Probert Encyclopaedia
Weapons and Warfare (G-O)
G.A. Smith's Independent Regiment
see "35th Illinois Volunteer Infantry"
G11
The Heckler and Koch G11 is a German sub-machine gun. It was designed to be the German Police standard weapon during the 1990s, but politics prevented that happening. It takes special caseless cartridges in 4.7 mm calibre from a 50-round magazine and has variable rates of fire, including three-round bursts which can deliver 2000 rounds per minute.
G137
G137 was a German Torpedo Boat of the Great War. She was 71.5m long and 7.65m wide. She was powered by Parson Turbines giving a total power of 10800hp and a top speed of 33.9 knots. She was armed with 3 torpedo tubes, one 88 mm gun and three 52 mm rapid fire guns. She was crewed by 3 officers and 78 men.
G41
The Heckler and Koch G41 is a German light machine gun. It is an improved HK33, produced from 1983, specifically for the NATO standard 5.56 mm cartridge. It incorporates the low-noise bolt closing device first used on the PSG1 sniping rifle. It uses the standard NATO magazine interface, accepting M16 and similar magazines and has NATO standard sight mounts for day or night optical sights. It comes in two models, one with a fixed and the other with a folding stock. The rate of fire is 850 rounds per minute.
Gabion
A gabion was an early form of sandbag, it was a wickerwork basket of cylindrical form but without a bottom and about 50cm in diameter and 84cm tall (20 inches diameter, 33 inches tall). In a siege, when forming a trench a row of gabions was placed on the outside nearest the fortress and filled with earth as it was thrown from the trench, so as to form a protective barrier against fire from the besieged defenders. Gabions were still in use as recently as 1900.
Galil
The Galil is an Israeli automatic rifle. It is a modified version of the Kalashnikov rotating bolt system. It was originally developed in 5.56 mm calibre, but later a 7.62 mm model was also produced. It has a rate of fire of 550 rpm from either a 35 or 50 round curved box magazine. The Vektor R4 is a modification of the Galil.
Galleon
A Galleon was a Spanish or Portuguese warship. They had three or four decks.
Galley
A galley was a low, flat-built warship with one deck and navigated by sails and oars once common in the Mediterranean. Common galleys were between 30 and 60 meters long, and smaller galleys were known as half-galleys and quarter-galleys.
Garand
The garand is a US gas operated rifle adopted by the army from 1936. It takes a .30 inch round from an 8-round internal box. It has a muzzle velocity of 853 m/s and is sighted to 1097m.
Garrotte
A garrotte (Spanish for cudgel) was a device used in Spain and Portugal for the execution of criminals. The condemned person was strapped to an upright post in which a rod struck the back of the neck, dislocating the spinal column.
GAU-8-A
The GAU-8-A (Avenger) is a seven-barrel auto-cannon mounted on the A-10A attack jet. It has a muzzle velocity of 1066m/s and armour penetration of 69 mm at 500m and 38 mm at 1000m.
Gecko
see "SA-N-4"
Gelignite
Gelignite is a blasting explosive chiefly composed of nitro-glycerine and potassium nitrate.
Gendarme
The Gendarme were a French cavalry regiment formed in 1791. They served as the King's bodyguard up to the time of Louis XVI and after the French Revolution became armed police.
Geneva Convention
The Geneva Convention was an international convention held at Geneva in 1864, at which the world Powers agreed to respect the persons and property of those tending the sick and wounded in battle.
Gentlemen-at-Arms
The King's Bodyguard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms was a body of 39 officers decorated for war services derived from the 'pensioners' of Henry VIII, and founded in 1862 as the first military bodyguard of the sovereign at official functions and ceremonies.
Gewehr
Gewehr was a range of German military rifles used during the first and Second World Wars.
Gewehr 41
The Gewehr 41 is a German gas-operated, self-cocking semi-automatic rifle manufactured by Walther and developed in 1941. It has a muzzle velocity of 776 m/s. It takes a 7.92 mm round from a 10-round box. It is sighted to 1200m.
Gewehr 43
The Gewehr 43 was a German semi-automatic rifle based upon the Gewehr 41. It improved upon the 41 but was still unreliable. It took two 5-round box magazines.
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action rifle developed in 1898. It takes a 7.92 mm round from a 5-round box. Operation is bolt. The muzzle velocity is 870 m/s and it is sighted to 2000m.
Gewehr 98 k
The Gewehr 98 k is a German carbine based upon the Gewehr 98, but six inches shorter. It was issued to most German soldiers during the Second World War.
Gewehr M1898
The Gewehr M1898 was a bolt action rifle manufactured by Spandau from 1898 onwards. It took a 5 round box magazine and had an effective range of 900m. These rifles were still in use by the German army during the Second World War.
Ghurka War
The Ghurka War was fought from 1811 until 1816 between the British and the Ghurkas after the Ghurkas encroached onto British territory.
Gingal
The gingal was a 19th century large musket used in Asia. It was fired from a rest and on occasions was mounted on a light carriage.
Glock
Glock is an American firearms manufacturer.
Glock m20
The glock m20 is a semi-automatic pistol manufactured by glock. It takes a 15-round 10 mm calibre magazine.
Gloster Gladiator
The Gloster Gladiator was a British made biplane used by the Swedish and Finnish air forces during the Second World War. It had a top speed of 253mph. It was armed with 2 .303 inch Browning machine guns in the fuselage. It had a range of 428 miles.
Gloucestershire Regiment
The Gloucestershire Regiment is a British infantry regiment. The 1st Battalion was the old 28th Foot, raised in 1694. In 1782 it received the territorial title 'North Gloucestershire'. The 2nd Battalion was the old 61st Foot, raised in 1758 and in 1782 designated the South Gloucestershire'. The regiment bears the Sphinx as its badge worn at both the back and the front of the cap, giving rise to the regiment's nickname of the 'Fore and Aft'. The sphinx badge commemorates the regiments gallantry in resisting a French cavalry attack in front and rear at Alexandria on March 21st 1801.
Glyoxyline
Glyoxyline was an explosive invented by Abel in 1867. It was a mixture of gun-cotton, pulp and potassium nitrate saturated with nitro-glycerine. Glyoxyline was later abandoned for compressed gun-cotton.
Goblet
see "SA-N-3"
Goeben
The Goeben was a German battle-cruiser of the Great War. She had a displacement of 22,640 tons, and was armed with ten 11 inch guns and had a top speed of 28 knots. On August the 4th 1914 she, along with the Breslau, bombarded Philippeville and Bona on the French African coast. On August the 13th she was sold to the Turkish Navy and was renamed Sultan Selim.
Golden Knights
The Golden Knights are the US Army Parachute Team. It was formed in 1959 at Fort Bragg.
Gomez Roca
The Gomez Roca is an Argentinean Meko 140 Type Frigate. She was built by Afne in Rio Santiago and launched on the 14th of November 1986. She has a displacement of 1470 tons and is armed with four Aerospatiale MM 40 Exocet missiles, one OTO Melara 3in gun, four Breda 40 mm guns, six 324 mm ILAS 3 (2 triple) torpedo tubes and Chaff rocket launchers. She is powered by two Type 16PC2-5V400 SEMT-Pielstick 16-cyl diesels providing 20400bhp and a top speed of 27 knots and a range of 6400 km. She carries a crew of 11 officers and 82 men.
Gordon Highlanders
The Gordon Highlanders are a British infantry regiment. They were formed from the amalgamation of the 75th Highland Regiment and the 92nd Highland Regiment in 1881.
Gorget
In armour, a gorget was a defence for the throat and chin.
Gp-141
The Gp-141 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
Gp-160
The Gp-160 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
Gp-161
The Gp-161 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
Gpf-331
The Gpf-331 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 3 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
Gpf-340
The Gpf-340 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
Gpf-341
The Gpf-341 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
Graf Spee
The Graf Spee was a German warship of the Second World War. She was armed with 6 11 inch guns and 8 5.9 inch guns, 8 37 mm anti-aircraft guns, 10 20 mm Anti-Aircraft guns and 8 21 inch torpedo tubes. She had a top speed of 26 knots and a range of 19000 miles. She carried a crew of 1150.
Grail
see "SA-N-5"
Great War
The Great War was a war between the Central European Powers of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and allies on one side and the Triple Entente of Britain and the British Empire, France, and Russia and their allies (including the USA which entered in 1917), on the other side between 1914 and 1918.
An estimated 10 million lives were lost and twice that number were wounded. It was fought on the eastern and western fronts, in the Middle East, in Africa, and at sea.
The underlying causes of the war were nationalism and trade barriers. By the early 20th century, the countries of Western Europe had reached a high level of material prosperity. However, competition for trade markets and imperial possessions world-wide had led to a growth of nationalistic sentiment. This nationalism created great political tension between the single-nation states such as France and Germany, and threatened the stability of multi-nation states such as Austria-Hungary. These tensions were reflected in jingoistic propaganda, an arms race between the major powers, and trade barriers and tariffs which exacerbated tensions further.
The outbreak of war occurred following the assassination in Sarajevo of Archduke Franz Ferdinand on the 28th of June 1914 by a Bosnian student, Gavrilo Prinzip, backed by the Serbian nationalist Black Hand organisation.
The Austro-Hungarian government sought to punish Serbia for the crime and Germany promised support, despite the danger of involving Russia, ultimate patron of the Balkan nationalist movements. Austria-Hungary presented Serbia with an ultimatum on the 23rd of July, requesting a reply within 48 hours. Serbia, on Russian advice, agreed to all the demands except two which conflicted with its authority as a sovereign state.
Austro-Hungarian armies near the Serbian border were mobilised and Russia mobilised its forces against Austria-Hungary on the 29th of July. On the same day Austrian artillery bombarded the Serbian capital, Belgrade, while the German High Seas Fleet was transferred from the Baltic to the North Sea. News of the Russian mobilisation reached Berlin on the 31st of July and Germany demanded that the Russian mobilisation should cease, and asked France for a notification by 1 p.m. the following day that it would remain neutral in the event of a Russo-German war, despite treaty obligations to Russia.
Long-established German war plans envisaged a crushing blow against France as a precursor to concentration against a Russian invasion.
Greek Fire
Greek Fire was an incendiary substance invented by Callinicus and thrown by engines. It was first employed in the 7th century to destroy the Saracens' ships.
Green Howards
The Green Howards are a British infantry regiment, formed in 1688. Green Howards have taken part in most of the main campaigns and wars since the 17th Century, most of them when designated the 19th Regiment of Foot.
The Regiment received the nickname The Green Howards in 1744 to avoid confusion on the battlefield when two regiments were named after their Colonel - Howard's Regiment. As one Regiment wore green facings on their scarlet uniforms they were called the Green Howards, whilst the other was nicknamed The Buffs after their buff brown facings. The nickname became official in 1920.
The Green Howards raised 24 Battalions in the Great War and thirteen in the Second World War and fought in all the major theatres of war. Since 1945 the Regiment has seen active service in Malaya, Cyprus, Northern Ireland and Bosnia.
Green Jackets
see "Rifle Brigade"
Greenjackets
see "Kings Royal Rifle Corps"
Grenade
A grenade is a small missile, containing an explosive or other charge, usually thrown (hand grenade) but sometimes fired from a rifle.
Hand grenades are generally fitted with a time fuse of about four seconds: a sufficient amount of time for the grenade to reach the target but not enough for the enemy to pick it up and throw it back.
Rifle grenades were developed during the Great War to achieve a greater range than was possible with the hand grenade, Grenades were known in the 15th century, but were obsolete by the 19th, only being revived in the Russo-Japanese War 1905.
Grenades
see "Grenade"
Grenadier
A Grenadier was originally a soldier specially trained for throwing grenades.
Grenadier Guards
see "Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards"
Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards
The Grenadier Regiment of Foot Guards (Grenadier Guards) was raised at Bruges in 1656 by King Charles II whilst he was in exile in Belgium. King Charles, allied to the Spanish, was short of funds and so only five regiments were raised. The most loyal supporters formed 'The Royal Regiment of Guards'. On his return to England the King raised another Regiment of Foot Guards, namely the King's Regiment of Guards, for his protection. On the death of Thomas, Lord Wentworth in 1665, these two Regiments were linked to form the First Regiment of Foot Guards. This title remained from then until 1815 when, due to the Regiment's actions at Waterloo, it was granted its present title. The Grenadier Guards is the only Regiment in the British Army that has gained its title directly from the part it played in action. It is in consequence of this that the Grenade is worn as a badge on the forage cap, the tunic and the Colours of the Regiment. A new uniform embodying the Grenade was first worn at Christmas 1815.
Grey Dragoons
see "Royal Scots Greys"
Grumble
see "SA-N-6"
Guerrilla
A guerrilla is an irregular soldier fighting in a small unofficial unit, typically against an established or occupying power, and engaging in sabotage, ambush, and the like, rather than pitched battles against an opposing army.
The term was first applied to the Spanish and Portuguese resistance to French occupation during the Peninsular War.
Gun-Cotton
Gun-Cotton is a highly explosive substance invented by professor Schonbein of Basel in 1846. It is made of purified cotton, steeped in a mixture of equal parts of nitric acid and sulphuric acid, and afterwards dried, retaining the appearance of cotton-wool. The first British trial of gun-cotton took place in the Spring of 1864 at Stowmarket in Suffolk.
Gustav Line
The Gustav line was a German defensive line in Italy running from the mouth of the Garigliano river through Cassino and across the Apennines to a point south of Ortona during the Second World War.
H-35
The Hotchkiss H-35 was a French, light-support tank used during the Second World War. It was armed with a 37 mm main gun and manned by a crew of two.
H-39
The Hotchkiss H-39 was a French light-support tank used during the Second World War. It was armed with a 37 mm main gun and manned by a crew of two.
Habergeon
Habergeon was a sleeveless jacket of chain-mail, shorter than the hauberk, and worn by squires and archers during the middle ages.
Hadrian's Wall
Hadrian's Wall was built to prevent the irruptions of the Scots and Picts into the northern counties of England, then under the Roman government. It extended from the Tyne to the Solway Firth and was eighty miles long, twelve feet high, eight feet thick and supplied with watchtowers. It was built in 121 and repaired and strengthened between 207 and 210.
Half-pike
The half-pike was a defensive weapon composed of an iron spike fixed on a short ashen staff and used in the navy to repel boarders.
Hampshire Regiment
The Hampshire Regiment was formed of the merger of Meredith's Regiment (37th Foot) and the 1st South Hampshire Regiment. The regiment first saw action at Blenheim and later fought in Afghanistan and Burma.
Harpoon
The harpoon is an American guided anti-ship missile. It has a range of 102 km and a flight speed of mach 0.75. The harpoon missile flies close to the sea level.
Hauberk
The hauberk was a jacket of chain-mail with loose sleeves. There were two models, the small hauberk reached to the hips and had sleeves with extended to the elbow, and the large hauberk which reached down to the knees and had sleeves which extended a little below the elbow and also a hood.
HE
HE is an abbreviation for high-explosive.
HEAT
HEAT is an abbreviation for High-Explosive Anti-Tank. It is a type of ammunition designed to penetrate steel plate armour and also be effective against non-armoured targets.
Heavy field artillery
During the Great War, heavy field artillery was defined as comprising all artillery equipped with mobile guns of 4 inch calibre and upwards.
Hellfire
see "agm-114"
Heroina
The Heroina is an Argentinean Meko 360 Type destroyer. She was built by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg and launched on the 17th of February 1982. She has a displacement of 2900 tons and is armed with eight Aerospatiale MM 40 Exocet missiles, one OTO Melara 5in gun, eight Breda/Bofors 40 mm guns, six 324 mm ILAS 3 (2 triple) torpedo tubes and two Breda 105 mm SCLAR Chaff rocket launchers. She is powered by two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines providing 51600 shp and a top speed of 30.5 knots and a range of 7200 km. She carries a crew of 26 officers and 174 men.
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry are a British infantry regiment formed in 1809 from the amalgamation of the 71st Foot, and the 74th Foot.
Highland Watch
see "The Watch"
Hindenberg Line
see "Siegfried Line"
Hindenburg Line
The Hindenburg Line was a German defence line of the Great War comprised of fortifications running from Arras to Laon, built between 1916 and 1917. Part of the line was taken by the British in the third battle of Arras, but it generally resisted attack until the British offensive of the summer of 1918. The fortifications were designed to give the German Army a shorter and more easily held line in the west, allowing them to hold off the Anglo-French attack while dealing a decisive blow to Russia. The main positions were on reverse slopes, with the advance positions on forward slopes and all were protected by artillery.
HK Ohws
The Hk Ohws is an offensive handgun from the Heckler and Koch company. It is a .45 inch calibre short recoil semi-automatic. It has a muzzle velocity of 270 m/s and a maximum effective range of 50m. It takes a 12-round magazine.
HK33
The Heckler and Koch HK33 is a German automatic rifle. It went into production in 1968 as a variant of the G3 designed for the NATO 5.56 mm cartridge. It takes a 25 round magazine and has a rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute.
HK33E
The Heckler and Koch HK33E is the short barrel carbine version of the HK33.
HK33SG1
The Heckler and Koch HK33SG1 is the sniping rifle version of the HK33. It has a special sight mount and telescopic sight.
HK35
The HK35 is a German automatic carbine manufactured by Heckler and Koch. It takes a 5.56 mm round from a 40-round box. The muzzle velocity is 960 m/s and it is sighted to 400m. It has a cyclic rate of 600 rpm.
HMS Aboukir
HMS Aboukir was a British armoured cruiser. She was launched in May 1900 and sunk in the North Sea in September 1914 after being torpedoed by the German submarine U-9. HMS Aboukir was armed with two 9.2 inch and twelve 6 inch guns and had a top speed of 21 knots.
HMS Agincourt
HMS Agincourt was a British battleship. She was launched in 1862 and eventually broken up in 1960. She had four 9 inch and twenty-four 7 inch muzzle loading rifled guns all in one long armoured battery. HMS Agincourt had a top speed of 15 knots.
HMS Attentive
HMS Attentive was a British cruiser. She was built around 1910 and saw service during the Great War. She was armed with ten 3 inch guns and had a top speed of 26 knots.
HMS Audacious
The original HMS Audacious was a British 74 gun sailing ship-of-the-line built in the 18th century. She was armed with thirty-six 32 pounder guns on the lower deck and thirty-four 24 pounder guns on the main gun deck and a further ten 18 pounder guns on the upper deck. In 1911 a new HMS Audacious was launched which was a British battleship armed with ten 13.5 inch guns and sixteen 4 inch guns and a top speed of 21 knots. The new HMS Audacious struck a mine in 1914 and was the first major ship lost in the Great War.
HMS Birmingham
HMS Birmingham was a British light cruiser of the 'Chatham' class. On the 9th of August 1915 the Birmingham sank U 15, the first German submarine sunk during the Great War. The Birmingham later took part in the Battle of Heligoland and the Battle of Jutland.
HMS Bonaventure
HMS Bonaventure was a British second class cruiser of 4360 tons launched in 1892. The name has been applied to British naval ships since the 15th century and included Drake's ship the Bonaventure.
HMS Brilliant
HMS Brilliant was a British second-class cruiser of 3,600 tons launched in 1891. The name Brilliant has been in use in the British Navy since 1755.
HMS Caesar
HMS Caesar was a British first-class battleship launched in 1896. The name Caesar has been used for British naval ships since 1793.
HMS Cambridge
HMS Cambridge was a British 100-gun gunnery ship of 4971 tons displacement launched in 1858.
HMS Canopus
HMS Canopus was a British first class Battleship of 12950 tons launched in 1897.
HMS Captain
HMS Captain was a British turret ironclad of 6950 tons displacement built in 1869 and lost in 1870 when it capsized off Finisterre.
HMS Courageous
HMS Courageous was a British aircraft carrier. It was the first Allied warship to be sunk by enemy action in the Second World War. She was sunk on 17th September 1939 by U-29.
HMS Daffodil
HMS Daffodil was a British minesweeper. She was launched in 1915 and transferred to escort duties in 1917 before being sold in 1935. She was armed with two 76 mm guns and had a top speed of 16.5 knots.
HMS Endurance
HMS Endurance is a British ice patrol ship. She was withdrawn from the South Atlantic in the 1980s, and this gave Argentina the impression that Britain was no longer prepared to protect her interests there, and thus led to the Falkland's War. HMS Endurance was launched in May 1956, and armed with two 20 mm guns and has a top speed of 14.5 knots.
HMS Glorious
HMS Glorious was a British aircraft carrier and sister ship to HMS Courageous. Like HMS Courageous, HMS Glorious was completed in 1917 as a fast cruiser for use in the Great War in the Baltic, but by the 1920s with Britain wanting to increase her aircraft carrier strength she was converted to an aircraft carrier, as was HMS Courageous.
HMS Hampshire
HMS Hampshire was a British armoured cruiser of the Great War. She had a displacement of 10,850 tons and a top speed of 23 knots. She was launched at Elswick in 1903 and armed with four 7.5 inch guns, six 6 inch guns and twenty 3 pounder guns. On the evening of June the 5th 1916 while proceeding through an unswept channel bound for Russia she struck a mine and sunk, killing all but twelve crewmen including the passenger Lord Kitchener.
HMS Hood
HMS Hood was a British battle cruiser of the second World War. She had a displacement of 41,200 tons and was armed with eight 15 inch, twelve 5.5 inch, and eight 4 inch guns, with four torpedo tubes, and had a top speed of 31 knots. She was sunk by gunfire from the German battleship Bismarck south of Greenland on the 24th of May 1941 with the loss of all but three of the crew of 1,420.
HMS Invincible
HMS Invincible was a British armoured cruiser. She was completed at Elswick in 1908 and had a displacement of 17,250 tons and a speed of 26 knots. She took part in the Battle of the Falkland Islands of 1914, and was sunk at the Battle of Jutland on May the 31st 1916.
HMS Iron Duke
HMS Iron Duke was a British super-Dreadnought battleship built at Portsmouth and completed in 1914. She had a displacement of 25,000 tons, a speed of 21 knots and was armed with ten 13.5 inch guns, twelve 6 inch guns, four 3 pounder guns and four anti-aircraft guns. During the Great War she served as Admiral Jellicoe's flagship from 1914 to 1916 and took part in the Battle of Jutland.
HMS Irresistible
HMS Irresistible was a British battleship launched at Chatham in 1898. She had a displacement of 15,000 tons and a speed of 18 knots. She was armed with four 12 inch guns and twelve 6 inch guns. In 1915 she struck a mine in the attack on Dardanelles and sunk.
HMS Swiftsure
HMS Swiftsure was a British first-class battleship of 11,800 tons launched in 1903. There were ships named Swiftsure in the British navy since 1573.
HMS Triumph
HMS Triumph was a British first class Battleship of 11,800 tons launched in 1903. She was built for the Chilean navy, and bought by the British.
HMS Victorious
HMS Victorious was a British first-class battleship of 14,900 tons lauched in 1895.
HMS Victory
HMS Victory was a British 100 gun ship of 2,164 tons launched in 1765. It was Nelson's flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar and in 1906 ws the flasghip at Portsmouth. Today it is a musueum.
HMS Vindictive
HMS Vindictive was a British light cruiser launched in 1897 with a top speed of 20 knots. She conveyed men to the mole at Zeebrugge during the attack on that harbour in April 1918 during the Great War. Later she was filled with concrete and sunk in Ostend harbour on May 9th 1918. She was raised in August 1920 and in November presented to the Belgium government.
HMS Wasp
HMS Wasp was a British steam gunboat, which was lost in September 1887 while on a passage from Singapore to Hong-Kong. All seventy-three crew were killed.
Hohernzollern redoubt
The Hohernzollern redoubt was an intricate trench system extending out 450 m from the German front line at the battle of Loos in September 1915 during the Great War. It was taken by the British during the opening stages of the battle but regained by the Germans two days later.
Holland Regiment
see "East Kent Regiment"
Hollow-point bullet
A hollow-point bullet is a bullet with a concavity in its nose to increase expansion on penetration of a solid target.
Horse Guards
see "Life Guards"
The Life Guards, the senior Regiment in the British Army, were formed at the Restoration in 1660 from a group of 80 Royalists who had gone into exile with King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1652. They first saw action at the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685 during the Monmouth rebellion and subsequently in both the Jacobite wars and during the War of Austrian Succession. They were re-designated the 1st and 2nd Life Guards in 1788, a period from which the majority of today's state dress originates. They formed the front charging line of the Household Cavalry Brigade at the battle of Waterloo, staging the famous charge against the French Cuirassiers that saved the British centre from being overrun. During the 19th century, the Life Guards served in Egypt, as part of the Household Cavalry Regiment, taking part in the moonlight charge at Kassassin, and also in the Sudan and South Africa. During World War I, the Regiment saw action at Mons, Le Cateau, Ypres, Loos, and most notably at Zandvoorde where two complete squadrons were lost. During World War II, the Life Guards contributed men to both Household Cavalry Regiments, the second of which was described by General Sir Brian Horrocks as the 'finest armoured car regiment he had ever seen'. They landed at Normandy in July 1944 and spearheaded the Guards Armoured Brigade advance through France to liberate Brussels and became the only forces to make contact with the Polish Free Forces during the advance to the bridge at Arnhem. The Horse Guards were a British heavy cavalry regiment formed in 1660 by Charles II as a personal bodyguard of Cavalier gentlemen of proven valour and loyalty. In 1788 they were renamed the Life Guards.
Howitzer
A howitzer is a cannon, in use since the 16th century, with a particularly steep angle of fire. Howitzers were developed during the Great War for demolishing the fortresses of the trench system.
Human Torpedo
The Human Torpedo was a two manned craft used by allied forces to attack shipping during the Second World War. It was first used by the Royal Navy in January 1943. It resembled a torpedo, the front being fitted with an explosive charge armed with a time fuse. This front charge would be fixed to the target vessel, and the crew would then steer the now headless craft away.
Huntingdonshire Regiment
see "31st Foot"
Hussar
The Hussars were the Hungarian cavalry raised in 1448 by Matthias I. Every twenty houses was obliged to furnish a man, and the word Hussar derives from huszar - husz being Hungarian for twenty. The term Hussar developed to refer to any light cavalry similarly dressed and armed of other European armies.
IFV
IFV is an abbreviation for infantry fighting vehicle.
Imperial Guard
The Imperial Guard was an army force created by Napoleon from the guard of the convention, the directory, and the consulate when he became emperor in 1804. It consisted at first of 9775 men, but was afterwards enlarged. It was subdivided in 1809 into the old and the young guard. It was dissolved by Louis XVIII in 1815, revived by Napoleon III in 1854 and surrendered with Metz to the Germans in 1870 after which it was abolished by the government.
Independant
The Independant was an abortive tank British tank designed between the Great War and the Second World War. It had five turrets and a single three-pounder (47 mm) gun, and was crewed by eight men. The Independant was a tank design along the lines of the land battleship concept.
Iran-Iraq War
The Iran-Iraq War between Iran and Iraq lasted from 1980 to 1988, and was claimed by Iran to have begun with the Iraqi offensive on the 21st of September 1980, and by Iraq with the Iranian shelling of border posts on the 4th of September 1980. It was occasioned by a boundary dispute over the Shatt-al-Arab waterway, it fundamentally arose because of Saddam Hussein's fear of a weakening of his absolute power base in Iraq by Iran's encouragement of the Shi'ite majority in Iraq to rise against the Sunni government.
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards are a British infantry regiment. They were formed in 1900 by Command of Queen Victoria, to commemorate the bravery of the Irish troops who fought in South Africa, the Irish Guards played a very full part in both the Great War and the Second World War and in many parts of the world since 1945.
Iron Cross
The Iron Cross was a medal awarded for valour in the German armed forces. It was instituted in Prussia in 1813 and consists of a Maltese cross of iron, edged with silver.
Ironclad
An ironclad is a wooden warship covered with armour plate. The first to be constructed was the French Gloire in 1858, but the first to be launched was the British HMS Warrior in 1859. The first battle between ironclads took place during the American Civil War, when the Union Monitor fought the Confederate Virginia on the 9th of March 1862. The design was replaced by battleships of all-metal construction in the 1890s.
IS-1
The IS-1 was a Russian 'heavy' tank of the Second World War. It weighed 44 tonnes, had a crew of four and a 513 bhp diesel engine giving a speed of 37 kmph and a range of 150 km. Armour thickness reached 90 mm on the hull sides, 30 mm on the turret sides, 120 mm on the hull front and 100 mm on the turret front. It was armed with an 85 mm main gun.
IS-2
The IS-2 was a Russian 'heavy' tank of the Second World War. It weighed 45 tonnes, had a crew of four and a 513 bhp diesel engine giving a speed of 37 kmph and a range of 150 km. Armour thickness reached 90 mm on the hull sides, 30 mm on the turret sides, 120 mm on the hull front and 100 mm on the turret front. It was armed with a 122 mm main gun.
IS-3
The IS-3 was a Russian 'heavy' tank of the Second World War. It weighed 46.25 tonnes, had a crew of four and a 513 bhp diesel engine giving a speed of 37 kmph and a range of 150 km. Armour thickness reached 90 mm on the hull sides, 30 mm on the turret sides, 132 mm on the hull front and 100 mm on the turret front. It was armed with a 122 mm main gun.
ITV
ITV is an abbreviation for Improved TOW Vehicle.
Jagdpanther
The Jagdpanther was a German tank destroyer of the Second World War based upon a Panther tank chassis with a fixed superstructure mounting an 88 mm gun. It was protected by 80 mm of well-sloped armour, weighed 45 tons, and had a top speed of 72 kph. The Jagdpanther was introduced in 1944 and about 385 were made.
Jagdpanzer IV
The Jagdpanzer IV was a German tank destroyer of the Second World War based on the chassis of the Panzer 4 tank, it had a long 75 mm gun in a fixed superstructure of 80 mm, weighed 24 tons, and had a top speed of 39 kph. Low and easily concealed, it was a formidable weapon and some 1,300 were made from 1943 to the end of the war.
Jagdtiger
The Jagdtiger was a German tank destroyer of the Second World War. It was based on the Tiger tank chassis and carried a 128 mm gun in a fixed superstructure with 250 mm thick frontal armour. It weighed 70 tons and had a top speed of 37 kph, but its complicated electromechanical drive frequently broke down.
Janissaries
The Janissaries were a body of Turkish infantry formed about 1330 as the Sultan's bodyguard. They were originally composed chiefly of Christian captives, who were compelled to profess Islam. They were disbanded in 1826 after a number of revolts against the sultans.
Jervis Bay
The Jervis Bay was an armed British merchant ship of the Second World War II which was sunk by the German battleship Admiral Scheer while protecting a convoy of merchant ships in the North Atlantic in November 1940. The Jervis Bay's Captain, Fegen ordered the convoy to scatter and then, hopelessly outgunned, began firing at the battleship so as to draw it away from the convoy. The end was inevitable, and the Jervis Bay went down fighting, but 32 of the convoy ships managed to escape and Fegen was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.
Jihad
Jihad is a religious war conducted against non-believers by Muslims.
Jollies
see "Marines"
JU 87B-1
The JU 87B-1 was a German fighter-bomber used during the Second World War. It was manufactured by Junkers. It was armed with two 7.9 mm MG 17 machine guns in the wings, one 7.9 mm MG 15 machine gun in the rear cockpit and it could carry a 1100lb bomb under the fuselage, or 4 110lb bombs on the wings. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 217mph. It had a range of 342 miles.
Ju-Jitsu
Ju-Jitsu (Ju-Jutsu) is the Japanese method of self-defence which Dr. Kano studied and developed into the sport of judo.
Ju-Jutsu
see "Ju-Jitsu"
Ka-bar
The Ka-bar was the fighting knife issued to USA Marine Corps soldiers from 1942. It had a 6.25 inch clip-point, black finished, carbon steel blade and a stacked leather handle.
Kaga
The Kaga was a Japanese aircraft carrier. Originally designed as a battleship, it was converted during building and completed as a carrier in 1928, and then modernized in 1935. She had a displacement of 38,100 tons,a speed of 28.5 knots, carried 90 aircraft and was armed with ten 8 in and sixteen 5 in guns.
The Kaga carried part of the strike force which attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941 and subsequently served in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. At the Battle of Midway in May 1942 she was hit by four American bombs and sank.
Kaiser Wilhelm Geschutz long-range gun
see "Paris Gun"
Kamikaze
Kamikaze were pilots of the Japanese air force in the Second World War who deliberately crash-dived their planes, loaded with bombs, usually on to ships of the American Navy.
A special force of suicide pilots was established 1944 to crash-dive planes, loaded with bombs, onto American and British ships.
Karate
Karate (empty hand) is a form of Japanese unarmed combat which has developed over thousands of years with aspects coming from India, Okinawa, China and Japan. It was originally a dual form of meditation and self-defence, it has more recently been perverted into a sport which doesn't do justice to the deep spiritual origins of karate.
Karlsruhe
The Karlsruhe was a German Class 2 light cruiser. She was completed in 1912 and had a displacement of 4,820 tons and a speed of 28 knots. She was armed with twelve 4.1 inch guns and two torpedo tubes. In October 1914 she appeared in the Atlantic as a commerce raider and sunk thirteen British ships. Early in November she destroyed two more before herself sinking as a result of an explosion.
Kashin
The Kashin class ship is a Soviet anti-aircraft warship. It was commissioned in 1962, and was the first class of warship to be equipped with gas turbines. It has a top speed of 37 knots. Its armament includes 10 torpedoes, 22 SA-N-3 missiles and 4 SS-N-2c missiles.
Kata
A kata is a series of formal combat techniques used in karate.
Katana
A katana was a Japanese sword used by Samurai.
Katyusha
The Katyusha (Stalin's Organ) was a Russian free-flight rocket of the Second World War. It was fired from racks mounted in a heavy truck and had a range of about 5 km. Each truck had 48 launcher racks and a battalion could lay down an immense rapid-fire barrage. The rocket was 1.8 m long, 130 mm in diameter and weighed 42 kg complete with a 22 kg explosive warhead.
Kent Regiment
The Kent Regiment was a British infantry regiment formed in 1782 from the old 50th Regiment of Foot. The 97th Regiment of Foot later joined as the 2nd Battalion.
KGP-141
The KGP-141 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGP-160
The KGP-160 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGP-161
The KGP-161 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 6 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-330
The KGPF-330 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 3 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-331
The KGPF-331 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 3 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-340
The KGPF-340 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-341
The KGPF-341 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-840
The KGPF-840 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .38 inch special. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
KGPF-841
The KGPF-841 is a Ruger revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .38 inch special. It has a 6-round cylinder and fixed rear sight. The front sight can be interchanged.
King Tiger
see "Panzer 6B"
Kings Own Scottish Borderers
The Kings Own Scottish Borderers are a British army regiment. They were raised in 1689 under the name of the 25th Foot for the defence of Edinburgh by the 3rd Earl of Leven. In 1805 the 25th Foot was renamed the Kings Own Scottish Borderers.
Kings Regiment
The King's Regiment is a British infantry regiment formed in 1685. It comprises the 1st or Regular Battalion, stationed with its families in Cyprus until 1998, and the 5th/8th or Territorial Army Battalion which has bases in Liverpool, Warrington and Manchester. The Colonel in Chief is Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and the Colonel of the Regiment is Brigadier Jeremy Gaskell OBE. Officers join the regiment from all over the United Kingdom but the regiment prides itself on its unique position as the Army's only City Regiment, recruiting its soldiers - the Kingsmen - from Liverpool and Manchester. The Regiment expanded in 1756 to two battalions. In 1758, one formed the 8th or King's Regiment of Foot and the other became the 63rd which was later still to become the Manchester Regiment. In 1958, these two Regiments rejoined as the King's Regiment. The Regiment has battle honours from service all over the world, from Marlborough's battles in the 18th century to Korea in 1953. In the Great War the Regiment raised the second largest number of battalions of any regiment in the Army - 87. In the Second World War, the Regiment served world-wide. Battalions fought in France in 1940, took part in the heroic defence of Malta, landed in the first few minutes of the D-Day operation and fought in the jungles of Burma. A battalion of the Regiment fought with great distinction in the first Chindit expedition and another battalion fought with equal bravery, providing the glider-borne spearhead of the second Chindit expedition. Battalions fought in Italy and across Northwest Europe until the end of the war. In the last 50 years, regular battalions, often reinforced from territorial battalions, have served on operations in Malaya, Kenya, Kuwait, Northern Ireland, Hong Kong and Belize. Garrisons have been provided for Guyana, the Falklands and of course for extended periods all over Germany. Men from Liverpool and Manchester have been decorated for gallantry in all theatres and most
ecently in Northern Ireland. The Regiment's volunteer battalion tradition stems both from its 5th King's (Liverpool) Battalion (which was originally the third to be raised in the country and the first in the North West of England) and the 8th Battalion The Manchester Regiment. This tradition is maintained in the 5th/8th Battalion which includes a Scottish Company, tracing its origins to the Liverpool Scottish Battalion whose doctor gained one of only three bars ever awarded to the Victoria Cross. In total, over 23 Victoria Crosses and one George Cross have been awarded to men of the Regiment, including one of the very few VCs to have been awarded between the Great War and the Second World War. The 1st Battalion comprises 35 officers recruited from all over the country and nearly 600 men recruited almost exclusively from Liverpool and Manchester. In addition there are many thousands of former serving officers and soldiers settled in the North West of England who retain the closest links with the Regiment through the two Regimental offices in Liverpool and Manchester. The Regiment has a fine sporting record, having won the unique Army double of boxing and football championships in its tercentenary year of 1985. Many of the Regiment's boxers have fought for their country and the Battalion football team had the privilege of training with England's winning 1966 World Cup Squad. Liverpool, Manchester and the Borough of Tameside have honoured the Regiment with the granting of the Freedom of the Cities and the Borough. This very close link is exemplified by the warmth and goodwill extended to the Regiment by civic and commercial institutions in both cities and the borough. The Regiment is immensely proud of its unique position as the Army's only City Regiment.
Kings Royal Rifle Corps
The Kings Royal Rifle Corps was a British infantry regiment raised in North America in 1755 under the name of the 60th Royal Americans, a title which ceased to be used in 1824 and in 1830 the title Kings Royal Rifle Corps was adopted. They were nicknamed the 'Greenjackets' and Sweeps' because of their dark-green full-dress uniform. The Kings Royal Rifle Corps is notable as the most prolific in battle honours of any British regiment.
Koln
The Koln was a German cruiser completed at Kiel in 1911. She had a displacement of 4,281 tons and a speed of 27.5 knots. She was armed with twelve 4 inch guns and two torpedo tubes. She was sunk at the Battle of Heligoland Bight.
Konigin Luise
The Konigin Luise was a German H type mine-layer. She had a displacement of 2,163 tons and a speed of 20 knots. She was sunk by HMS Amphion near the mouth of the Thames on August the 5th 1914. Prior to the Great War she had been a Hamburg to America liner.
Konigsberg
The Konigsberg was a German light cruiser. She was completed in 1907 and had a displacement of 3,350 knots and a speed of 24 knots. She was armed with ten 4.1 inch guns. At the outbreak of the Great War she was in the Indian Ocean and was sighted by HMS Pegasus on July 31st 1914 steaming out of Dar-es-Salaam. She was eventually destroyed on July the 11th 1915 by HMS Mersey and HMS Severn accompanied by aircraft, after being trapped in the Rufiji River opposite Mafia Island by HMS Chatham.
Kp88x
The Kp88x is a Ruger semi-automatic pistol. It is available in 9 mm and .30 inch calibres and takes a 15-round magazine.
Kp89
The Kp89 is a Ruger semi-automatic 9 mm calibre pistol. It takes a 15-round magazine.
KPVT
The KPVT is a 14.5 mm super-heavy machine gun developed after the Second World War by the Russians to fire high-velocity anti-tank rounds. It has a muzzle velocity of 900m/s.
Krag-jorgensen m1896
The krag-jorgensen m1896 was the US army's first bolt action rifle, seeing action in 1894. It has a muzzle velocity of 610 m/s and takes a 5-round magazine. It is sighted to 1829m.
Kreimhild Line
Kreimhild Line was the German name for a fortified line of trenches and pillboxes in the Great War. Designed as a fall-back position some miles behind the Hindenburg Line. It was not completed until 1918.
KSK
KSK is an abbreviation for Ethyl-iodo-acetate, a tear gas used during the Second World War. It had a smell faintly of peardrops. It caused pain in the eyes, a copious flow of tears, spasms of the eyelids and irritation of shaved skin.
Ksp-221
The ksp-221 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25 inch barrel and a calibre of .22 inch long rimfire. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable sights.
Ksp-240
The ksp-240 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .22 inch long rimfire. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable sights.
Ksp-241
The ksp-241 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .22 inch long rimfire. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable sights.
Ksp-321x
The ksp-321x is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-3231
The ksp-3231 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 3 inch barrel and a calibre of .32 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable sights.
Ksp-3241
The ksp-3241 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 4 inch barrel and a calibre of .32 inch magnum. It has a 6-round cylinder and adjustable sights.
Ksp-331x
The ksp-331x is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 3 inch barrel and a calibre of .357 inch magnum. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-821
The ksp-821 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25 inch barrel and a calibre of .38 inch. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-921
The ksp-921 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 2.25 inch barrel and a calibre of 9 mm. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksp-931
The ksp-931 is a Ruger double-action revolver. It has a 3 inch barrel and a calibre of 9 mm. It has a 5-round cylinder and fixed sights.
Ksrh-7
The ksrh-7 is the 7.5 inch barrel super redhawk revolver.
Ksrh-9
The ksrh-9 is a super redhawk 9.5 inch barrel revolver.
KV-1
The KV-1 was a Russian Second World War tank designed by Kliment Voroshilov. It was crewed by five men and mounted the same 76.2 mm gun as the T-34 until 1943 when the 85 mm gun became available. It was heavily armoured, up to 110 mm thick and had a top speed of 35 kmph and a range of 250 km.
KV-2
The KV-2 was a Russian Second World War breakthrough tank similar to the KV-1 but equipped with a 152 mm gun and thicker armour, a six-man crew and a top speed of 26 kmph and a range of 160 km.
L119
The l119 is a British 105 mm calibre towed howitzer. It has a range of 17,200m.
L1a1
The l1a1 is a British gas operated rifle with a muzzle velocity of 854 m/s and sighted to 549m. It takes a 7.62 mm round from a 20-round box.
L2a3
The l2a3 was developed from 1942 onwards as a replacement sub-machine gun for the sten. It is a British weapon often known as the patchett after its designer. It takes a 9 mm round from a 32-round box. It has a cyclic rate of 550 rpm and a muzzle velocity of 365 m/s.
L4a1
The l4a1 is a British sniper rifle developed from the number 4 rifle. It takes a 7.62 mm round from a 10-round box. It has a muzzle velocity of 838 m/s and takes a telescopic sight.
L81A1
The L81A1 is a version of the Parker-Hale M82 with a shorter butt and shorter fore-end adopted by the British Army as a Cadet training rifle in 1983.
La Argentina
The La Argentina is an Argentinean Meko 360 Type destroyer. She was built by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg and launched on the 25th of September 1981. She has a displacement of 2900 tons and is armed with eight Aerospatiale MM 40 Exocet missiles, one OTO Melara 5in gun, eight Breda/Bofors 40 mm guns, six 324 mm ILAS 3 (2 triple) torpedo tubes and two Breda 105 mm SCLAR Chaff rocket launchers. She is powered by two Rolls-Royce Olympus TM3B gas turbines providing 51600 shp and a top speed of 30.5 knots and a range of 7200 km. She carries a crew of 26 officers and 174 men.
Lambrequin
A lambrequin is a strip of leather or metal suspended from the waist as flexible armour for the thighs. A skirt of lambrequins was a popular part of the Roman soldier's armour.
Lancashire Fusiliers
see "20th Regiment of Foot"
Lance
A lance was a long, spear-like weapon with a pointed head used by cavalry soldiers to unhorse or injure their opponents.
Lance-corporal
Lance-corporal is not actually an Army rank, but rather an appointment of a private or equivalent acting as corporal. A lance-corporal wears one stripe on his sleeve.
Lancer
A lancer was a cavalry soldier armed with a lance.
Lanchester mk1
The lanchester mk1 was a British sub-machine gun issued to the navy from 1940. It takes a 9 mm round from a 50-round box and has a cyclic rate of 600 rpm. The muzzle velocity is 365 m/s.
Landsturm
During the Great War, Landsturm were German third-line reserve troops composed of men who had completed their conscript or regular service, reserve service, and Landwehr service. They were then transferred to the Landsturm, in which they remained until the age of 45. Normally the Landsturm was only used for local defence and similar duties, but the shortage of troops in the latter part of the war led to their use in all military capacities.
Landwehr
During the Great War, Landwehr were German second-line reserve troops. All German conscripts, on completion of their mandatory service, were transferred to the 'first ban' of the Landwehr for five years, during which time they attended regular training camps. At the end of this period they passed into the 'second ban' until they were 39, when they moved into the Landsturm. In time of war the troops of the first ban were used as reserves for fighting formations and those of the second ban for line of communication duties, but due to the shortages of troops 1917 and 1918 this distinction was lost. In the Austrian army the Landwehr was a standing reserve pool into which regular troops and recruits were drafted when there was no immediate need for them at the front.
Lathi
A lathi is an Indian weapon consisting of a heavy stick, usually bamboo, bound with iron.
Law
Law is an abbreviation for light anti-tank weapon.
Le mat
The le mat revolver fired grapeshot and was manufactured mainly in France in the mid 19th century.
Le Regiment d'Hebron
Le Regiment d'Hebron was Sir John Hepburn's regiment raised in 1633 and evolved into the Royal Scots.
Lebel
The lebel is a French rifle developed in 1886. It is bolt operated and takes a 8 mm round from a 8-round tubular magazine. The muzzle velocity is 716 m/s and it is sighted to 2000m.
Lee Enfield
The Lee Enfield is a series of British rifles. The mark 3 and 4 are bolt operation and take a .303 inch round from a 10-round box. The muzzle velocity is 738 m/s and they are sighted to 1829m.
Lee straight pull
The Lee straight pull is a US straight-pull operated rifle issued to the navy in 1895. It takes a .236 inch round from a 5-round magazine. It has a muzzle velocity of 732 m/s and is sighted to 1828m.
Lee-Metford
The Lee-Metford series of rifles were adopted by the British army in 1888 to replace the martini-Henry. They were bolt-action rifles which took a 5-round box magazine.
Leicestershire Regiment
see "17th Regiment of Foot"
Leigh light
The Leigh Light was an airborne searchlight used by the RAF in the Second World War. They were carried in Wellington bombers and, guided by radar, were used to illuminate submarines prior to attacking them. Leigh lights were first used in 1942, and by the end of the war 27 U-boats had been sunk and 31 severely damaged in attacks using.
Leinster Regiment
The Leinster Regiment was a British infantry regiment formed of the merger of the 100th Regiment of Foot and the 109th Regiment of Foot
Leipzig
The Leipzig was a German Cruiser. She fought at Coronel and was sunk at the Battle of the Falkland Islands on the 8th of December 1914.
Leopard 1
The Leopard 1 is a German MBT designed in 1957 and entered service in 1965. At the time it was the fastest and most manoeuvrable tank available and was purchased by many other NATO countries. It weighed 40 tonnes, carried a crew of 4 and was armed with a 105 mm main gun. 60 rounds of APFSDS, HEAT and WP ammunition were carried and range-finding was usually laser.
Leopard 2
The Leopard 2 is a German MBT designed in the late 1970s as a sequel to the failed MBT70 project. It has a top road speed of 65 kph, carries a crew of 4, and is armed with a 120 mm smooth-bore main gun. 42 rounds of APFSDS and HEAT ammunition are carried and the Leopard 2 weighs 55 tonnes.
Leopard ARVM
The Leopard ARVM (Armoured Recovery Vehicle Medium) uses the same automotive components of the Leopard AS1 including powerpack and suspension. Typical roles for the ARVM include: changing AFV components and powerpacks, recovery of disabled and damaged vehicles, towing vehicles, dozing operations and refuelling and defuelling other vehicles. 1 x 7.62 mm MG is mounted in bow on left side with elevation, depression and traverse left and right of 15 degrees. A similar weapon is mounted on roof for local and anti-aircraft defence, six smoke dischargers are mounted on side of hull for firing forwards. A crane is mounted on the front right which traverses through 270 degrees and lifts a maximum load of 20 tonne. A blade is mounted under the nose which is used for dozing or to stabilise vehicle when the crane or winch is used. The ARVM winch has 90 metres of 33 mm steel cable and with a maximum capacity of 35 tonne which can be increased to 70 tonne. A complete Leopard AS1 powerpack is carried on the rear decking of the ARVM.
Leopard AS1
The Leopard AS1 is an MBT used by the Australian army. It is powered by a 37.4 litre V-10 four stroke multifuel engine with mechanical superchargers producing 830 bhp at 2200 rpm and 2860 Nm torque at 1500 rpm. The engine is attached to a 4 speed planetary type power shift and steering transmission with hydraulic torque
converter providing four forward and two reverse speeds. The Leopard AS1 MBT is fitted with a welded turret containing a 105 mm rifled gun capable of firing Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot, High Explosive Squash Head, High Explosive Plastic, White Phosphorus Smoke, Anti-Personnel, Cannister, Discarding Sabot-Practice and Squash Head-Practice Ammunition. A coaxially mounted 7.62 mm machine gun and a 7.62 mm anti-aircraft machine gun are also mounted. Two sets of four 76 mm multi-barrel smoke grenade dischargers are mounted externally.
Les Gardes du Roi
see "Swiss Guards"
Lever-action
Lever-action is a gun mechanism activated by manual operation of a lever.
Lewis gun
The Lewis Gun was a British light machine gun. Tt was gas-operated, air-cooled, and fed from a rotating drum of 47 or 97 rounds. The gun was used by the British, Belgian, and Italian armies in great numbers, both as a ground weapon and as an aircraft gun. Though generally replaced by more modern designs in the 1930s, the Lewis was still in use during the Second World War. The Lewis gun was initially designed by Samuel MacLean and was then developed and perfected by Colonel I N Lewis, of the American Army. Unable to interest the American Army in the weapon, Lewis took the gun to Belgium and set up a manufacturing company there in 1913. In 1914 most of the staff fled to Britain where they were able to continue manufacture in the Birmingham Small Arms Company factory.
LGM-118A
The LGM-118A (Peacekeeper) is America's newest intercontinental ballistic missile, first deployed in 1986.
The Peacekeeper is capable of delivering 10 independently targeted warheads over 6000 miles at a speed of Mach 20.
Liberator pistol
The liberator pistol was a cheaply made pistol made in America in 1942 for supply to guerrilla forces in enemy countries.
Life Guards
The Life Guards, the senior Regiment in the British Army, were formed at the Restoration in 1660 from a group of 80 Royalists who had gone into exile with King Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester (1652). They first saw action at the Battle of Sedgemoor in 1685 (the Monmouth rebellion) and subsequently in both the Jacobite wars and during the War of Austrian Succession (1742-46). They were re-designated the 1st and 2nd Life Guards in 1788, a period from which the majority of today's state dress originates. They formed the front charging line of the Household Cavalry Brigade at the battle of Waterloo (1815), staging the famous charge against the French Cuirassiers that saved the British centre from being overrun. During the 19th century, the Life Guards served in Egypt, as part of the Household Cavalry Regiment, taking part in the moonlight charge at Kassassin, and also in the Sudan and South Africa. During World War I, the Regiment saw action at Mons, Le Cateau, Ypres, Loos, and most notably at Zandvoorde where two complete squadrons were lost. During World War II, the Life Guards contributed men to both Household Cavalry Regiments, the second of which was described by General Sir Brian Horrocks as the 'finest armoured car regiment he had ever seen'. They landed at Normandy in July 1944 and spearheaded the Guards Armoured Brigade advance through France to liberate Brussels and became the only forces to make contact with the Polish Free Forces during the advance to the bridge at Arnhem.
Light Infantry
The Light Infantry is a British infantry regiment formed as a large regiment in 1968 from a merger of: The Somerset and Cornwall Light Infantry, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, The King's Shropshire Light Infantry and The Durham Light Infantry. Although there had been 'light troops' in the British Army in the 1740s, such as the Highlanders at Fontenoy (1745), it was the colonial war between France and England in North America which established the concept of 'Light Infantry' in the British Army. In the North American Wars of the 1750s, the heavy equipment, conspicuous red and white uniforms and close formation fighting of the British Army proved to be wholly unsuitable when operating in close country against Indians and French colonists, who had highly developed fieldcraft and marksmanship skills. Prompted by these experiences, General James Wolfe and Lord Amherst realised there was a need for a new approach in the Infantry. A small corps of 'Light' troops, recruited from the settlers, was formed in 1755. It consisted of specially trained men, carefully selected for their toughness and intelligence, able to scout and skirmish, concentrating and dispersing with great stealth and speed. Their dress, equipment and tactics were adjusted to meet this new role. So effective were these 'Light' troops that steps were taken to increase the number available. Regiments formed 'Light Companies' of soldiers specially selected for their toughness, intelligence, military skills and ability to act on their own initiative, within the framework of a broad tactical plan. The bugle horn, which subsequently became the emblem of light troops, replaced the drum as the means of communication for the often widely dispersed Light Companies. By the end of the 18th century it was not unusual for commanders to group the various Light Companies together for specific tasks. The invasion of Spain by Napoleon in 1802 was to cause a further, rapid evolution of the Light Infantry concept
der the leadership and training of the brilliant young general, Sir John Moore.
Lincolnshire Regiment
see "10th Regiment of Foot"
Liverpool Regiment
see "8th Regiment of Foot"
Locust tank
see "m22"
London Regiment
The London Regiment was a Territorial army corps created from the merger of all the London battalions in 1909.
Long Lance
The Long Lance was a Japanese naval torpedo of the Second World War. It was 610 mm in diameter with a warhead twice the size of any comparable torpedo and was powered by an enriched oxygen motor giving it a range of 40 km and a speed of 50 knots.
Long Max
Long Max was the nickname for the German 38-cm railway gun used during the Great War for the long range interdiction fire at Verdun, it was also used as a basis in the development of the larger Paris Gun.
Lothian Regiment
see "