Questions tagged [military]
Questions pertaining to characteristics of armed forces' structure, manpower, equipment, or expenditures.
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When was the last time the US military came to the direct defense of an ally?
Much of the world relies on the US military umbrella for deterrence of, and if needed, protection from perceived threats; allowing many nations to forgo diverting significant tax dollars to their ...
2
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0answers
68 views
Can anyone identify these (possibly WW1 Polish) uniforms?
The only hint I have is that the gentlemen in the picture were Polish and it was reputed to have been taken in 1917. So far I suspect that they may be cavalry?
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3answers
145 views
Looking for 3 examples of prisoners of war being incorporated into the conquering army
When POWs were captured, they were either executed, exchanged, put into slavery or sometimes incorporated into the enemy army. I'm trying to find a few examples (3 would do) of the last category. ...
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1answer
140 views
What are some examples of rulers immediately incorporating conquered population's army into their own? [closed]
I can vaguely remember reading about armies conquering a land, and then fortifying their own numbers by the armies of conquered populations, but I can't remember specific instances. Would love to know ...
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1answer
135 views
Did US soldiers typically keep an official journal or log during the Civil War era?
During the Civil War, or time in US history thereabouts the end of the 19th Century, into the Indian Wars west of the Mississippi, would it be common practice for a member of a group of soldiers to ...
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1answer
111 views
Which operation came last in World War 2? [closed]
Which operation came last in World War 2?
I know that the Kwantung Army was defeated on the 2nd of September 1945 during the Soviet Manchurian Strategic Offensive Operation (9th of August - 2nd of ...
2
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0answers
113 views
Are there examples of encrypted messages with deadlines?
I'm looking for historical records showing that parties using coded messages (from the Egyptians to the Romans to actors in the American Civil War, etc) would sometimes stipulate deadlines by which a ...
0
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2answers
259 views
Was the danger of radiation in the case of nuclear war overestimated during the cold war?
This article tells about signal "Atom" and its intended effect on Moscow metro:
All trains stop, escalators automatically start move downwards.
After 15 min, all hermetic gates on metro ...
3
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1answer
123 views
Can you help identify this European military uniform?
This picture was found in the possessions of a great-aunt who immigrated from Volhynia, Russia to Canada around 1908. My family is ethnically German, and many of the Volhynian Germans originally came ...
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2answers
152 views
What constitutes a country's military being called a “Defence Force”? [closed]
I've been looking at countries around the world, particularly Commonwealth countries.
I've noticed Australia and New Zealand call their military a defence force. Is there a legal reason for this?
This ...
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69 views
What is the context of the use of injustice/unrightousness (不義/fugi) in WW2 era Japanese propaganda?
The Imperial Japanese military song Nihon Rikugun (日本陸軍) begins with the line "天に代わりて不義を討つ" ("defeat injustice in place of righteousness").
What exactly did they consider 不義/fugi ...
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4answers
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Why would silk underwear disqualify you from the United States military draft?
I recently encountered a post by Kerry Callan where he provided a pictorial image from the September 1966 issue of Esquire magazine of conditions that will exempt you from the draft.
(click to ...
5
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1answer
223 views
Was Russia ready for amphibious invasion of Istanbul in 1914?
I've been reading The Russian Origins of the First World War by Sean McMeekin, in which he makes some very interesting claims about what the strategic situation prior to the July crisis looked like ...
0
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1answer
238 views
How was the Cuban military capable of performing African interventions?
Cuba has led many interventions in Africa during the Cold War:
Instructors sent in Angola
Up to 400 000 soldiers, including instructors, tank brigades, air wings in Angola to help the fight against ...
2
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1answer
186 views
What uniform is this chap wearing?
I'm trying to identify the uniform the chap in this photo is wearing.
The photo was taken I believe about WW1 period.
The reverse has the inscription 'The Count' Letta's fiance. I know who Letta is ...
2
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0answers
150 views
Did the Duke of Cambridge wear rouge?
I'm looking for evidence that the Prince George, Duke of Cambridge - Queen Victoria's cousin and the Commander-in-Chief of the British Army - enhanced his complexion by the judicious and semi-discreet ...
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66 views
Did military politically participate and intervene in the Second Spanish Republic? [closed]
I'm currently studying Spanish Civil War. It seems that it was a tradition, that the military had power to intervene politics in Spain, at least before the establishment of Second Spanish Republic.
...
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2answers
198 views
What time period is this uniform?
I know this person was a family member. I have family on this side who served in the Civil War as well as WWI and WWII. I identified the hat pin as Infantry, 8th Regiment, Company B. Also, I think ...
4
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3answers
277 views
Can you help identify this European military uniform and medals?
My husband and I moved into a house that was built in 1900 in Wisconsin. We found some old pictures down in the basement, and I'm curious if I can figure out who the couple is? I thought I could ...
5
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1answer
153 views
How to track down a Spanish/Latin American soldier that fought in wars internationally (18th/19th century)?
The details are scant, but I hope it's enough to get the community interested and a clear answer emerge (there can't be that many people who fit the bill?).
I read a long time ago about a famous ...
3
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1answer
236 views
Why does the US have many top-level web domains? [closed]
Why does the US have top-level domains like .gov, .mil and others, while other nations can only use second level domains for their government agencies? It might seem an easy question, but I think it ...
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2answers
196 views
Can you identify this US Army uniform?
This is my great-grandfather. I would like to know what he did in the Army. Can you identify whether he was infantry or cavalry?
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0answers
39 views
How did plague affect military management in 17th century North Africa?
I’m doing some research on Morocco’s history during the early 17th century, and more specifically the chaos leading to the fall of the Saadians Dynasty. One of the main causes, if not the main, is the ...
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0answers
68 views
What is this Victorian era British Uniform? Royal Horse Artillery?
Please can anyone confirm whether the photo shows a uniform of a Corporal in the R.H.A.(Royal Horse Artillery) of the British Army in about the 1870s?
An ancestor of mine was in the R.H.A in the 1870s ...
3
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1answer
131 views
During the American Civil war did gunboats range far into enemy territory?
In other words during the American civil war did the “front line” or enemy held territory act as a barrier to the passage of gunboats up and down rivers? Or was it possible for any to move deep into ...
4
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1answer
192 views
Why was the morale of El Cid's troops always so high?
It seems like in every battle El Cid fought his troops had very high morale and fought above and beyond their abilities. Why did El Cid's troops have such high morale? I would understand the high ...
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256 views
When was the last US letter of marque issued?
Article I of the United States Constitution lists "grant[ing] Letters of Marque and Reprisal" as an explicit power of the Congress. Are these still being issued? If not, when was the last ...
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3answers
243 views
Are there any tanks with the gun and autoloader outside the main turret?
Basically as title. I've been thinking about this hybrid turret design for quite some time now. Essentially, I had this idea for a potential design for a tank turret that could be accomplished with an ...
2
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1answer
173 views
What is my grandfather's shoulder patch?
This is a photograph of my grandfather... his DD214 shows his last unit as Co C 52d AIB APO 221
12
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1answer
281 views
How likely was an enlisted man to have fought at both Falkirk and Bannockburn?
A heroic Scottish song begins, "Scots who have with Wallace bled, Scots whom Bruce has often led..."
William Wallace's most famous battle was Falkirk (1298). Robert Bruce's was Bannockburn (...
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2answers
307 views
What is this military uniform from the 1870s?
This is a Tintype photo from around 1860 to 1870 time period. I don't know what country this comes from. The photo was discovered in the United States with a group of pictures tracing a German ...
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1answer
192 views
Where can I find more information on the Federated Malay States V.F.? [closed]
badge has a crown on top with a shield in the middle. slider on back on front reads Federated Malay States V.F. I was wondering if anyone knows much about the badge as I have not found out much about ...
2
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1answer
204 views
How have military orders evolved in the information era?
The different sizes of military structures have stood the test of time. The nature of combat has changed perhaps, but the people stay the same. At any given time in history, I presume there was a ...
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6answers
633 views
Was the tide of war ever turned by a wonder weapon?
There seems to be a repeating topos in history, where powers on the loosing side of a war try to turn its tide by inventing new, secret and/or super weapons. The misguided hope seems to be that these ...
9
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1answer
102 views
Can anyone point me to an online version of the 1900 amendment to the Franco-Russian Military Convention 1892?
Incitement
The Wikipedia article, France-Russia relations, linked in an answer to this question, has
After France was humiliated by Britain in the Fashoda Incident of 1898, the French wanted the ...
8
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1answer
197 views
What regiment is this (~1826-1861) French cuirass cavalry uniform?
I would be grateful if you would take the time to look at the uniform in this photograph and suggest a regiment. I have included some background information and hope you might have some ideas for me ...
2
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0answers
107 views
Please help me identify this uniform and insignia from possibly the Utah Territorial Militia?
This person is Charles Robert Jones, my 3rd great-grandfather. He served in the Utah Territorial Militia during the Utah Black Hawk War. The year would be about 1866. Could this be the uniform and ...
5
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1answer
191 views
Was Wilhelm II aware of the Franco-Russian Military Convention 1892?
The second sentence of Article 1 of the Convention reads,
If Russia is attacked by Germany, or by Austria supported by Germany, France shall employ all her available forces to attack Germany.
...
27
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5answers
9k views
Did German submarines communicate with allied convoys during battle?
In the movie Greyhound a German submarine communicates with an allied convoy during battle by radio to intimidate the crew.
Are there historical accounts of such behaviour or is this purely fictional?
5
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2answers
730 views
Can anybody help identify this uniform ? Circa WW1
I presume this photo is circa WW1. Can anybody identify which unit, regiment and rank, this would be very helpful.
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1answer
201 views
Why does the Canadian Air Force name its ranks like its Army, whilst the Australian and New Zealand Air Forces use the Royal Air Force's?
Like the US's, the Canadian Air Force's ranks are named identically to its Army's.
But Australia's and New Zealand's rank names follow the RAF's. Why?
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3answers
376 views
Why do navies like the US Navy name its ranks uniquely?
Australia, New Zealand, and UK Air Forces' rank names are unique too, unlike North America's. So I focus here on the Canadian and US Army, Air Force, and Marines ranks that are the same. Why haven't ...
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1answer
168 views
Can anyone identify this military uniform?
Can anyone identify this uniform? I'm not sure it is military or scouts? I'm guessing this is WWII era or earlier in the United States.
3
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2answers
397 views
Can anyone help me identify my grandfather's uniform?
Can anyone help me identify my paternal grandfather's uniform? I never knew him and he died when my father was 8 years old and my father has passed too. No living family members who can tell me if ...
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0answers
128 views
How did the US military “put the 'go slow'” on the use of force in the Vietnam War since the Tet Offensive?
In the recent CNN News video Retired general reacts to Trump's military comments after 00:50 Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander General Wesley Clark (ret) says (my transcription from the video):
...
3
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1answer
272 views
Identify tank or artillery shell
I found this shell by the sea of Galilee in 1967 and it makes a great door stop. I've not been able to identify it by searching the web. Can anyone tell me anything about it. It is solid iron, 17cm by ...
8
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1answer
240 views
Did Post-Marian Republic or Imperial Legion cohorts have specific skill levels?
Here and here and numerous other places I've looked online state that Roman Legions divided their infantry into cohorts based on skill, and that all legions had their cohorts identically manned. The ...
9
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1answer
607 views
What is the purpose of this Roman siege tactic as shown in this Illustration?
When browsing Wikipedia, I came across this illustration that displays some of well known siege weapons of Roman empire.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_engine#/media/File:Roman_siege_machines.gif
...
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0answers
107 views
What uniform is in this painting?
This is a painting of a man in a military uniform, possibly a French officer.
4
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1answer
354 views
How deep would a Roman Marian cohort's battle line be, in a melee?
Are there any estimates for how deep a Roman battle line was, under Marius, at the level of a cohort? Whether the line was 3, 6, or another number of ranks deep?
I'd suppose 3 would be a minimum, and ...
