The Soviet “Silent” AKS-74UB

The AKS-74UB is one of the rarer Kalashnikov variants, a suppressed short carbine designed for missions requiring minimal noise and visual signature. Derived from the AKS-74U developed by Mikhail T. Kalashnikov in the 1970s, the AKS-74UB was created by a team of engineers at the Research Institut...

By Lynndon Schooler

Truck Guns Part 3: Defense Fueled by Vodka

The truck gun can be virtually any firearm, but to truly assess the multitude of modern applicable firearms as an effective defensive platform, a required evaluation necessitates the most offensive, the AK. The AK has earned two reputations in the 21st Century; the first is a reputation for simpl...

By Toby M

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)

First M16 Rifles in the Vietnam War

In the late 1950s, there were basically two camps in the U.S. military on what the next service rifle should be — those who thought a service rifle should be made of wood and blued steel and wanted a modified version of the M1 Garand, and those who thought the future of the modern service ...

By Robert A. Sadowski
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