Military

101st Airborne Division (United States Army) 101st Airborne Division U.S. Army division known as the 'Screaming Eagles', famed for World War II airborne operations at Bastogne and later transition to helicopter air assault; served in Vietnam, the Gu…

120th Infantry Regiment (United States) — "Third North Carolina" 120th Infantry Regiment (United States) U.S. Army National Guard infantry regiment from North Carolina. Active elements serve in the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team; notable for the 2nd Battalion's stand at Mortain in Aug…

1747: War, naval clashes, and advances in naval medicine 1747 A summary of the year 1747, marked by battles of the War of the Austrian Succession, notable naval engagements, early clinical work on scurvy, and the birth of naval commander John…

1775: Outbreak of the American Revolutionary War and global context 1775 The year 1775 marked the start of armed conflict between Great Britain and its North American colonies, key military and political developments leading toward independence, and oth…

1862 A pivotal year in the mid‑19th century marked by major American Civil War battles, important U.S. legislation (Homestead, Morrill, Pacific Railway), the Battle of Puebla and notabl…

1864 — Major events, conflicts, and global developments 1864 An overview of the year 1864, highlighting major military campaigns, international conflicts, humanitarian law advances, and their lasting historical significance.

1915 1915 was a pivotal year in the First World War, marked by major battles, diplomatic crises, cultural milestones and scientific advances that shaped the 20th century.

1916 A pivotal year dominated by World War I, notable battles and uprisings, diplomatic agreements, cultural works, scientific publications, and several prominent births and deaths.

1941 1941 was a pivotal year in the Second World War: major campaigns, the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry altered global politics; the year also saw cultural and te…

1942 Overview of the year 1942: calendar classification and a concise, balanced account of the major military, political, scientific, social, and cultural developments that shaped this…

1982 Lebanon War A major 1982 campaign in Lebanon by Israel—called Operation Peace for Galilee—linked to the Lebanese Civil War and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, with long-term regional consequ…

2006 Lebanon War (Second Lebanon War) 2006 Lebanon War A 34-day conflict in July–August 2006 between Hezbollah and Israel, marked by heavy rocket fire, Israeli air and ground operations, large civilian displacement, and a UN-brokered c…

2017 Shayrat missile strike: U.S. cruise missile attack on Syrian air base 2017 Shayrat missile strike On 7 April 2017 the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Shayrat Air Base in Syria in response to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack. The strike marked a direct U.S…

427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron Canadian Special Operations aviation unit providing helicopter support to JTF2 and CSOR, operating CH-146 Griffon under Canadian Special Operations Forces Command.

68th (Durham) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) A British Army infantry regiment raised in 1758, later designated light infantry and linked to County Durham; saw service across Europe, the Crimea, India and the colonies before 1…

75th Infantry Division (United States) U.S. Army infantry division activated in 1943 that fought in Europe, later served in the Organized Reserves and reactivated as the 75th Division (Training Support) in the Army Rese…

82nd Punjabis (regiment of the British Indian Army) 82nd Punjabis Infantry regiment raised in Madras in 1788 that later recruited from Punjab and NWFP, became the 82nd Punjabis in 1903 and was allocated to Pakistan at partition in 1947.

9×19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger) 9x19mm Parabellum A widely used pistol and submachine-gun cartridge with a 9 mm bullet and 19 mm case; known for balanced performance, military and law-enforcement adoption, and use in many popular…

Adjutant (military officer and appointment) Adjutant An adjutant is an officer or appointment who assists a unit commander with administration, personnel, orders and liaison; exact rank and duties vary between armies and services.

Admiral: Senior Naval Rank — Meaning, History, and Usage Admiral Admiral is a senior naval officer rank used worldwide. This article covers its role, rank structure, historical origins, insignia and notable variations in modern navies.

Aerial warfare: concepts, aircraft roles, history and effects Aerial warfare Aerial warfare is military conflict conducted with aircraft and related systems. This article explains roles, types of aircraft, development, tactics, uses, and legal and ethical i…

Afrika Korps (Deutsches Afrikakorps): German Forces in North Africa Afrika Korps The Afrika Korps was the German expeditionary force sent to North Africa in 1941. Commanded by Erwin Rommel, it fought alongside Italian units across Libya and Tunisia during the W…

Agent Orange: herbicide, wartime use, and long-term impacts Agent Orange Agent Orange was a widely used herbicide and defoliant during the Vietnam War. This article explains its composition, military use, environmental and health consequences, and the l…

Aichi D3A (Val): Japanese carrier dive bomber of World War II Aichi D3A Carrier-based Japanese dive bomber of World War II, the Aichi D3A (Allied reporting name 'Val') served in major Pacific operations and later in kamikaze roles and shore-based air u…

AIM-9 Sidewinder: Short-range infrared air-to-air missile AIM-9 Sidewinder The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a widely used short-range, heat-seeking air-to-air missile introduced in the 1950s and continually upgraded into modern infrared-guided variants.

Air force: the military branch for aerial operations Air force An air force is the branch of a nation's armed forces that conducts military operations in the air using manned aircraft and unmanned systems for combat, transport, surveillance an…

Air Force Instruction (AFI): Purpose, Structure, and Legal Status Air Force Instruction An Air Force Instruction (AFI) is an official directive published by the Air Force Departmental Publishing Office. It provides mandatory policy and procedures for Air Force personn…

Air Force Two Air Force Two is the U.S. Air Force call sign for any Air Force aircraft carrying the vice president of the United States; most often assigned to specially configured Boeing C-32 t…

Air Forces of the National People's Army (East Germany) Air Forces of the National People's Army The air arm of East Germany's National People's Army (NVA), active from 1956 to German reunification. Responsible for air defence, tactical support and transport within the Warsaw…

Air Ministry (United Kingdom) Air Ministry Former British government department that administered the Royal Air Force, overseeing policy, procurement and personnel until the 1960s merger creating a single Ministry of Defenc…

Air superiority fighter A military fixed‑wing aircraft optimized to gain and maintain control of the airspace by defeating enemy fighters and denying hostile air operations.

Aircraft carrier: a naval warship that carries and operates aircraft Aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a large naval vessel whose primary role is to deploy, recover and support military aircraft at sea, acting as a mobile airbase and command platform for naval…

AK-101: Kalashnikov 5.56×45mm export assault rifle AK-101 A modernized Kalashnikov-pattern assault rifle chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO. Part of the AK-100 series, designed for export markets to combine AK reliability with contemporary mate…

AK-74: Soviet 5.45×39mm assault rifle AK-74 The AK-74 is a Soviet-designed assault rifle developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the 1970s, chambered for the smaller 5.45×39mm cartridge; notable for reduced recoil, a muzzle comp…

AKM (Kalashnikov modernized assault rifle) AKM The AKM is a Soviet-era, modernized Kalashnikov assault rifle introduced in 1959. Chambered for 7.62×39mm, it uses a stamped receiver and simplified components for lighter weight,…

Al-Badr (East Pakistan militia during the 1971 conflict) Al-Badr (East Pakistan) Al-Badr was a pro-Pakistan paramilitary formed in East Pakistan in 1971. Linked to Islamist student networks, it operated with the Pakistan Army and has been accused of targeted ki…

Al-Shams (East Pakistan): Paramilitary militia during the 1971 conflict Al-Shams (East Pakistan) Al-Shams was a militia organized in East Pakistan in early 1971 to support the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It operated alongside other paramilitary groups a…

Albanian Armed Forces Overview of the Albanian Armed Forces: organization, history, international cooperation, roles, and recent reforms including NATO integration and partner assistance.

Allied invasion of Italy (1943): operations, commanders, and consequences Allied invasion of Italy The Allied invasion of Italy in September 1943 began the Italian Campaign in WWII. Major landings at Calabria, Salerno and Taranto opened a hard, prolonged fight against German def…

Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky), July–August 1943 Allied invasion of Sicily Operation Husky was the large Allied amphibious and airborne invasion of Sicily in July–August 1943 that knocked Axis forces from the island and helped open the way into Italy.

Allied Powers (World War I) Allied Powers of World War I The coalition of states that opposed the Central Powers in World War I (1914–1918), including Britain, France, Russia, the United States, Italy, Japan, and other nations; origins,…

Ambush: tactic of surprise attack and its forms Ambush An ambush is a planned surprise attack from concealment used to harass, capture, or destroy targets. This article covers defining features, history, types, planning, and modern con…

American Civil War casualties Overview of casualties in the American Civil War: definitions, estimates, causes, notable battles, counting challenges, and the war's human and social consequences.

American Civil War Corps Badges Distinctive emblems worn by Union soldiers in the American Civil War to identify corps and divisions; developed for battlefield recognition and unit esprit de corps.

American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) in World War I American Expeditionary Force The American Expeditionary Forces were U.S. military forces sent to Europe in 1917 under General John J. Pershing. They fought mainly in France in 1918, conducting independent offe…

American Indian Wars A summary of the armed conflicts, causes, policies, and legacy of wars between Indigenous peoples and European, American, and Canadian governments across North America from the 17t…

Ammunition: types, components, history and uses Ammunition Overview of ammunition: definitions, components (projectile, propellant, cartridge), major types, historical development, common uses, safety and legal distinctions.

Anaconda Plan (Union strategy in the American Civil War) Anaconda Plan Union strategy to blockade Southern ports and seize the Mississippi to divide and economically strangle the Confederacy, proposed by General Winfield Scott and later executed in pa…