Military References

This section lists established sources of military reference information and materials on the Internet. Since the Internet is constantly growing and changing, you should use Google or other search engines to expand your sources. In particular, use this link to Yahoo to discover many more military sites within the US Government and other countries. Or use the Google US Government Search or other search engine to explore the hundreds of sites coming on the web in constantly increasing numbers. The U.S. Government website called FirstGov can link you to every department and agency of the U.S. Federal government that relate to the military or veterans.

Military Reference Library.

Today in WW II: 23 May 1943 Adm. Döntiz, commander of the German Navy, calls off the Battle of the Atlantic, recognizing that the U-boat is no longer an effective weapon. More ↓

23 May 1944 Allied breakout from Anzio beachhead.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Military Reference Information

In addition to the Internet links listed on this page, within Olive-Drab.com you can find reference information on specific topics such as these:

Refer to the Olive-Drab.com site directory for more information.

Acronym Finder offers a searchable database containing over 100,000 common acronyms and abbreviations about all subjects, with a focus on computers, technology, telecommunications, and the military. See also the DoD Joint Acronymns and Abbreviations.

Armed Forces Reading Lists presents the recommended reading lists for all branches of the United States Military under one virtual roof.

ArmsControlWonk.com was created by Dr. Jeffrey Lewis, Director of the Nuclear Strategy and Nonproliferation Initiative at the New America Foundation. With a focus on arms control and other cooperative security strategies, Dr. Lewis, and others he has invited to participate, blog on current strategic issues of the U.S. military organizations and intelligence community.

The Army Recognition site offers information , descriptions, identification and many pictures about military equipment from all countries of the world.

Army Library Program. This Army site has a wealth of suggestions for Professional Reading Lists, military journals, history and other references.

Robert L. Bolin of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has prepared this Army technical intelligence chronology, a list of official documents from the 1930s to the 1990s in many subject areas of interest to the Army.

The Army Technology Glossary has thousands of words and phrases listed to explain the use of military terminology.

Aspals Legal Pages includes links for military/international lawyers who are searching for research pointers, or who are briefed to appear before a British court-martial.

Center for Defense Information. CDI is a private, nongovernmental, research organization which monitors the US military. CDI seeks realistic and cost effective military spending without excess expenditures for weapons and policies that increase the danger of war.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) World Fact Book. Lists every country in the world and summarizes their military structure, manpower, and expenditures along with other facts about the nation.

The Defense Daily Network has this web site and a free weekly e-letter containing defense news, industry reports, and conference coverage.

DefenseData.com is a National Stock Number resource, a subscription based on-line service providing users with the ability to search U.S. Department of Defense databases for reference information about millions of NSNs. See this Olive-Drab.com page for more information about NSNs.

DoD Web Sites is DefenseLINK's portal to the Department of Defense on the Internet.

Defense Update has news of the international defense community, on the website and via an e-mail newsletter. Published in Israel, it has additional depth regarding the IDF and Israeli defense industry developments.

Elite Tactical Sources, Inc. maintains this great page of links to military training, education, news, and operations sites. Browse around their site for more military resources and information.

The Federation of American Scientists is engaged in analysis and advocacy on science, technology and public policy for global security. Their site includes analysis and facts about the arms sales, biological warfare, US Department of Defense, weapons systems, and policy along with much other information which bears on national security. One of the most complete web sources for details on US weapons and equipment for land, sea, and air warfare.

Grunt was designed as an aid for people researching the various branches of the United States' armed forces. It is always being updated with new and useful military-related information including decorations, ribbons and awards, rank insignia, a glossary, a large file of images, and more.

Jane's Information Group Ltd. is the prime resource for organized research studies about the world's military forces. In a series of books, reports, intelligence briefings, and other methods, Jane's is the most authoritative source.

Land Forces of Britain, the Empire, and Commonwealth. Comprehensive site providing wide range of resources and information for the subject area. History and current events for all aspects of the military of Britain and all the individual Commonwealth countries.

The Military Education Research Library Network (MERLN) is the web presence of the military education libraries in the United States and Europe. MERLN offers the combined resources of the largest and most comprehensive collections of military information resources in the world by providing access to the library holdings and electronic information resources of the member libraries. Thanks to Steven Rothman for this suggestion.

MILITARY.CZ is a wide ranging resource in several languages on the military hardware, history, and events of many countries.

Military Parade On-Line. The latest news from the Russian defense industry.

Military Periscope is a one-stop shop for open-source defense and military information. Periscope databases include usni military database, pentagon blue tops, daily defense news capsules and special reports.

MILNET, a unique military encyclopedia of reference material on military and intelligence organizations all over the world.

The National Security Archive is a very useful information resource for U.S. defense and security matters. They use the FOIA and other open government tools to probe the secrets of the most secret agencies.

NavWeaps covers naval weapons, naval technology and naval reunions.

Pike Military Research offers customized research into unit records, combat maps, ship logs, histories, photographs or other records. Serving historians, veterans and their families.

Rand Corporation Publications offers access to research on many national security and military topics from this famous think-tank.

Small Wars Journal (formerly The Urban Operations Journal) has an on-line edition and Blog dedicated to operations undertaken under executive authority, combining military force with other means to influence outcomes.

This link takes you to DOD publication MIL-STD-40051A which describes in exhaustive detail the standards for Technical Manual preparation. Requires free Acrobat reader.

UK Ministry of Defence: Information for conducting research into the MOD for military, academic and non-governmental organizations related to defence studies, analysis, and research.

Veterans and Military Websites page has hundreds of military websites in categories to help you search.

Find More Information on the Internet

There are many fine websites that have additional information on this topic, too many to list here and too many to keep up with as they come and go. Use this Google web search form to get an up to date report of what's out there.

For good results, try entering this: military reference materials. Then click the Search button.