Military Weapons

The Military Weapons section of Olive-Drab.com covers all types of military firearms -- rifles, pistols, submachine guns -- as well as military knives and bayonets, crew served weapons, and heavier firepower. Follow the links below to the individual pages and sub-sections.

J.D. Estes tries out .30 cal. machine gun at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, TX, August 1942
J.D. Estes tries out .30 cal. machine gun at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, TX, August 1942.

Today in WW II: 30 Jul 1940 President of Estonia, Konstantin Päts, is imprisoned by Soviet agents and deported to Russia.  More ↓
30 Jul 1944 Operation Bluecoat begins, an attack by British Second Army supporting breakout in Normandy, aimed to secure the Vire junction and high ground of Mont Pinçon [30 Jul-7 Aug].
30 Jul 1945 USS Indianapolis [CA-35] torpedoed by Japanese submarine, sinks in 12 minutes killing 300 immediately, leaving 900 men in shark-infested waters without lifeboats; only 316 rescued 4 days later.
Visit the Olive-Drab.com World War II Timeline for day-by-day events 1939-1945! See also WW2 Books.

Military Weapons Directory

This section provides information about military weapons ranging from the rifle or pistol of the individual soldier, through crew served infantry weapons like mortars or machine guns, up to military firepower like artillery, naval and air systems, as well as chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.