Military

United States Marine Corps: history, mission, structure, and traditions United States Marine Corps Overview of the United States Marine Corps: origins, organization, core roles, training, notable operations and distinctive traditions like Semper Fidelis.

United States Military Academy (West Point) United States Military Academy Federal service academy founded in 1802 that educates and commissions officers for the U.S. Army; combines academic, military and physical training at West Point, New York.

United States National Guard The National Guard is the U.S. federal-state military reserve force, composed of the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, serving both domestic emergencies and federal missi…

United States Navy The seagoing branch of the U.S. Armed Forces responsible for naval warfare, power projection, sea control, deterrence and maritime security, operating carriers, submarines, surface…

United States Navy SEALs U.S. Navy special operations force trained for maritime, airborne, and land missions; noted for rigorous selection, diverse mission set, and roles in major conflicts and counterter…

United States Secretary of the Army Civilian head of the Department of the Army within the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for policy, administration, resources, and oversight of the United States Army.

United States Space Force The United States Space Force is the U.S. military branch responsible for operations in the space domain, protecting national and allied interests, and managing military space capa…

USRC Active (1791) — an early United States revenue cutter USRC Active (1791) USRC Active (1791) was one of the first ten cutters commissioned by the newly formed United States Revenue Cutter Service. Built in 1791 and commissioned in 1792, she served until…

USRC Argus (1791) One of the original ten cutters of the United States Revenue Cutter Service, launched in 1791 and noted for being the longest-serving of the first ten vessels.

USRC Massachusetts (1791) One of the first ten cutters of the United States Revenue Cutter Service, USRC Massachusetts (1791) was the earliest to enter active duty and helped establish customs enforcement a…

USRC Vigilant (1791) One of the ten original cutters of the United States Revenue Cutter Service, launched in New York in 1791 and assigned to patrol and enforce customs laws in New York waters.

USS Arizona (BB-39) Pennsylvania-class US battleship commissioned 1916; served in WWI, famously sunk at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The wreck is a federal memorial and symbol of American entry i…

USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) — Essex‑class aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy commissioned in 1943. She served in the Pacific during World War II and was severely damaged by kamikaz…

USS Colorado (1856) — three-masted steam screw frigate of the US Navy USS Colorado (1856) A mid-19th century United States Navy steam screw frigate launched in 1856. Representative of the transition from sail to steam, used for diplomacy, cruising, and naval presence.

USS Constellation (CV-64) — Kitty Hawk–class aircraft carrier USS Constellation (CV-64) USS Constellation (CV-64) was a Kitty Hawk–class conventionally powered supercarrier of the U.S. Navy, active from the 1960s through the early 2000s and known for service in Vietna…

USS Constitution — History, design, and legacy of the U.S. Navy’s 'Old Ironsides' USS Constitution USS Constitution, a wooden three-masted heavy frigate launched in 1797, is the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel afloat. Nicknamed “Old Ironsides,” she served in early U.S.…

USS Maine (1889): armored cruiser whose sinking influenced 1898 war USS Maine (1889) USS Maine was an American armored cruiser whose 1898 destruction in Havana Harbor helped precipitate U.S. entry into the Spanish–American War and prompted multiple investigations.

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN-68) USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is the lead ship of the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered supercarriers of the U.S. Navy, commissioned in 1975. It serves as a seagoing airbase and power-projection…

Utah Beach: Allied Landing Site in Normandy, 6 June 1944 Utah Beach Utah Beach was the westernmost Allied landing sector on D-Day (6 June 1944). U.S. forces established a foothold on the Normandy coast, enabling inland advances and the buildup of f…

Uzi: Compact Israeli Submachine Gun and Its Variants Uzi The Uzi is a compact, blowback-operated submachine gun developed in Israel. Known for its magazine-in-grip layout, simple stamped construction, and several variants, it saw wide se…

V-1 flying bomb: design, use and impact of the World War II 'buzz bomb' V-1 flying bomb The V-1 was an early German cruise missile used in World War II. This article explains its design, operational history, effects, Allied countermeasures and its place in weapons dev…

V-2 rocket (Vergeltungswaffe 2): Germany's wartime ballistic missile V-2 The V-2 (Vergeltungswaffe 2) was the first long-range guided ballistic missile. Developed in Nazi Germany, it pioneered liquid‑fuel rocketry and influenced postwar space and missil…

Vanguard: leaders at the forefront of military, political, and cultural movements Vanguard A vanguard is a leading group that advances, scouts, or sets the direction for broader movements—used in military, political, and artistic contexts, with roots in a French term mea…

Varangian Guard: Byzantine Imperial Guard of Vikings and Anglo‑Saxons Varangian Guard Elite Byzantine imperial guard from the 10th–14th centuries. Initially recruited from Vikings and Rus', later joined by Anglo‑Saxons after 11th‑century events; famed as loyal bodyg…

Veteran An experienced person, most commonly a former member of the armed forces; includes definitions, origins, roles, support systems, and distinctions from active personnel.

Vickers machine gun British water-cooled, belt-fed heavy machine gun introduced 1912; famed for reliability and long service life from World War I through mid-20th century.

Viet Cong (National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam) Viet Cong The Viet Cong, formally the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, was a guerrilla and political movement that fought South Vietnamese and U.S. forces during the Vietn…

Volksmarine — the People's Navy of East Germany Volksmarine The Volksmarine was the naval branch of East Germany's armed forces from 1956 until German reunification in 1990, focused on Baltic coastal defense, mine warfare, fast attack craft…

Vought F4U Corsair: U.S. Navy fighter and carrier fighter-bomber Vought F4U Corsair The Vought F4U Corsair was a carrier-capable US fighter of World War II and Korea, noted for its inverted gull wing, powerful R-2800 engine, long production run and use by multiple…

Waffen-SS: formation, role in World War II, and postwar legacy Waffen-SS The Waffen-SS was the armed branch of Nazi Germany’s SS. This article explains its origins, organization, wartime roles, involvement in atrocities, and its postwar legal and histor…

Wakizashi: The Short Samurai Sword Wakizashi A wakizashi is a traditional Japanese short sword carried by samurai alongside the katana. It has distinct construction, cultural roles, and uses in close-quarters fighting, ceremo…

War: definition, causes, conduct, history and legal distinctions War A structured overview of war: what it is, how it is classified, common causes, conduct and consequences, key historical thinkers, and modern legal and humanitarian responses.

War elephant A war elephant is a trained elephant used in combat to shock, carry troops, and support armies. This article covers its characteristics, historical use across regions, decline with…

War in Afghanistan (2001–present) Protracted conflict that began with the 2001 U.S.-led invasion, involving NATO and partner forces, Taliban and other insurgent groups, with long-term political, security and humani…

War novel (military fiction) War novel A war novel is a work of fiction in which armed conflict shapes the plot, characters, and themes. It explores combat, the home front, moral dilemmas, and the human effects of war.

War of 1812: Anglo‑American war in North America (1812–1815) War of 1812 Armed conflict between the United States and the British Empire from 1812–1815, fought on land and sea in North America. Causes included maritime rights, frontier pressures; outcom…

War of Attrition (1969–1970): Egypt–Israel conflict War of Attrition A limited war fought mainly along the Suez Canal after the 1967 Arab–Israeli war. Lasted March 1969–7 August 1970 and ended with a UN-mediated ceasefire; shaped later diplomacy and…

War of the Fifth Coalition (1809) War of the Fifth Coalition A brief encyclopedia article about the 1809 conflict in which the Austrian Empire and the United Kingdom opposed Napoleon's French Empire and its German allies, culminating at Wagr…

War of the Third Coalition (1805): Overview and Outcomes War of the Third Coalition Overview of the War of the Third Coalition (1805): belligerents, main campaigns (Ulm, Trafalgar, Austerlitz), political consequences including the Treaty of Pressburg and reorderin…

War Office — British Army administration and its legacy War Office Former British government department responsible for the administration of the British Army; later integrated into a unified Ministry of Defence in the mid‑20th century.

War on Terrorism: origins, methods, controversies, and legacy War on Terrorism Overview of the global campaign commonly called the War on Terrorism: its origins, main features, major campaigns, legal and political issues, and continuing debates about effectiv…

Warlord: armed rulers, causes, history and impacts Warlord A warlord is a local military leader who rules by armed force rather than legal authority. This article explains characteristics, historical examples, causes, economic effects and…

Warship (naval combat vessel) Warship A warship is a naval vessel built and equipped for combat and support missions. Types range from aircraft carriers and battleships to corvettes and patrol boats; roles include sea…

Washington Navy Yard Historic U.S. Navy shore installation in Southeast Washington, D.C., established in 1799; now an administrative and ceremonial center housing naval commands, museums, and preserved…

Weapon: Definition, types, history, and societal impact Weapon An overview of weapons: definitions, main categories, historical development, common uses, and legal and ethical considerations shaping their use and regulation.

Weapons of Mass Destruction Weapon of mass destruction An overview of weapons of mass destruction: definitions, major types (nuclear, chemical, biological, radiological), effects, history, legal controls, and modern issues.

Weapons of World War I: Small Arms, Artillery, Gas, Tanks, Planes and Submarines Weapons of World War I Comprehensive overview of the principal weapons used in World War I: development, types (rifles, machine guns, artillery, gas), tanks, aircraft and submarines, and how they shaped…

Wehrmacht: the armed forces of Germany, 1935–1945 Wehrmacht The Wehrmacht was the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945, consisting of the Heer, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe. Its organization, campaigns and legacy remain subj…