The Navy built this pump-action grenade launcher for SEALs in Vietnam
The Navy SEALs take on some of the U.S. military’s most dangerous missions. To do this, SEALs need to be equipped with weapons that maximize the firepower of their small…
The iconic PBR was based on a recreational boat and powered by Jacuzzi jets
Picture the brown-water Navy of the Vietnam War and you probably picture Martin Sheen as Capt. Willard floating upriver on a PBR to “terminate Col. Kurtz’s command…with extreme prejudice.” The Patrol Boat, River was a small rigid-hulled patrol …
This is why General Schwarzkopf wore two watches
The idea of wearing two watches today seems like an unnecessary bit of showing off. In fact, with the prominence of smartphones and smartwatches, the idea of wearing a traditional time-keeping device on your wrist sounds entirely antiquated. For Gen…
The Army nerfed its ammunition before WWII
The bottom line for the military is always cost-effectiveness (barring elite tier-1 units). As we’ve seen with the Modular Handgun System competition, acquisitions are driven by the lowest bid and not necessarily performance. The argument between G…
How a Ralph Lauren paint became one of the most dominant colors in the military
If you walk around any military base today, you will see the color “Coyote Brown.” The dull yellow-brown shade can be seen on the uniforms of sailors, airmen, soldiers and Marines. Certain uniform items like beanies, boots and fleece jackets are e…
The Navy SEALs you didn’t see in Black Hawk Down
The Battle of Mogadishu is one of the most infamous and controversial engagements in modern U.S. military history. The battle has been documented in books and film, most notably the 2001 film Black Hawk Down. The film depicts the Rangers, D…
The history and design behind the legendary A-10
We’ve all seen the memes. The A-10 Thunderbolt II, better known as the Warthog, has become the internet’s favorite warplane thanks in large part to its signature ‘BRRRT’ sound that it makes when it fires its massive 30mm gun. It’s highly doubtf…
This helicopter is the predecessor of the stealth Black Hawk from the bin Laden raid
Ever since the first details were released about a stealth helicopter being used and crashing during the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden, the internet aviation community has been awash with great interest and specul…
Watch the Navy’s Leap Frogs make the first-ever parachute jump into Central Park
On Aug. 5, 2021, an Air Force C-130J Hercules flew over Manhattan. At an altitude of 8,000 feet, the elite jumpers of the U.S. Navy Parachute Team exited the aircraft….
This airsoft gun can only be purchased by military and law enforcement personnel
If you search online for airsoft guns, you’ll find a plethora of replica firearms that shoot 6mm plastic bbs. Airsoft guns can be used in a range of activities from casually plinking soda cans in the backyard to fully immersive military simulation …