During World War II, the ancient Samurai moral code of honor, obedience, duty and self-sacrifice found its way into Japanese military tactics, particularly during the last desperate months of the empire of the Rising Sun. If the Japanese soldier successfully detonated a lunge mine against the side armor of a M4 Sherman tank, both the tank and the attacker would likely be destroyed. Image: NARA Beyond the high-profile Kamikaze air strikes, the Kaiten suicide submarines and the Shinyo explosive motorboats, Japan’s self-sacrificing warriors sometimes used glamorous methods in their attacks o ..read more

I’m going to come right out and say it. Carrying a concealed handgun is not as simple for women as it is for men. Men don’t have to give much thought about what they’re wearing prior to holstering a firearm on their person, whereas we ladies have a lot to consider. Clothing items such as dresses, skirts, athleticwear, skinny jeans, etc. all make us pause and think about just where on our bodies we could carry a handgun that keeps it concealed. For instance, I can’t use an inside-the-waistband holster while wearing a dress, and I can’t get away with an ankle holster if I’m wearing a miniskirt ..read more

There are aircraft that have become iconic for their service in combat, while others were notable for their innovative features. The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an aircraft that was arguably a bit too late and a little lacking in innovation, yet, it definitely did get the job done. The Thunderjet saw service in the Korean War, where it even had a distinguished record – yet, it was largely overshadowed by the F-86 Sabre, while it was also outmatched by the more advanced Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15. Republic F-84 Thunderjets of the 27th Fighter Escort Group are shown here in flight duri ..read more

Going forth into the world, we know how important it is to load out our pockets, and perhaps packs, each day with the right tools. Every Day Carry (EDC) gear can include keys, watches, flashlights, pens, small pry bars, multi-tools, and those items particular to your line of work or expertise. In my experience, no stand-alone piece of EDC gear is more useful than a knife. There is a vast number of options to consider when selecting a knife for every day carry. How do you decide what features are the most important? It wasn’t until I had my entry-level job as a window and screen repairman that ..read more

I have been a gun reviewer for many years, and the one thing I have learned more than anything else is that trigger pull matters. The greatest concern that shooters have with any handgun review is the trigger. Does trigger pull matter on a handgun? Does it matter more on a competition pistol as opposed to a defensive firearm? The author takes a hard look at the realities of trigger pulls in this article. Typically, a handgun’s trigger pull will dominate the conversation well above the other features a specific handgun offers. Shooters want to feel confident knowing the trigger will suit their ..read more

As the United States became embroiled in the war in Europe against the Axis, one of its earliest fronts was in the air. With waves of American heavy bombers making the perilous trek across the skies of continental Europe to strike targets in the heart of Axis territories, they faced a deadly and unrelenting opponent. Waist gunners demonstrate their nearly back-to-back positions aboard a B-17. Note the later style covered/flexible ammunition feed chutes that helped prevent kinks in the ammo belts. Image: NARA In the recent Apple+ TV series “Masters of the Air”, viewers got a look at the harrowi ..read more

In today’s article, Yamil Sued examines the ProMag Archangel stock for the Springfield Armory M1A rifle. In the first video, the author highlights the stock’s features while the second video is a range review of the installed Archangel M1A stock.  The author, Yamil Sued, evaluated the Archangel stock on his M1A rifle — from installation to range testing. As a seasoned shooter and an enthusiast for Springfield Armory M1A rifles, the newest Archangel stock caught my attention. With its robust build and precision-enhancing features, the stock promises to be a precision upgrade for the M1A, a ..read more

In June 2023, the Kremlin wasted no time in proclaiming that its forces had successfully destroyed a German-made Leopard 2 main battle tank (MBT) – one of the first Western tanks supplied to Ukraine. The tank fell victim to Russian artillery outside the town of Novopokrovka, located 35 miles southeast of Zaporizhzhia city in southern Ukraine. The current Leopard 2 main battle tank is the culmination of decades of German armored warfare study and experience. Pictured is a Leopard 2A7V. Image: Image: Michel Baldus/Bundeswehr The loss of one tank in wartime isn’t usually significant, but the Leop ..read more

Not that long ago, the use of reflex/red dot optics on handguns was limited to the realm of competitive and custom guns — and practically none were CCW-ready firearms. These were large handguns and, usually, large optics. So, the fact that red dots on EDC-ready firearms is the norm now is quite remarkable — and in my opinion, due in large part to the launch of the Springfield Armory Hellcat micro 9mm in 2019. The Shield SMSc from the Springfield Armory Webstore, paired with the Hellcat OSP 9mm, makes for an ideal EDC set-up. With its compact size, impressive capacity, and the option of an ..read more

My second of five careers I was an Army aviator. About a tenth of that time was spent flying OH-58 aeroscout helicopters single pilot. Strip the doors off of that bad boy and you are riding a three-dimensional motorcycle. Just thinking about those heady days brings an involuntary grin to my face. However, everything else involved flying as part of a crew. What can military pilots teach us about protecting our families? Coordination in the cockpit is remarkably applicable to the skills needed in home-defense scenarios. Image: Cpl. Kyle Chan/U.S. Marine Corps Sometimes that’s pretty condensed. T ..read more