How the Curse of Tamerlane might have affected World War II
Tamerlane, also known as Timur, Timur the Lame, or even Timūr Gurkān, was one of the most effective military leaders who ever lived. No matter what you call him, there’s…
This video shows the stunning shifts in Naval power in WWII
It’s easy to forget that despite the Allies eventually having America and the U.S.S.R., which had the largest fleets for most of World War II and the Cold War, the…
A Tale of Two Ships: The USS Samuel B. Roberts of World War II and the Persian Gulf
The naming of a Navy ship can be a bit of a mystery to non-Navy types. Some are named for states, cities, or presidents, while some are named for abstract…
The most successful submarine commander ever was captured by the Japanese
When Rear Adm. Richard O’Kane retired from the Navy in 1957, he was (and still is) the most successful American submarine commander, ever. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy,…
A British Commando escaped certain death by pretending to be related to a famous general
Michael Alexander was a 20-year-old light infantry officer when he decided to join the British Commando and Special Boat Service during World War II. In 1942, he was sent to…
This Marine received the Medal of Honor for fighting in the air, on land and sea
“In the air, on land, and sea” is an apt description of Marine Corps life. There are few Marines who get to experience every aspect of the entire Marine Corps:…
Burying tanks was surprisingly effective during World War II
What’s the stupidest idea you can think of a tank crewman giving you? If you said, “Hey, sergeant, what if we buried the tank up to it’s turret?” then, congrats,…
This watch was designed by the oldest, highest-scoring, living American fighter ace
Triple Ace, test pilot, and Air Force legend Bud Anderson is the oldest fighter ace still alive. In 13 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe, Anderson brought down 16 Luftwaffe fighters in…
How mafioso Lucky Luciano helped the Allies invade Sicily in 1943
“In view of the friendly feeling towards America entertained by a great number of citizens of Italy,” President Franklin Roosevelt wrote in a telegram to British Prime Minister Winston Churchill,…
American cartoon legends came together to train US troops in World War II
The Army had a lot of training to do during World War II, and not all of its newly-enlisted soldiers were on the same level. Some 16 million Americans from…