Questions tagged [military]
Questions pertaining to characteristics of armed forces' structure, manpower, equipment, or expenditures.
1
vote
2answers
109 views
Where can I find data on the amount of fuel carried by WWII Warships and what their operational ranges were?
I am looking for a fairly comprehensive source where can I find data on the amount of fuel carried by WWII Warships and what their operational ranges were? I mean, I want to look up this information ...
2
votes
3answers
250 views
At what point did the United States have a truly federal army?
Wikipedia states that:
The Congress of the Confederation created the current United States Army on 3 June 1784.
But how much was it truly a federal force? I assume it had one central command from ...
-2
votes
1answer
264 views
Why aren't all front-line soldiers issued suicide pills? [closed]
I know that certain soldiers (on secret missions) and spies have been issued them,
One of the objectives of the Dieppe Raid in August 1942 was to discover the importance and performance capability ...
6
votes
2answers
543 views
Did USS Buck (DD-761) send the message “Temper, Temper”?
In a March 26, 2019 Reddit post with 1.1k upvotes, there is a picture with a story as follows (emphasis added).
15 Mar 1952: The Wisconsin receives her first direct hit in her history when one of ...
13
votes
1answer
188 views
How long did it take US fleet submarines during World War 2 to charge their batteries?
How long did it take a US fleet submarine running on the surface to recharge its battery fully for maximum duration submergence?
I realize that the answer depends on how many engines were being used ...
2
votes
1answer
126 views
Difference between acts of “merit” and acts of “valor” in military decorations? (e.g. V device)
I used to think valor is for combat and merit is non-combat. Then I realize Purple heart, a successor of Badge of Military Merit, is awarded for "being wounded or killed in any action against an enemy"...
1
vote
0answers
143 views
Trying to identify what military service, war and rank by the uniform
I have been searching google images, tried a reverse search and found nothing. I have looked on many sites and cannot identify the service. I do know he has 9 buttons on his coat, 3 on the cuffs, red ...
0
votes
1answer
211 views
Can you explain how officers were able to refuse orders historically in France? Elsewhere?
I've read several biographies that pertained to military history in England and France especially around the time of Napoleon. I noticed that the authors referenced the ruler requesting the service of ...
3
votes
2answers
295 views
Can anyone help to identify and date this uniform or the medals?
Found in my late Aunt's possessions. Photograph of unidentified uniform:
8
votes
3answers
204 views
What was the timetable for Germany's Invasion of the Low Countries (Fall Gelb) in WW2?
I was watching the 1969 classic movie 'Battle of Britain' the other day and noted numerous scenes where the British were very concerned about a German invasion; "what are they waiting for?" was a ...
1
vote
0answers
63 views
What is this Uniform and Medal Ribbon?
I am trying to help someone. She has sent me a black & white photo. I think the battle dress is post WW2? And the man could be an officer? Ie the wearing of a tie. I just cannot work out the ...
36
votes
10answers
7k views
Why did it take so long to abandon sail after steamships were demonstrated?
1807, Robert Fulton's Clermont the first ship to demonstrate the feasibility of steam propulsion for commercial use, but it also carried sail.
1819, The first steamship to cross the Atlantic was the ...
2
votes
1answer
216 views
Military reforms after the battle of Manzikert?
After the battle of Manzikert and during Alexius's reign was there any attempt towards military reform to go back to the theme peasant-soldier system instead of mercenaries?
In John Julius Norwich's ...
2
votes
0answers
219 views
Number of foreigners in the Waffen-SS and Wehrmacht during WWII
During World War II, thousands of non-German men fought in the Waffen-SS and in the Wehrmacht. People from all Europe, volunteers from neutral and occupied countries and enemy prisoners. Even Russian ...
1
vote
0answers
74 views
helmet change from Greek to Macedon, Rome and Medieval period
Why did Roman helmets not cover the mouth like their greek counterparts? Did individual soldiers need to shout commands? Same for companion calvary Boeotian helmet vs that of medieval knights.
4
votes
1answer
224 views
Identity of pre 1930s US battleship
Need help in identifying this battleship--USS Nevada, Pennsylvannia or Arizona?
1
vote
0answers
57 views
Identify prior 1930's US Battleship and US Navy plane [duplicate]
Looking to identify this battleship--USS Nevada, Pennsylvania, Arizona?
0
votes
1answer
185 views
Did Japan have secret films about going into the US in the 40s?
This film (narrated by Ronald Regan) was produced in the 40s. It discusses detailed planning for an air mission into an area in Japan.
Did Japan have similar fims in the time period to aid them in ...
5
votes
2answers
437 views
Why would high-ranking officers wear a helmet exhibiting their rank near the enemy?
Buckner had arrived with his standard three stars showing on the front of his steel helmet and a nearby Marine outpost sent a signal to Buckner's position stating that they could clearly see the ...
0
votes
1answer
215 views
Why were general and flag officers allowed to fly aircraft in combat?
LTG Frank M Andrews and Maj Gen Robert Worley both died while piloting combat aircraft in a war.
I'm assuming that generals and admirals are less skilled or prepared to pilot aircraft, as their ...
25
votes
8answers
5k views
Operation Vengeance and Individual Targeting of Enemy Commanders
Operation Vengeance (1943) was a US military operation aimed specifically to kill Japanese Admiral Yamamoto.
It looks like something weird in contemporary era: are there any similar military ...
21
votes
1answer
3k views
Did firing trials of pre-WW1 British dreadnoughts involve actually firing at them?
On the Wikipedia page of HMS Dreadnought it is mentioned that during firing trials against HMS Hero there were some vulnerabilities of its fire control systems revealed: namely, wiring and voice tubes ...
33
votes
2answers
5k views
What was the function of the walls of Jericho?
The walls of old Jericho have been dated to around 8000bc. This is thousands of years before the nascent civilisations of Babylon and Egypt built similar fortifications and thousands of years before ...
-3
votes
3answers
370 views
Was it possible to organize a women's uprising or feminist movement in the Middle Ages? [closed]
Women in Europe endured thousands of years of gender inequality, culminating in the Middle Ages. Women in the Middle Ages had few rights and were treated like minors and properties, yet they did very ...
1
vote
2answers
177 views
How were the Roman Triarii trained?
Unlike the Hastati and Principe, the Triarii were spear based and they also the oldest veteran elite troops. So did they initially fight with the sword and then go to the spear (and if so why) or were ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Have revolutions been won without the military establishment?
Various historical and political theorists (for instance, Bruce Bueno de Mesquita) have asserted that the support, or, at most, the abstention of a country's military is necessary for a successful ...
1
vote
1answer
105 views
Revolutions: which side does the nation's military join? [closed]
Historically, when there has been a notably significant revolution to overthrow the standing government, does the military typically defend the government or join the revolutionists?
3
votes
1answer
244 views
How large were Victorian British military forces?
I was wondering roughly how many people were members of military services in Britain during the later Victorian era, and had no luck finding any information on the subject online, apart from the ...
13
votes
1answer
1k views
Did 20th century militaries have their own fire-fighter units?
I tried googling this but fire-fighter is too similar to fire-fight (as in gun fight or shootout) so I keep getting the wrong results. I'm asking about fire-fighting as in containing and extinguishing ...
1
vote
2answers
401 views
At the start of the Second Punic War, why didn't Hannibal engage Publius Scipio in Hispania, but crossed the alps instead?
Sorry, I forgot exactly where I remember this from but as Hannibal moved towards the Alps with around 50,000 troops, he was pursued by Scipio with fewer troops (actually, if anyone can find a source ...
2
votes
1answer
127 views
Please help identify this medal… German military?
Found this in my late father's possessions. Probably belonged to his father or grandfather. Prussian? German? war related? I have no idea...
16
votes
1answer
1k views
What is a WW1 water detail?
Looking at my grandfathers files from Canadian military archives WW 1.
He was in the medical corps as a stretcher bearer. One of his tasks was
to be put on water detail. Would anyone know what being ...
2
votes
1answer
80 views
Is there a location to find the personnel roster of the No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron during WW2?
I'm working on a research project and I am looking to confirm that certain individuals were part of the No. 300 Polish Bomber Squadron during WW2.
Is there a place online or offline where one could ...
18
votes
1answer
4k views
What ship is this and which military campaign?
On back of card, Army Transport USS Maricu - life on board - nothing to do. I can not find any information on this ship. Is it WWI or WWII?
The reverse of the card is shown below:
18
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the name and meaning of a World War 2 CCC Medal with both the Polish Eagle and British Statant Gardant Lion?
While looking through a collection of World War 2 medals, I came across this one (picture attached) and have been unable to identify it.
It is in the form of a shield, appears to have a Polish eagle ...
3
votes
1answer
172 views
Youngest age for the militia in the middle ages
I know it probably differed from village to village, town to town, city to city, but what was the standard bare minimum age for anyone to join the local militia or receive any sort of combat/survival ...
3
votes
0answers
114 views
What is the latest case of employment of Cretan archers in Antiquity?
It is known that Cretan archers were widely used (presumably as mercenaries) across Mediterranean by Greek armies and were occasionally included in Roman armies of Republic and of Imperial period. I ...
0
votes
0answers
88 views
For the French Army under Jean Martinet (d1672) how and why were cavalry used instead of infantry?
For France's army of the period of Jean Martinet (d1672) in the Early modern, how and why were cavalry used instead of infantry?
In European warfare the default company is the infantry company. This ...
1
vote
1answer
269 views
When was the last time that the U.S. as a country, state, or city was occupied by foreign troops?
Of recent wars (1900 to today) I can only think of instances of the U.S. sending offensive troops to occupy other nations.
I understand that we've been attacked by the likes of Pearl Harbor and 9/11 ...
5
votes
0answers
135 views
How does one return “war booty” to their rightful original owners? [closed]
I honestly don't know where to ask this question, so here goes.
My grandfather served on the Communist side during the Vietnam War. He shot down an F-104 (or an F-4) and removed a piece of flight ...
1
vote
2answers
297 views
Did Soviet Union really consider using atomic bomb against US aircraft battlegroup?
In this video youtube narrator says that:
"During Cold War Soviet Union considered American battle-group such a dire threat that they predicted the only way to defend against them would be by use ...
13
votes
2answers
1k views
Why did only Anglo-Saxon kings wear helmets?
According to this article on the BBC news website only Anglo-Saxon kings wore helmets. Here is the full quote:
"Only Anglo-Saxon kings wore helmets and this is one of a very small number ever to be ...
2
votes
1answer
205 views
What were the differences between mortars and other artilleries in world war I?
Artillery just means missiles today.
In WWI did artillery and mortars worked the same way only difference being the angle its being fired at, and how big the projectile is.
0
votes
1answer
94 views
Where can I find primary sources on mortars/artillery in world war one?
I need primary sources for artillery from ww1. I have looked everywhere such as the database of the World War I Document Archive, Proquest and archive.org but with no luck. So I am asking here as a ...
2
votes
1answer
211 views
21
votes
1answer
5k views
What type of plane is this wreck?
I have found this picture on MSN, with the claim that it is a P-38 somewhere at the French Riviera. However the P-38 Lightning is a twin-engined fighter, while this wreck has most probably four. What ...
2
votes
0answers
86 views
What was the troop ratio between the red and white army in the Russian revolution?
I am making a game over the Russian Revolution for English class. I want to make this game a somewhat accurate representation of the Russian Revolution. I have been able find the answers to all of my ...
1
vote
0answers
73 views
Hussars Elite force [closed]
I wanted to write about a group of Hussars light cavalry that wore black feathers head to toe. I saw a book from Poland with a drawing on the inside cover, but I have not been able to find out ...
10
votes
2answers
4k views
What Roman legions were present in London (UK)?
I have just come across an interesting article about the Romans in London (UK):
Roman eagle found by archaeologists in City of London
a Picture from the above article (just to have an idea):
My ...
13
votes
1answer
2k views
In WWI, which countries used prisoners as soldiers?
What happened to prisoners incarcerated for domestic crimes (not war) before and during the outbreak of the Great War?
Using a UK report, in 1914 the prison population dropped around 5000, but 11,000 ...
