Military

Militarism: ideology, characteristics, history, and societal effects Militarism Militarism is an ideology that elevates military values and institutions within civilian life. This article outlines its features, historical examples, social impacts, and how it d…

Militarization: Definition, Processes, History, and Effects Militarization Militarization is the process by which a state, society, or institution increases its military capacity and orientation; this article explains causes, forms, history, and social co…

Military: organization, roles, branches, history, and modern developments Military Overview of the military as an armed organization: structure, branches, roles, recruitment, history, mercenaries and private forces, and contemporary responsibilities including lan…

Military aircraft: types, roles, and development Military aircraft Overview of military aircraft, their main types and roles, design features, historical development, and modern trends including jets, helicopters, and unmanned systems.

Military alliance A formal agreement between states to cooperate on defence and military matters, typically pledging mutual assistance and shaping security policy, organization, and regional stabili…

Military base: functions, types, structure, and history Military base Overview of military bases: purposes, common components, types (permanent, overseas, forward operating), historical development, legal and strategic issues, and social/environmenta…

Military camouflage: purpose, patterns and uses Military camouflage Camouflage is the use of patterned clothing, coverings and paint to reduce visibility of personnel, weapons and equipment. This article explains types, history, practical uses and…

Military camp: structure, history and uses Military camp An overview of military camps — temporary and semi-permanent field sites used to house, support and operate armed forces away from permanent installations; covers layout, types, hi…

Military campaign: definition, components, history, and significance Military campaign A military campaign is a coordinated series of operations in a defined area and time to achieve strategic objectives. This article explains its components, history, planning, and h…

Military Cross British military decoration awarded for exemplary gallantry on land; originally for junior officers, extended to all ranks in 1993 and allowed posthumous awards since 1979.

Military diving: roles, equipment, history and operations Military diving Military diving is underwater activity conducted by armed forces for combat, reconnaissance, clearance, salvage and support tasks. This article explains roles, techniques, equipmen…

Military glider: engineless assault aircraft for airborne forces Military glider Towed, engineless aircraft designed to deliver troops and equipment to combat zones. Widely used in World War II, they offered silent, precise insertion but were vulnerable and lar…

Military history Survey of military history: its scope, subjects, methods, major periods, uses and changing approaches in scholarship and public memory.

Military intelligence: purpose, methods, history and uses Military intelligence Military intelligence is the collection, analysis and dissemination of information about adversaries, terrain, weather and operational environments to support defense decision-maki…

Military Merit Cross (Austria‑Hungary) Military Merit Cross (Austria-Hungary) Imperial Austro‑Hungarian decoration established in 1849 for military merit; issued in several classes and variants (war decoration, swords) and made obsolete in 1918 with the empi…

Military occupation (belligerent occupation) Military occupation Control of a territory by a foreign armed force that does not exercise formal sovereignty; governed by international law and obligations to the civilian population.

Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) Military Occupational Specialty Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) is the United States system of job classification in the armed services that identifies a service member’s duties, training, and career path.

Military of Ancient Rome An overview of Rome's military institutions from the city's founding to the fall of the Western Empire, covering organization, tactics, navy, reforms, and legacy.

Military of the United States: organization, roles, and history Military of the United States Overview of the United States Armed Forces: its branches, organization, historical development, missions, personnel policies and notable distinctions.

Military organization The arrangement and management of a state's armed forces: structures, branches, history, roles, and how military, paramilitary and irregular forces differ.

Military Rabbinate (Israel): role, history and functions Military Rabbinate Israeli Military Rabbinate (Heil HaRabanut HaTzvait) is the IDF unit responsible for Jewish religious needs, burial, kashrut, chaplaincy and halachic advice; led by the Chief Milit…

Military Science Study of armed conflict, armed forces, and military operations including strategy, tactics, logistics, intelligence and the methods used to prepare for and conduct war.

Military strategy: principles, history, and modern applications Military strategy Military strategy is the planning and employment of armed force to achieve political goals. It covers objectives, planning, logistics, deception, and how strategy differs from tact…

Military tactics: principles, types, and historical development Military tactics An overview of military tactics: the methods commanders use to employ forces in battle, key principles, common forms (frontal, flanking, ambush, combined-arms), historical change a…

Military taxonomy: systems for classifying forces, equipment, and operations Military taxonomy Structured systems that classify and index military elements — weapons, units, tactics, organizations and missions — to support analysis, planning, reporting and information sharin…

Military terminology: definition, structure, history, and use Military terminology Glossary and overview of military terminology: its forms, functions, historical development, branch and national differences, common categories, and practical importance in operati…

Military–industrial complex: overview, actors, history, and debates Military–industrial complex The military–industrial complex describes the networked relationship between armed forces, government decision-makers, and defense industries, its origins, mechanisms, benefits, ri…

Militia: organized non-regular armed groups and reserve forces Militia Overview of militias: what they are, how they differ from regular armed forces, types (state, volunteer, irregular), roles, legal status and historical context.

Minesweeper (naval vessel): purpose, design, history and operations Minesweeper A minesweeper is a naval vessel built to clear sea mines and keep shipping lanes safe. This article explains its roles, design features, historical development and modern mine coun…

Minié ball: mid-19th century expanding bullet that changed rifled muskets Minié ball A conical, hollow‑based projectile developed by Claude‑Étienne Minié that enabled rapid loading of rifled muskets and greatly increased range, accuracy and battlefield lethality in…

Minigun (M134): six-barrel rotary 7.62×51mm machine gun Minigun Comprehensive overview of the M134 'Minigun': design, operation, history, common uses, and how it differs from single-barrel chain guns and the larger Vulcan.

Military mining (siege undermining) Mining (military) Excavation of tunnels beneath fortifications to breach walls, collapse defenses or infiltrate positions; a siege technique from antiquity through World War I with distinct methods,…

Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) Ministry of Defence (UK) Overview of the UK Ministry of Defence: role, organisation, origins, responsibilities, and accountability in directing the British Armed Forces.

Missile A missile is a projectile delivered to a target, historically any thrown object and today commonly a self-propelled guided weapon; this article explains types, components, history,…

Missile Command Missile Command is an early 1980s arcade defense game by Atari in which the player protects cities from incoming warheads using limited anti‑missile batteries and timed explosions.

Missing in action (MIA): definition, causes, recovery, and legal aspects Missing in action Missing in action (MIA) denotes service members unaccounted for after combat. This article explains definitions, common causes, recovery and accounting methods, historical context,…

MIT Lincoln Laboratory A U.S. Department of Defense federally funded research and development center that applies advanced science and engineering to national security challenges, located near Boston, Ma…

Mitro Bahini (Allied Forces of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War) Mitro Bahini Mitro Bahini was the wartime alliance of the Indian Army and the Mukti Bahini that fought Pakistani forces in East Pakistan in 1971, culminating in the Pakistani surrender on 16 De…

Model 1857 12‑Pounder Napoleon Field Gun Model 1857 12-Pounder Napoleon Field Gun Mid‑19th‑century bronze, muzzle‑loading smoothbore field gun (officially the light 12‑pounder), widely used in the American Civil War for its versatility, reliability, and short‑ t…

Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF): origins, aims and history Moro National Liberation Front An encyclopedic summary of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF): formation, leadership, territorial claims, peace agreements with the Philippine government, and its regional s…

Mortar (weapon): high-angle artillery for close support Mortar (weapon) A mortar is a short-barreled artillery piece that fires explosive mortar bombs in a high-arc trajectory. It provides indirect, close-support fire for infantry and can range from ma…

Mortier de 12 pouces Gribeauval Mortier de 12 Gribeauval French 12‑pouce siege mortar built to the Gribeauval system: a large-calibre, cast-metal mortar used in late 18th–early 19th century siege, coastal and field operations.

Mosin–Nagant: Russian bolt-action military rifle and its major variants Mosin-Nagant A concise overview of the Mosin–Nagant rifle: design, development, service history, major variants, ammunition, and its legacy as the most-produced bolt-action service rifle.

Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND): overview and impact Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta Profile of MEND, a prominent armed group in Nigeria's Niger Delta: aims, tactics, origins, effects on oil production and environment, and government responses.

Mozambican Civil War (1977–1992) Mozambican Civil War Prolonged conflict in Mozambique between FRELIMO and RENAMO (1977–1992), shaped by Cold War and regional rivalries. It devastated infrastructure, caused mass displacement, and left…

MP-40 (Maschinenpistole 40) — German World War II submachine gun MP-40 The MP-40 is a German 9×19mm submachine gun introduced in WWII. Known for stamped‑metal construction and simple blowback action, it influenced later SMG design and saw widespread f…

Mukti Bahini — The Bengali Liberation Forces (1971) Mukti Bahini Mukti Bahini were Bengali guerrilla and regular forces formed in 1971 to resist Pakistani rule in East Pakistan; their campaign, aided by India, helped create the independent state…

Multirole Combat Aircraft: Design, Roles, History, and Impact Multirole combat aircraft An overview of multirole combat aircraft: what they are, how they differ from single-role designs, their history, key systems, typical missions, examples, and trade-offs in modern…