Ayoob: Was the 10mm Destined to Fail?

No other handgun cartridge has experienced quite as many ups, down and reinventions of purpose in so short a time as the 10mm Auto. Generally thought to have been a product of the 1980s, the 10mm’s whole story actually goes back further. A Brief History of the 10mm The mid-twentieth century saw...

By Massad Ayoob

M1 Garand vs. M1941 Johnson Rifle Debate

Even positive changes can be hard to accept. Long before the M1 Garand rifle was in widespread service in the US military, it had its share of detractors. A number of these objectors simply disagreed with the Army’s decision to adopt a semi-automatic rifle at all. They argued that the...

By Tom Laemlein

M65 Atomic Cannon — America’s Atomic Annie

During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union raced to develop weapons that could tip the balance of power. Among the most audacious creations of this era was the M65 Atomic Cannon, an enormous artillery piece capable of firing a nuclear shell. Nicknamed “Atomic Annie,” this wea...

By Eugene Nielsen

Garrett Shoulder-Fired Mortar: Nice (But Painful) Idea

“Missed Peleliu because of that damn thing.” The old 1st Marine Division veteran massaged a spot on his upper chest and grimaced. “Told us we could fire that mortar from the prone and get direct fire into Jap bunkers. I was one of the first to give it a whirl. Broke my collar...

By Capt. Dale Dye, USMC (Ret)
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