POTD: Where SCAR Meets FAMAS

Photo of the Day captures the Belgian Army’s Special Operations Regiment during Tropical Storm, a recurring multinational exercise conducted in Central Africa in cooperation with Gabonese authorities. Now in its fifth iteration, the exercise is designed to prepare a rapidly deployable task ...

By Eric B

The RPD - Soviet Union’s First Squad Automatic Weapon

In the years after World War II, the Soviet military asked a simple question: how could an infantry squad bring a higher volume of automatic fire without surrendering mobility? A lesson they learned from the Eastern Front, where volume of fire was king. The answer, in part, was the RPD; this ligh...

By Lynndon Schooler

M21 Sniper Rifle — A Short History

The renowned M14 service rifle has a complex history: it was the U.S. military’s shortest-lived service rifle yet one of the longest in service. While its time as a standard-issue rifle for G.I.s was brief, its power and performance have ensured its continued use as a sniper and Designated Mark...

By Cory Ross

POTD: Next Stop Brussels–Schuman - Belgian Paratroopers Go Underground

Photo Of The Day, and we go full Special Forces. The story takes us underground, where the 22nd Assault Company of Belgium’s 3 Para transformed Brussels–Schuman  metro station into a Close Quarters Battle training environment. Far removed from open terrain, this setting emphasize...

By Eric B

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

A Summary History of Firearm Ammunition

Firearm ammunition has been a fundamental component of both the evolution of firearms and the progression of military, law enforcement, and civilian practices throughout history.

By Alan Chwick

POTD: US Soldiers At German Schützenschnur Qualification

In today’s Photo of the Day, Spc. Isaac Buxton of the 1st Armored Division, Task Force Iron, is seen firing a German Army HK G36 service rifle during the Schützenschnur qualification at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania. The event took place in August 2025 and offered U.S. Soldi...

By Eric B

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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