Springfield Model 1855 (rifled musket) Springfield Model 1855 Mid-19th century American rifled musket produced at Springfield Armory. Notable for use of the Minié-style conical bullet and the optional Maynard tape primer; an important step in…
Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) — Light support for infantry squads Squad automatic weapon A squad automatic weapon (SAW) is a portable automatic firearm assigned to a squad to provide sustained suppressive fire, balancing high volume fire with mobility and shared ammuni…
Squadron: military unit for land, sea and air operations Squadron A squadron is a military formation used by armies, navies and air forces; its size, composition and roles vary by service and era, typically grouping vehicles, ships or aircraft an…
Squire — medieval attendant, rural landholder, and historic title Squire A squire began as a medieval knight's attendant and evolved into a rural gentleman or local official; the word shares roots with esquire and reflects changing social roles from the…
Sri Lankan Civil War (1983–2009) Sri Lankan Civil War A prolonged armed conflict between the Sri Lankan state and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that began in 1983, ended in 2009, and left deep political, social and human…
SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT): origins, organization and legacy SS-Verfügungstruppe The SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) were the armed combat formations of the SS before the Waffen-SS. This article outlines their origins, structure, training, wartime role and subseque…
Staff Sergeant A staff sergeant is a senior non-commissioned rank in many armed forces, usually charged with small-unit leadership, specialist training and administrative duties; exact role and i…
Standartenführer: Nazi-era SA and SS rank and its role Standartenführer Standartenführer was a mid-to-senior rank in the Nazi Party's SA and SS organizations, typically commanding a Standarte and roughly equivalent to an army colonel in status and insi…
Standing army A standing army is a permanent, professional military force maintained in peacetime. This article outlines its features, history, roles, and how it differs from militias and reserv…
Starfighter (science fiction spacecraft) Starfighter A starfighter is a small, maneuverable combat spacecraft commonly seen in science fiction, analogous to a military fighter aircraft and used for dogfights, escort, and point defens…
Sten Mk II (British World War II submachine gun) Sten Mk II Compact, inexpensive British 9mm submachine gun widely used in World War II. Noted for stamped construction, a suppressed variant for covert work, service with resistance groups, a…
Steyr AUG (Austrian bullpup assault rifle) Steyr AUG The Steyr AUG is a compact Austrian bullpup 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle noted for its integrated optics, modular design and use by military and police forces worldwide.
StG 44: the WWII German Sturmgewehr and the first modern assault rifle StG 44 The StG 44 (Sturmgewehr 44) is a German World War II select-fire rifle using an intermediate cartridge. It introduced the assault-rifle concept and influenced many postwar small ar…
Stock (firearm): function, parts, materials and history Stock (firearm) A firearm stock (buttstock or shoulder stock) is the rear portion of a long gun that supports, aligns and transmits recoil; this article explains its types, parts, materials and hi…
Stonewall Brigade (Confederate infantry unit) Stonewall Brigade Confederate infantry brigade famed for its service under Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson; organized from Virginia regiments in 1861, it served throughout the Eastern Theater and was…
Stormtrooper (Star Wars) Stormtroopers are the faceless infantry of Star Wars, serving as the Empire’s (and later the First Order’s) primary ground forces; known for white armor, specialized variants, and…
Strategic bombing: concept, history, targets, and consequences Strategic bombing Aerial campaigns aimed at degrading an opponent’s warfighting capacity by striking industry, infrastructure, logistics and morale. Covers methods, historical development, targets a…
Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) — U.S. ballistic missile defense program Strategic Defense Initiative A U.S. program announced in 1983 to research space- and ground-based defenses against ballistic missile attack. Known as SDI or “Star Wars,” it shaped later missile-defense efforts…
Strategy: Principles, Origins, and Practical Distinctions Strategy A clear, neutral overview of strategy: its origins, defining features, historical development, uses in military, business and games, and the key difference between strategy and tac…
Strongpoint (military defensive position) Strongpoint A strongpoint is a defended location that anchors a larger defense. This article explains its features, selection, historical examples, tactical roles, construction types and disti…
Sturzkampfflugzeug (Stuka): German dive bomber aircraft Sturzkampfflugzeug Sturzkampfflugzeug is the German term for dive bomber, commonly shortened to Stuka. It describes aircraft designed for steep attacking dives to deliver bombs with high precision, n…
Submachine gun A compact, magazine-fed automatic firearm that fires pistol cartridges. Common in close-quarters combat, policing and special operations, with distinct design, history, and roles c…
Sudan Liberation Movement/Army Rebel political and military coalition formed in the early 2000s in Darfur, opposing Khartoum and later fragmenting into multiple factions that took part in peace talks and the reg…
Suicide attack: definition, history, tactics, and impact Suicide attack A suicide attack is an assault in which the attacker expects to die in the operation. This article explains forms, motivations, history, consequences, and common countermeasures.
Sukhoi Su-24 (Fencer) — Soviet/Russian supersonic attack aircraft Sukhoi Su-24 The Sukhoi Su-24 is a twin-engine, supersonic, variable-sweep-wing Soviet attack aircraft introduced in the mid-1970s and used for low-level strike, reconnaissance and electronic w…
Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker) — Soviet/Russian air-superiority fighter Sukhoi Su-27 Twin-engine Soviet-era air-superiority fighter by Sukhoi. Known for range, agility and powerful armament, the Su-27 spawned a large family of variants and remains operational after…
Sukhoi Su-30 — Russian twin-seat multirole fighter Sukhoi Su-30 The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-seat, twin-engine 4.5-generation Russian multirole fighter derived from the Su‑27 family, produced for domestic use and many export customers in several…
Sukhoi Su-30MKI — Indian two-seat multirole heavy fighter Sukhoi Su-30MKI The Su-30MKI is a twin-seat, long-range multirole fighter developed by Sukhoi and built under licence by HAL for the Indian Air Force. Introduced in the early 2000s, it is a 4++ ge…
Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E): Russian multirole supermaneuverable fighter Sukhoi Su-35 A Russian 4++ generation multirole fighter evolved from the Su-27. Known for thrust-vectoring engines, advanced sensors and air-superiority focus; it entered Russian service in 201…
Super battleship Informal term for the largest battleship designs—typically ~60,000+ tons—built or planned before and during WWII. Only two were completed (Japan); aircraft carriers later undermine…
Supermarine Spitfire: British World War II Fighter Aircraft Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter that became iconic in WWII for its elliptical wing, high performance, many variants, and key role in the Battle of Britai…
Supply depot (military logistics hub) Supply depot A supply depot is a military facility that stores, stages and issues materiel to operational units. This article describes types, organization, safety, history and strategic import…
Supply line (military logistics) Supply line A supply line is the organized route and flow of materiel and support that sustains military forces. This article covers its purpose, components, history, vulnerabilities and moder…
Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Surface to Air Missile Surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) are ground- or sea-launched weapons intended to detect, track and destroy aircraft or incoming missiles. This article describes their design, guidanc…
Surrender (military) An overview of military surrender: meanings, signals, legal status, historical development, forms and consequences for combatants and armed units.
Dragunov SVD (SVD-63) — Soviet semi‑automatic designated marksman rifle SVD-63 The Dragunov SVD is a Soviet-era semi‑automatic designated marksman rifle developed by Evgeniy Dragunov and adopted in 1963. It fires the 7.62×54mmR cartridge and is known for its…
Sword: design, history, types and modern practice Sword A sword is a bladed hand weapon with a long history from the Bronze Age to modern sport, used for cutting, thrusting, ceremony and martial practice across many cultures.
Syrian Army (Syrian Arab Army) Syrian Army The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) is the land force of the Syrian Armed Forces. This article outlines its role, organization, history, equipment patterns, and significance in modern Syria…
T-26 light tank: Soviet interwar design and wartime service T-26 Soviet T-26 light infantry tank, developed from the British Vickers 6-Ton, widely produced in the 1930s and used in Spain, Finland and World War II; characteristics, development, c…
Tachi: the curved Japanese battlefield sword and its history Tachi Tachi (太刀) is the premodern Japanese curved sword used primarily by mounted warriors. This article explains its form, use, evolution into ceremonial dress, types, and why it differ…
Tactical victory A tactical victory is success in a particular battle or engagement, measured by local objectives and immediate results, which can differ from operational or strategic outcomes.
Taliban insurgency (post-2001 conflict in Afghanistan and Pakistan) Taliban insurgency Armed insurgency led by the Taliban after 2001, its origins, tactics, regional spread into Pakistan, links with other groups, economic effects and challenges for political resoluti…
Tamil Nadu Liberation Army A small militant separatist group originating in the mid-1980s, the Tamil Nadu Liberation Army (TNLA) has been associated with armed actions, Marxist–Leninist roots and calls for a…
Tank A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle with a large main gun and crewed platform for frontline combat and combined-arms operations.
Texas Ranger Division A historic statewide law-enforcement agency in Texas, the Texas Ranger Division combines a frontier legacy with modern investigative and public-safety roles, and has a long, comple…
Thapa (Nepali surname): origins, history, and social roles Thapa Comprehensive overview of the Thapa surname in Nepal: its occurrence among Khas/Chhetri and Magar communities, historical warrior associations, major clans and leaders, political r…
Rats of Tobruk — the 1941 Allied garrison and siege The Rats of Tobruk Nickname given to Allied soldiers who held the Libyan port of Tobruk in 1941. The defence delayed Axis operations in North Africa and became a symbol of endurance.
The Unknown Warrior (United Kingdom) The Unknown Warrior The Unknown Warrior is the unidentified British soldier buried in Westminster Abbey after World War I as a national symbol of mourning and remembrance.
