Military

Chemical Weapons in World War I An overview of chemical warfare during World War I: agents used, delivery methods, protective measures, military impact, public reaction and the postwar legal and ethical consequen…

Chief of the General Staff (British Army) Chief of the General Staff Senior professional head of the British Army, responsible for its direction, capability, readiness and advice to government; historically titled Chief of the Imperial General Staff…

Chilean Air Force The Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile, FACh) is the aerial branch of Chile's armed forces, responsible for defense, transport, training, search and rescue, and support to ci…

Chilean Army: Organization, Modernization, and Role in National Defense Chilean Army Examination of the Chilean Army’s structure, personnel and conscription, its modernization programs, equipment procurement and training, and its role in national defense and suppor…

Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile) Chilean Navy The Armada de Chile is Chile’s naval service, responsible for defending national waters, protecting maritime resources, supporting Antarctic presence, conducting search and rescue,…

Civil war: causes, dynamics, and consequences Civil war An overview of civil war: what it is, common causes (political dispute, secession, ethnic division), how conflicts evolve, their effects, and distinctions from other armed unrest.

Civilian (in armed conflict) Civilian A civilian is a person not belonging to armed forces or fighting groups; this article explains legal protections, distinctions from combatants, historical development, and practica…

Claymore: the Scottish greatsword and its later forms Claymore The claymore is a name applied to two related Scottish swords: the two-handed medieval greatsword and the later basket‑hilted broadsword. This article explains form, history, use,…

Club (weapon) Short, typically wooden striking implement used as a weapon or tool for impact; appears worldwide in many forms from cudgels to batons and quarterstaves.

Cluster bomb (cluster munition) Cluster bomb An explosive weapon that disperses many submunitions over a wide area, used against personnel and materiel; widely criticized for civilian harm and subject to international restric…

Coat of arms of Ireland The national coat of arms of Ireland is a gold harp with silver strings on a blue shield. It is the state's principal emblem, with medieval origins and widespread use on official i…

Portuguese National Coat of Arms: Shield, Castles, Armillary Sphere, and Olive Branches Coat of arms of Portugal Detailed overview of Portugal's national coat of arms: the central shield with five escutcheons and seven castles, set on an armillary sphere with olive branches used on state symb…

Coat of arms of the Bahamas National coat of arms adopted at independence in 1973. Features a shield with a ship and rising sun, a conch shell crest, marlin and flamingo supporters, and the motto "Forward, Up…

Colonel (military rank) Colonel A senior commissioned officer rank in many armed forces, traditionally commanding a regiment or brigade; duties, insignia and status vary widely between nations and services.

Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker) Revolver Colt Single Action Army Classic late 19th‑century single‑action revolver introduced in 1873. Six‑shot cylinder, cock‑to‑fire action; influential in military service, the American West, popular culture, an…

Combat: armed and unarmed conflict between individuals and groups Combat Combat is purposeful violent conflict—ranging from hand‑to‑hand fighting and sports to military engagements—used to resolve disputes, seize objectives, or establish dominance.

Combatant (law of armed conflict) Combatant A combatant is a person who takes direct part in hostilities in an armed conflict. Legal status determines protections, obligations, and post-capture rights under international hum…

Comfort women: forced sexual servitude in Asia before and during World War II Comfort women Women and girls coerced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during WWII; includes recruitment methods, locations, estimates, surviv…

Command (military) A military command is an organizational element led by a single officer with authority to direct personnel, units, and resources for assigned missions or areas of responsibility.

Commander (naval rank and leadership title) Commander Commander is a mid-to-senior officer rank in many navies and a general term for someone in command; it denotes specific responsibilities, historical origins, and equivalents in oth…

Commander-in-Chief, India (British military command) Commander-in-Chief, India Senior military officer who led the British administration's armed forces in India (India Command). Headed GHQ India and oversaw the British Indian Army, colonial defence and exped…

Commando (military specialist unit) Commando A commando is a military specialist trained for small-unit, high-intensity operations such as raids, reconnaissance, ship boarding and hostage rescue, often deployed by naval or sp…

Company (military unit) A company is a mid-level military formation, typically three to six platoons and 80–250 soldiers, led by a captain or major; it is a principal tactical and administrative building…

Company of Heroes (video game) Company of Heroes Company of Heroes is a World War II–themed real-time strategy game noted for tactical squad control, cover and suppression mechanics, destructible environments, and influential sin…

Condor Legion: German volunteer force in the Spanish Civil War Condor Legion The Condor Legion was a unit of German volunteers from the Luftwaffe and army who supported Nationalist Spain (1936–1939), testing tactics and equipment and leaving a controversial…

Confederate States Marine Corps Marine infantry branch of the Confederacy during the American Civil War (1861–1865); served afloat and ashore, trained in Richmond, and surrendered in 1865.

Confederate States Navy Naval service of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865); limited by industrial capacity but notable for ironclads, commerce raiders, blockade running, mines and the submarin…

Conquest: military, legal, and cultural meanings Conquest Conquest denotes gaining control by force or influence. This article describes military and nonmilitary forms, historical patterns, legal status under modern international law, con…

Conquistador: agents of Iberian expansion in the Americas and Pacific Conquistador Conquistadors were Iberian soldiers, explorers and private leaders who, under royal license or private initiative, conquered and colonized large parts of the Americas and the Phili…

Conscientious objector A conscientious objector refuses armed military service on moral, religious or ethical grounds; recognition and treatment vary by country and history, with alternatives like civili…

Conscription: compulsory military service, history, forms, and impacts Conscription Conscription (the draft) is state-mandated military service. This article explains how conscription works, its history, common exemptions and objections, modern variations and soci…

Continental Army: the unified colonial force in the American Revolution Continental Army The Continental Army (1775–1783) was the unified military force raised by the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War under the command of George Washington.

Continuation War (1941–1944) — Finland and the Soviet Union Continuation War The Continuation War (1941–1944) was a conflict between Finland and the Soviet Union during World War II, linked to the earlier Winter War and the wider Eastern Front. It ended wit…

Convair B-36 Peacemaker — Cold War Strategic Bomber Convair B-36 Peacemaker The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was a U.S. strategic bomber of the early Cold War, noted for exceptional range, large bomb capacity, and a distinctive combination of piston and jet pro…

Conventional weapon Weapons and munitions intended for tactical or strategic military use that are not classed as weapons of mass destruction, including vehicles, aircraft, artillery, small arms and n…

Corporal (military rank) Corporal Corporal is a junior non-commissioned officer rank used in many armed forces and some police or uniformed organisations, typically a small-unit leader with duties and authority tha…

Corps — military formation and organizational term Corps A corps is a large military formation or organized body of people with a specific function. This article explains types, structure, history, and civilian uses of the term.

Corvette (warship) Corvette A corvette is a small, maneuverable warship used historically between sloop and frigate. Modern corvettes serve in coastal patrol, escort, anti-submarine and littoral missions with…

Counter‑sniping (anti‑sniper operations) Counter-sniping Counter‑sniping involves detecting, observing and neutralizing hostile snipers to protect military forces, law enforcement and civilians, using specialized teams, sensors and tacti…

Counterattack: Definition, Principles, History, and Uses Counterattack A counterattack is a responsive tactic used to blunt, repel or reverse an adversary's attack. This article explains its principles, historical roots, applications across domains, p…

Counterintelligence: purpose, methods, history and organizational roles Counterintelligence Counterintelligence protects a state against foreign spying, sabotage and covert attack. This article explains its goals, methods, institutional arrangements, history and practical…

Counterterrorism: Methods, History, and Legal Issues Counterterrorism Survey of counterterrorism: goals, methods, organizational roles, historical development, legal and ethical challenges, and current trends in preventing and responding to terrorist…

Crossbow: design, history, and uses Crossbow A concise overview of the crossbow — its components, historical development from ancient China to medieval Europe, tactical uses, and modern sport and legal considerations.

Cylinder (firearms): design, function, history, and variations Cylinder (firearms) The cylinder is the rotating, multi-chamber component of a revolver that indexes cartridges into alignment with the barrel. This article explains its parts, operation, types, histo…

D‑Day (military term): definition, notation, and the Normandy invasion D-Day (military term) D‑Day is a military planning term denoting the day an operation begins. This article explains the notation, planning uses, historical examples and the best known instance: the Norm…

Darfur conflict: overview, causes, actors, humanitarian impact and responses Darfur conflict A neutral overview of the Darfur conflict in western Sudan: origins, main parties, humanitarian consequences, international reactions and efforts toward peace and accountability.

DARPA: U.S. Defense Research Agency for High‑Risk, High‑Reward Technology DARPA DARPA is the U.S. Department of Defense agency that sponsors breakthrough research and early development of advanced technologies for national security and civilian applications.

Dassault Mirage 2000: French delta‑wing multirole fighter Dassault Mirage 2000 The Dassault Mirage 2000 is a French single‑engine, delta‑wing multirole fighter developed by Dassault Aviation in the late 1970s and widely exported with several upgraded variants…