eve of Waterloo. ‘You can pray to Jesus all you…
The Avro Arrow – 10 Surprising Facts About Canada’s Legendary Lost Fighter Jet
“On Feb. 20, 1959, on the day that became known as Black Friday in Canada, the Avro Arrow project was cancelled.” Just about every Canadian knows the story of the Avro Arrow. The space-aged, twin-engine…
The War Over Walls – Five Famous Battles Involving Fortifications, Bulwarks and Barriers
“Some of history’s greatest conquerors spent the better part of their careers going about the unromantic work of reducing city walls, one after another.” DO WALLS WORK? It’s a question torn right from today’s headlines,…
The Carronade – Meet the Stout Little Deck Gun That Struck Terror into the Hearts of Britain’s Enemies
“Carronades could throw astonishingly heavy ship-wrecking solid shot or oversize loads of man-annihilating canister.” By John Danielski IT WAS JUST after midday on Oct. 21, 1805 and the Battle of Trafalgar was in full swing….
Introducing the “Jeep” – How Did America’s Famous Military 4×4 Get Its Name?
“The origin of the word ‘jeep’ is still mired in controversy, more than 80 years after the first models rolled off assembly lines.” IF HISTORIANS COULD pick a single piece of military hardware to symbolize the…
Britain’s First Air War – Seven Surprising Facts About the Early Royal Flying Corps
“By the 1918 Armistice, Great Britain had built a powerful, modern tactical air force that was the envy of the world.” By Greg Baughen THE FIRST WORLD WAR was a proving ground for aerial warfare….
