Military

Risk (board game) Risk (game) Risk is a strategic area-control board game in which players command armies to capture territories, exchange cards for reinforcements, and pursue objectives or world domination.

Rocket launcher A rocket launcher is a device for firing unguided or simple-guided rockets. This article explains types, components, history, common models and how rocket launchers differ from gui…

Rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) Rocket-propelled grenade A shoulder-fired, unguided rocket weapon that launches an explosive warhead. Widely used against light armor and in asymmetric warfare; comes in reloadable and disposable forms wit…

Rockwell B-1 Lancer A U.S. Air Force supersonic, variable-sweep wing strategic bomber developed by Rockwell; originally nuclear-capable, later refitted for conventional long-range strike missions.

Roman army: organization, history, tactics and legacy Roman army Survey of the armed forces of ancient Rome: structure, principal units (legions, auxilia, cavalry, navy), recruitment, tactics, historical development and long-term impact.

Roman legion A Roman legion was the principal large military unit of ancient Rome, evolving from the Republic into the Empire and combining heavy infantry, support troops and engineering capaci…

Romanian Land Forces The ground component of Romania's armed forces. Organizes, trains and equips land units for national defense, NATO collective defense and international missions; undergoing moderni…

Roundheads — the Parliamentarians of the English Civil War Roundheads Roundheads were supporters of Parliament and reform in mid-17th century England, opposing King Charles I and the Royalist Cavaliers; the name reflects appearance, politics, militar…

Royal Air Force (RAF): Overview, history and roles Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's aerial warfare service, formed in 1918. This article summarizes its origins, organization, major roles, bases, aircraft and modern…

Royal Arms of Scotland Heraldic arms used by the British monarch in Scotland, centred on the red lion rampant within a double tressure; history, components, official use, and differences from the United…

Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Royal Australian Air Force The air arm of Australia's Defence Force. Established from the Australian Flying Corps, the RAAF provides air defence, transport, surveillance, strike and humanitarian support at h…

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal maritime force of Australia. This article summarizes its history, structure, principal ship types, roles, traditions and contempora…

Royal Banner of Scotland (Lion Rampant) Royal Banner of Scotland The Royal Banner of Scotland, commonly called the Lion Rampant, is the historic royal banner displaying a red lion on a yellow field with a double tressure. It is distinct from the…

Royal Bhutan Army The Royal Bhutan Army is Bhutan's principal military force, responsible for defending sovereignty, maintaining internal stability and assisting in disaster relief, operating under…

Royal Canadian Air Force Canada's air arm responsible for air defence, surveillance, transport and search and rescue; part of the Canadian Armed Forces with a history from early 20th century to present.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Royal Canadian Mounted Police Canada's federal police service, commonly called the Mounties; a national law enforcement organization with federal, provincial and community roles and roots in the 19th century.

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is Canada's maritime service, formed in 1910–11, which served in two world wars, Cold War alliances and modern naval operations; it was unified in 196…

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst The British Army's principal officer training centre near Sandhurst, Berkshire. Covers role, organisation, selection and commissioning, courses, history, traditions and internation…

Royal Navy (United Kingdom) Royal Navy The Royal Navy is the United Kingdom’s naval service, historically the world’s dominant fleet from the 18th century to WWII. This article outlines its structure, history, roles, sh…

Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) Royal New Zealand Navy The Royal New Zealand Navy is New Zealand's maritime service, responsible for naval defence, sovereignty patrols, disaster relief and international deployments since its formation…

Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army is the principal land force of Thailand, responsible for defending sovereignty, supporting civil authorities, and serving as the largest component of the countr…

RPK — Soviet squad automatic weapon RPK machine gun The RPK is a Soviet-era light machine gun designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov as a squad automatic weapon. It extended the AK design for sustained fire and saw wide Cold War and Vietna…

Russian Air Force (VVS) — organisation, roles, history and aircraft Russian Air Force Overview of the Russian Air Force (VVS), its role within the armed forces, principal aircraft and capabilities, historical development, modernisation and relation to naval aviation…

Russian Civil War (1917–1922) Russian Civil War A multi-sided conflict that followed the 1917 revolutions, fought across the former Russian Empire between Red (Bolshevik) forces, White opponents, regional movements and foreign i…

Russian Ground Forces The land warfare branch of Russia's armed forces: its role, organization, history since the Soviet breakup, major operations, and distinguishing features of structure and equipment…

Russian roulette: overview, mechanics, history, risks, and cultural impact Russian roulette Russian roulette is a lethal gambling game involving a firearm. This article explains its concept, variations, historical and cultural context, legal and medical risks, and why it…

Russian Space Forces — former Russian military branch for space operations Russian Space Forces Former branch of Russia's armed forces responsible for military space activities: satellite operations, missile early warning, space surveillance and launch support; reorganized in…

Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905) Russo-Japanese War Conflict between the Russian and Japanese Empires over influence in Manchuria and Korea (1904–1905). Marked Japan's emergence as a modern great power and reshaped East Asian geopol…

Russo-Turkish Wars (Russian–Ottoman Wars) Russo-Turkish war Series of military conflicts between the Russian states and the Ottoman Empire from the 16th to early 20th century, shaping southeastern Europe, the Caucasus and Black Sea politics…

Rwandan Civil War (1990–1994) Rwandan Civil War Armed conflict between the Rwandan government and the Rwanda Patriotic Front that escalated into the 1994 genocide and reshaped Rwanda's political landscape.

Special Air Service (S.A.S.) — British Army Special Forces unit S.A.S. The Special Air Service (SAS) is the British Army's special operations force, formed in World War II for behind‑enemy‑lines operations and now employed for reconnaissance, counter‑…

SA80: British bullpup service rifle family SA80 SA80 is the British Army's family of bullpup small arms including the L85 rifle and L86 light support weapon; known for compact design, accuracy and a history of upgrades to improv…

Saab JAS 39 Gripen: multirole Swedish fighter aircraft Saab JAS 39 Gripen Multirole, single-engine fourth-generation fighter developed by Saab. The Gripen is designed for air defense, attack and reconnaissance with modern avionics, low operating costs, a…

Sabre (saber): design, history and uses Sabre A sabre (saber) is a curved backsword originally linked with light cavalry. This article explains its form, development from early modern Europe to sporting fencing, and its milita…

Saiga-12 shotgun Saiga-12 The Saiga-12 is a Russian, magazine-fed semi-automatic 12-gauge shotgun derived from the AK action, available in box and drum magazines and used in military, law enforcement, sport…

Salients, Re-entrants, and Pockets in Military Operations and Fortifications Salients, re-entrants and pockets Definitions and tactical implications of salients, re-entrants and pockets in warfare and fortifications, with examples, history, and common countermeasures.

Samurai: Japan's Warrior Class and Cultural Legacy Samurai Samurai were Japan’s hereditary warrior-nobility who served lords, followed martial codes, and shaped politics and culture until their formal decline after the Meiji Restoration (1…

Schlieffen Plan: Germany’s pre‑1914 strategy for a rapid victory in the west Schlieffen Plan Overview of the Schlieffen Plan: origins, assumptions, operational outline, 1914 implementation, reasons for failure, historiographical debate and its legacy in military history.

Schwerer Gustav — German 80 cm railway siege gun Schwerer Gustav Schwerer Gustav and sister gun Dora were German 80 cm K (E) railway siege guns built by Krupp before WWII to defeat heavy fortifications. They remain the largest rifled artillery p…

Scimitar — Curved single-edged sword of the Middle East and beyond Scimitar A scimitar is a broad Western term for several types of curved, single-edged swords used historically across the Middle East, Central and South Asia and North Africa, chiefly for c…

Scorched-earth policy Scorched earth Military strategy of destroying resources and infrastructure to deny them to an advancing or retreating enemy, with significant humanitarian and legal implications.

Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784): Mysore vs British East India Company Second Anglo-Mysore War Overview of the Second Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784) between Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan and the British East India Company, its campaigns, stalemate and the peace terms…

Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas) Second Battle of Bull Run A major 1862 American Civil War battle near Manassas, Virginia, fought Aug 28–30. Confederate victory under Robert E. Lee that forced Union retreat and shaped the Northern Virginia…

Second-in-Command (2IC): role, responsibilities and variations Second-in-command Overview of the second-in-command (2IC) role in military units: duties, typical ranks by unit size, naval equivalents, authority, selection and Commonwealth/international variation…

Semi-automatic rifle Firearm that fires one round per trigger pull and automatically chambers the next; overview of mechanisms, history, uses, and legal distinctions.

Semper Fidelis — John Philip Sousa’s Official United States Marine Corps March Semper Fidelis Overview of 'Semper Fidelis', the Marine Corps march by John Philip Sousa: meaning, composition, history, structure, ceremonial use, and its place in American march tradition.

Sentai: Japanese military unit and tokusatsu team genre Sentai Sentai is a Japanese term meaning a unit or squadron in military use and a distinct live-action TV genre (Super Sentai) featuring color-coded heroes, teamwork, and monster-versus-r…

Sepoy — Indian infantry soldier (East India Company and British Indian Army) Sepoy Sepoy: historically an Indian foot soldier in Company and British service; now a lowest enlisted rank in several South Asian armies. Origins, role, 1857 uprising, reforms, and mode…