Explosive Ordnance Disposal: WWII publications written in blood

There is a saying in EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) school that “the rules of the publications were written in blood”. This comes from the British bomb disposal units from World War II, who through sacrifice, trial, and error, paved the way for modern EOD. The current publications span decades, and are an expansive library of […]

Toe poppers and minifrags: The little known toys of US Special Forces in Vietnam

This article will speak about two vital weapons that served U.S. Special Forces during their service in the Vietnam War. They were the M-14 Anti-Personnel mine, more commonly known as the “Toe Popper,” and the V40 Mini-Fragmentation Grenade. Over the course of the conflict, these miniature terrors drew much blood against the North Vietnamese Army […]

Being grateful on September 11th: A Marine veteran and father looks back

For every year of my adult life, September has opened on a somber note. As a journalist that works in the National Security and Defense sphere, I’ve come to embrace the sadness this month brings with it, often channeling the lump in my throat for the sake of content — writing pieces each year that […]

This is the secret underwater pistol Heckler & Koch built for Navy SEALs

One of the things movies always get wrong about firearms is how water will affect the way a bullet travels. Even in the otherwise-almost-too-real “Saving Private Ryan,” bullets are shown flying through water almost exactly as they do in the air: on a straight trajectory and with a lethal amount of kinetic energy. The truth […]

The DEVGRU files: Founder Dick Marcinko on why SEAL Team Six was created

Years ago we had a chance to sit down for an interview with Richard “Demo Dick” Marcinko when he was in town for an event in New York City. For the first time in more than three years, this content is now free for your viewing pleasure. During this exclusive interview, Dick Marcinko, the founder […]

Napoleon sat here: Rare relics still much desired among collectors

Napoleonic history continues to fascinate scholars and enthusiasts from all over the world. Napoleon Bonaparte, the man who elevated France to its greatest glory in the military field, is still today one of the most beloved (and hated) characters in history. The Imperial Era, from 1805 to 1815, has many followers in the world of […]

Historical retrospective: The Fulton Extraction System

Many remember the Fulton extraction system from the James Bond movie, “Thunderball,” starring Sean Connery, but the system was actually developed by the CIA for extracting personnel in austere parts of the world. Named after its creator, Robert Fulton, the system was tested by the CIA’s Special Activities Division in the 1950s. A few years back, […]