Military

Bell AH-1 Cobra: Overview, Design, Service, and Variants Bell AH-1 Cobra The Bell AH-1 Cobra is a pioneering American attack helicopter introduced in 1967, used in Vietnam, later adapted into two-engine Marine models and exported to several countries; a…

Bell P-39 Airacobra Mid-engined American fighter of World War II, notable for its nose cannon, tricycle undercarriage and widespread use by the Soviet Air Force in low-altitude combat.

Bell P-63 Kingcobra US single-engine fighter developed from the P-39 Airacobra; improved aerodynamics and armament, used extensively by the Soviet Union under Lend-Lease and later modified as the RP-6…

Bell UH-1 Iroquois (Huey) — utility military helicopter Bell UH-1 Iroquois The Bell UH-1 Iroquois, commonly called the Huey, is a lightweight utility helicopter introduced in 1959. Known for Vietnam War service, it performed transport, medevac, close supp…

Bełżec extermination camp — history, operation, and legacy Bełżec extermination camp Bełżec was the first Operation Reinhard extermination camp in German-occupied Poland (1942). An estimated 430,000–500,000 people were killed there; few survivors and later research…

Beretta 92: Overview, Design, History, and Use Beretta 92 The Beretta 92 is a widely used Italian 9×19mm semi‑automatic pistol series, adopted as the U.S. M9; known for its open‑slide design, double/single‑action trigger and a 15‑round ma…

Big Bertha — German 42 cm siege howitzer (Dicke Bertha) Big Bertha Big Bertha (Dicke Bertha) is the popular name for a family of 42 cm super‑heavy siege howitzers built by Krupp before World War I, used to attack modern fortifications and influenc…

Biological warfare: agents, history, methods, and controls Biological warfare Biological warfare is the deliberate use of pathogens or their products to harm people, animals, or crops. This article explains agents, historical use, delivery methods, legal con…

Biological weapon An overview of biological weapons: what they are, how they work, historical use and legal controls, risks and examples, and how they differ from chemical or conventional arms.

Bioterrorism: definitions, agent categories, history, and biodefense Bioterrorism Comprehensive overview of bioterrorism, covering what it is, major agent categories, modes of spread, historical context, public-health responses and legal and ethical consideratio…

Bismarck (German battleship) Bismarck (ship) German battleship Bismarck was a large World War II capital ship that sailed one major Atlantic sortie in 1941, sank HMS Hood, and was hunted and sunk by the Royal Navy; her wreck…

Black and Tans — British paramilitary recruits in Ireland, 1920–1921 Black and Tans A reserve force recruited to bolster the Royal Irish Constabulary during the Irish War of Independence; known for its mixed uniform, reprisals against civilians, and lasting contro…

Black Hawk War (1832) Black Hawk War An 1832 conflict between Sauk leader Black Hawk's band and United States frontier militias in Illinois and Wisconsin, notable for several skirmishes, the Bad Axe defeat, and its ef…

Black operation A black operation is a covert government or military action conducted with deliberate secrecy and often deception. It differs from other secret missions by plausible deniability an…

Blackburn Buccaneer B-103 — British carrier-capable strike aircraft Blackburn B-103 Cold War-era British low-level strike aircraft designed for naval operations. Introduced in 1962, later flown by the RAF, notable for an internal rotating weapons bay, split rudder…

Bleeding Kansas: the violent struggle over slavery in the 1850s Bleeding Kansas Bleeding Kansas refers to the mid‑1850s armed and political conflict in the Kansas Territory over slavery, a violent prelude to the American Civil War that shaped national politics…

Blitzkrieg: Theory and Practice of Rapid Mechanized Warfare Blitzkrieg Blitzkrieg, German for 'lightning war', is a 20th-century military approach that emphasizes speed, combined arms and surprise to disrupt and encircle an opponent. It rose to promin…

Blockade: military, economic and humanitarian dimensions Blockade A blockade is an effort to prevent movement of goods, people or information to a target — most often by surrounding ports or isolating territory. It has military, economic and lega…

Blockade of Germany (World War I) Blockade of Germany The maritime blockade imposed on Germany in World War I by the United Kingdom: strategy, German countermeasures, civilian impact, naval actions and postwar consequences.

Blockade Runners of the American Civil War Fast, shallow-draft ships that attempted to evade the Union naval blockade to carry goods, arms and cotton. Design, tactics, hubs, impact on the Confederacy, and the blockade’s cha…

Blockhouse (military fortification) Blockhouse A blockhouse is a small, often standalone defensive structure with firing openings. Used from the early modern period through two world wars, it differs from larger fortresses and…

Blue Angels — U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron Blue Angels The Blue Angels are the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps flight demonstration team, known for precision formation flying, public air shows, and recruitment and outreach missions.

Body armour: materials, history, and modern uses Body armour Protective clothing that absorbs or deflects cuts, blows and projectiles. Covers soft and hard systems, key materials, historical development, applications, standards and practical…

Boeing AH-64 Apache Twin-seat attack helicopter developed from a Hughes design; first flown in 1975 and produced since the 1980s. Heavily armed for anti-armor and close air support with guided missile…

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Four‑engine American heavy bomber of WWII, noted for durability, defensive armament and daylight strategic bombing in Europe; widely produced and preserved in museums and collectio…

Boeing B-29 Superfortress Four-engine American heavy bomber of World War II era, the B-29 introduced advanced systems, long-range strategic capability and carried out the final bombing campaigns against Jap…

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress: Long-Range Strategic Bomber Boeing B-52 Stratofortress A long-range, subsonic strategic bomber developed by Boeing in the late 1940s. The B-52 has served as a nuclear deterrent and conventional strike platform for decades and remains i…

Boeing C-137 Stratoliner US Air Force military transport and VIP adaptation of the Boeing 707, best known in VC-137 form as a presidential and government executive transport often associated with the Air F…

Boeing E-3 Sentry (AWACS) — Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft Boeing E-3 Sentry The Boeing E-3 Sentry is a radar-equipped airborne warning and control (AWACS) aircraft derived from the Boeing 707, used for surveillance, battle management and communications by…

Boeing E-6 Mercury — U.S. Navy Airborne Command and Communications Aircraft Boeing E-6 Mercury The Boeing E-6 Mercury is a U.S. Navy airborne command-post and communications relay aircraft derived from the Boeing 707, designed to maintain secure links with strategic forces a…

Boer War Collective name for two late 19th–early 20th century conflicts in southern Africa between the British Empire and Boer (Afrikaner) republics, notable for guerrilla tactics, scorched…

Bolt-action firearm Bolt action A manual repeating firearm action in which the shooter operates a bolt to chamber and extract cartridges. Known for mechanical simplicity, reliability and precision use in hunting,…

Bombard (medieval large-caliber cannon) Bombard (weapon) A bombard is a large, muzzle-loading medieval cannon or mortar used in sieges to break walls and hurl heavy projectiles. It influenced the modern term 'bombardment' and marks a key…

Bombardment: artillery attacks, aerial strikes and extended uses Bombardment Bombardment originally named medieval cannon fire against fortifications; today it denotes massed attacks by artillery, aircraft or missiles and extended uses in science and everyd…

Bomber (military aircraft): roles, design, history and types Bomber Overview of military bombers: purpose, design features, historical development, operational tactics and major types, from early World War I aircraft to modern long-range and stealt…

Booby trap A booby trap is a concealed device or setup intended to injure, kill, or surprise people; used historically in warfare and criminal contexts, it relies on unsuspecting triggers and…

Bow (weapon): overview, history, types, and uses Bow (weapon) A bow is a ranged weapon that launches arrows. This article surveys its parts and operation, historical development, main types, uses in hunting and sport, and how societies defend…

Bren light machine gun — British LMG derived from the ZB vz. 26 Bren light machine gun The Bren light machine gun was the British Army’s principal LMG from 1938. Derived from the Czechoslovak ZB vz. 26, it combined accuracy, portability and a top-mounted curved magaz…

Brevet (military rank) Brevet (military) A brevet is an honorary or temporary military promotion that confers rank and sometimes precedence without the full pay or permanent authority of that rank.

Brigade (military unit) Brigade A brigade is a large tactical military formation composed of multiple battalions and supporting units. This article explains its organization, history, command, types, and role in…

Brigadier (military rank) Brigadier Senior military rank typically commanding a brigade; usage, insignia, and international variations, and how it differs from brigadier general and similar ranks.

Brigadier General Senior military rank typically commanding a brigade; a one‑star general officer rank used in many armies with national variations in title, duties, and NATO code (commonly OF‑6).

British .303 cartridge British .303 The .303 British (three‑oh‑three) is a rimmed rifle cartridge introduced in the late 19th century and used by British and Commonwealth forces in rifles and machine guns until mid‑2…

British Armed Forces Overview of the United Kingdom's military: composition, command, roles, overseas presence, nuclear deterrent and constitutional framework.

British Army: History, Organisation, Roles and Traditions British Army Overview of the British Army: its origins, structure, historic campaigns, roles in empire and world conflicts, modern organisation and enduring traditions.

British Home Guard: civilian defence force in World War II British Home Guard Volunteer local defence force formed in 1940 to resist invasion threats in World War II. Mostly men ineligible for regular service, it guarded coasts, factories and airfields and l…

British Indian Army: organization, history and global role (1858–1947) British Indian Army Comprehensive overview of the British Indian Army: its formation after 1857, structure, recruitment, major campaigns in both World Wars, reforms such as Kitchener's, Indianisation,…

British War Medal (First World War campaign medal) British War Medal Campaign medal awarded to British and Empire service personnel for service in the First World War and immediate post‑war operations, noted for its George V obverse and St George re…