Military

Heated shot (hot shot): incendiary round shot for muzzle-loading cannon Heated shot Heated shot — solid cannonballs heated before firing to ignite wooden ships, buildings, or stores. A shore and fortress weapon that fell out of use with the rise of ironclads and b…

Heavy machine gun A heavy machine gun is a crew-served automatic firearm that fires large-caliber cartridges for long-range fire, anti-materiel roles, and vehicle or fortification mounting.

Heavy Vehicles Factory (Avadi) — India’s tank and armoured vehicle plant Heavy Vehicles Factory Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF), established in 1961 at Avadi near Chennai, is a principal Indian facility for manufacture, assembly, overhaul and testing of main battle tanks and arm…

Heckler & Koch G11 — experimental German assault rifle with caseless ammunition Heckler & Koch G11 The G11 was an experimental German assault rifle by Heckler & Koch that used caseless 4.73 mm ammunition. Developed 1968–1990, it reached prototype testing but was never adopted fo…

Heckler & Koch G3 The Heckler & Koch G3 is a widely used 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle developed in the 1950s. Noted for its roller-delayed blowback action, stamped-steel construction and global servi…

Heckler & Koch G36 A German 5.56×45mm assault rifle developed by Heckler & Koch in the 1990s, noted for polymer construction, integrated optics and wide military and police use.

Heckler & Koch MP series Overview of the Heckler & Koch MP series: a family of compact submachine guns and PDWs from Germany, their design features, history, common variants, and roles in military and law…

Heer (German term for army) Heer Heer is the German word for 'army', used as a common noun and as the official name of land forces in several German-speaking countries and historical armed forces.

Henschel Hs 123: German single-seat biplane dive bomber Henschel Hs 123 The Henschel Hs 123 was a robust single-engine biplane dive bomber built in 1930s Germany. Used in the Spanish Civil War and early World War II, it served as a close-support and gr…

Her Majesty's Ship (HMS): Royal Navy ship prefix and its use Her Majesty's Ship HMS is the traditional ship prefix for vessels of the British Royal Navy and many Commonwealth navies. This article explains its meaning, history, usage, and related naval prefixes…

Hessian (soldier) Hessians were German troops leased by small German states to fight alongside British forces in the 18th century, most famously during the American Revolutionary War; their service…

Hillfort: ancient fortified settlements on elevated ground Hillfort A hillfort is a fortified settlement built on raised ground, using ramparts, ditches and palisades for defence. Common in Europe from the later Bronze Age and through the Iron Age,…

Hindenburg Line (Siegfriedstellung): German defensive system of World War I Hindenburg Line A fortified German defensive system on the Western Front in WWI, constructed in 1916–17. A deep, layered line of trenches, bunkers and wire designed for economy of force and later…

Hizbul Mujahideen Hizbul Mujahideen is a militant group active in the Kashmir conflict, formed in 1989, advocating accession to Pakistan and Islamic governance; it has been a major actor in insurgen…

HMS Sirius (1786): Flagship of the First Fleet HMS Sirius (1786) HMS Sirius was the principal Royal Navy vessel of the First Fleet, acting as flagship during the 1787–1788 voyage that established the British penal colony at Sydney and later wrec…

HMS Warrior (1860) — Royal Navy's First Iron‑hulled Armoured Warship HMS Warrior (1860) HMS Warrior, launched 1860, was the Royal Navy's first large ocean‑going warship with an iron hull and armour. Preserved at Portsmouth, she illustrates the transition from wooden s…

Homosexuality in the Militaries of Ancient Greece An overview of how same-sex relationships intersected with military life in classical Greece, including the Sacred Band of Thebes, Spartan practices, social context, functions, and…

Hoplite — the citizen-soldier of ancient Greece Hoplite Hoplites were heavily armed infantry who fought in dense phalanx formations in ancient Greek city-states. This article explains their equipment, tactics, social role, and historica…

Horses in World War I: Roles, Hardships, and Legacy Horses in World War I How horses were used in World War I, their roles in cavalry and logistics, the hardships they endured, the scale of losses and veterinary care, and how mechanization and conditions…

Household Cavalry (United Kingdom) Household Cavalry Senior British Army regiments combining mounted ceremonial duties and armoured reconnaissance. Formed from The Life Guards and The Blues and Royals, they serve in the Household Div…

Howitzer: purpose, design, history, and modern types Howitzer A howitzer is a type of artillery piece optimized for high-angle and indirect fire. This article covers its characteristics, historical development, common uses, and how it differs…

I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF) I Marine Expeditionary Force I Marine Expeditionary Force is a principal, expeditionary Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the U.S. Marine Corps, organized for large-scale amphibious, air-ground and logistics ope…

Imperial Japanese Navy (Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun) Imperial Japanese Navy The maritime force of the Empire of Japan from the Meiji era until post‑World War II dissolution, noted for rapid modernization, decisive early victories, and a shift from battlesh…

Impressment: Forced Naval Recruitment in the Age of Sail Impressment Impressment was the forcible seizure of men to serve in naval fleets, most famously by the British Royal Navy in the 17th–19th centuries. It affected maritime labor, coastal commun…

Improvised Explosive Device (IED): overview, characteristics, history and countermeasures Improvised explosive device An improvised explosive device (IED) is a non-standard bomb used in conflicts and criminal actions. This article explains its characteristics, history, contexts of use, impacts, an…

India Command (British India Command) India Command The senior military staff supporting the Commander‑in‑Chief of British India. Responsible for administration, operations, and coordination of the British Indian Army from GHQ India…

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of India's armed forces, responsible for air defence, strategic strike, transport and humanitarian missions, with a mix of imported and in…

Indian Armed Forces The Indian Armed Forces—Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard—defend India's sovereignty and contribute to peacekeeping, disaster relief and strategic deterrence. They are overseen…

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land service branch of the Indian Armed Forces, tasked with defending India's borders, conducting ground operations, and contributing to disaster relief and…

Indian National Army (Azad Hind) Indian National Army The Indian National Army (INA) was a military force formed during World War II to fight British rule in South Asia, allied with Japan and linked to the provisional Azad Hind govern…

Indian Navy — Overview, Organization and Role Indian Navy The Indian Navy is the maritime branch of the Indian Armed Forces. This article summarizes its mission, structure, history, capabilities, and contemporary roles in security, diplom…

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 A concise, neutral overview of the 1971 conflict between India and Pakistan that led to the creation of Bangladesh, its causes, major events, and lasting consequences.

Infantry: Foot Soldiers and Their Role in Land Warfare Infantry Infantry are military units that fight on foot. This article explains their characteristics, equipment, historical development, roles and tactics, and how they differ from other co…

Infantry gun — light direct-fire artillery for front-line units Infantry gun A light, short-barrel artillery piece used with infantry for direct fire support. Includes pack, mountain and airborne variants; largely superseded by rocket launchers and guided a…

Infiltration tactics (stormtrooper tactics) of World War I Infiltration tactics A concise guide to infiltration tactics—small-unit assault methods developed by German forces in WWI that emphasized surprise, bypassing strongpoints, and combined-arms to break tr…

INS Dakar — Israeli submarine lost in 1968 INS Dakar INS Dakar, formerly HMS Totem, was a Royal Navy T-class submarine delivered to Israel in 1968 that disappeared en route. Its wreck was found in 1999; the exact cause of sinking rem…

Insubordination: definition, contexts, and distinctions Insubordination Insubordination is refusal to follow authority or orders. This article explains its forms, history, examples in military and civilian life, legal and ethical distinctions, and typi…

Insurgency: definition, characteristics, history and tactics Insurgency An insurgency is an organized armed challenge to established authority that blends military, political and social methods; this article explains its features, history, tactics and…

Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Armed insurgency and counterinsurgency in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region involving militant groups, Pakistani security forces and international partners, with deep local and…

Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) Intercontinental ballistic missile A long‑range guided ballistic missile designed to deliver warheads between continents. Covers basic design, flight phases, history, deployment modes, strategic role, and distinctio…

Intermediate cartridge (assault rifle ammunition) Intermediate cartridge An intermediate cartridge is a centerfire rifle round sized between full-power rifle and pistol cartridges, optimized for short- to medium-range combat and widely used in assault r…

Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty A 1987 arms-control agreement between the United States and the Soviet Union that eliminated an entire class of ground-launched missiles and introduced novel verification measures;…

Internal conflict in Myanmar Long-running armed conflicts in Myanmar between the central state and multiple ethnic and political armed groups since independence in 1948, with major humanitarian and political c…

Internal Troops of Azerbaijan A uniformed gendarmerie-like paramilitary force within Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, responsible for public order, emergency response and internal security; subordinat…

Invasion: military, ecological and other meanings Invasion Comprehensive overview of 'invasion', covering its origins, military use, ecological concept of invasive species, examples, management, and related meanings.

Invasion of Poland (1939) German and Soviet invasions of Poland in September 1939 that triggered the Second World War in Europe, led to occupation and partition, and shaped wartime diplomacy, resistance and…

Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988): overview, conduct, and consequences Iran–Iraq War An organized summary of the Iran–Iraq War: origins, main phases, weapons and tactics, international involvement, human cost, and the war’s political and regional aftermath.

Iraq Resolution (Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq, 2002) Iraq Resolution U.S. joint resolution passed in October 2002 (Public Law 107-243) granting the president authority to use military force against Iraq; central to the 2003 invasion and later politi…