The F-15 Fighter Jet

The following encyclopedia entry about the American built F-15 eagle was written in 1985. During this time the only record of of the F-15 in combat was when it was used by the Israeli air force during the wars in the Middle East. Also around this time was when the United States gathered information about Soviet work on what would become the MiG-29, and Su-27. This is what first sparked America's need for a stealth fighter which led to the development of the F-22.

The Typhoon Class SSBN

The largest submarine ever deployed was the Russian Typhoon class ballistic missile submarine during the late period of the Cold War. It had 'luxurious' facilities for the crew so they could remain happy and satisfied during long deterrence patrols or nuclear war. The Russians decommissioned the Typhoon class in the late 2000's and replaced it with the smaller Borie class SSBN.

Good information on the Typhoon class submarine. This diagram does a great job of showing it's armament of ballistic missiles and tactical torpedoes, however it would be nice if it showed a cross section of what the submarine looked like in side.

This is a picture of the indoor swimming pool aboard the Typhoon class submarine. It is one of the luxurious facilities available for the crew.

 

Trident Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile

The Trident ballistic missile was designed in the late 1970s for the Ohio class submarine. The newest version of the missile was not deployed aboard U.S submarines until after the Cold War. Never the less it's large range, accuracy and payload finally make it possible for American submarines to have counter-force capability.
The following illustration is of the first Trident missile deployed in the mid 1980s. This great illustration shows it's size, but fails to depict a cross section of it's large payload which would have been great for this particular book.

German Jet Fighters of WW2

The race for the best Jet Fighter during WW2 was mostly a race between Britain and Germany. Although the RAF had the advanced Gloster Meteor as their Jet Fighter, the Germans were much more advanced and established. The issue for Germany came when Hitler demanded a jet fighter-bomber to attack allied forces in France, while his generals wanted a pure fighter plane to intercept allied air raids on German factories. Because they compromised, Germany ended up with a mediocre aircraft which wasn't good at intercepting or ground attack. Other German plans for advanced Jet Fighters planned but never came to full fruit because allied air attacks crippled German Industry and Research capabilities. After the War American and Soviet scientists raced to control German research and plans. The race to build the perfect jet fighter would continue in the Cold War.    

The Concorde Supersonic

The Concorde is one of the greatest passenger jets of all time. It's ability to break the sound barrier and make a transatlantic flight in 3 hours is an amazing technical feature lacked by many newer aircraft. It's truly a shame companies have abandoned the concept of supersonic passenger jets because of the high fuel costs. Even so the Concorde lives on a an aviation icon.

Intro to Gun Technology

A person has to learn about guns correctly before he can have a favorite intelligently discuss the subject. Modern video games depict a wide variety of firearms and teach the "advanced basics". For a person to better understand guns after learning the "advanced basics" he has to get the historical context. There are many parts which a person can begin with, but it is best to first learn about matchlock guns of post-medieval Europe and work up to modern weapons. The Following diagram from the book How Weapons Work by Christopher Chant depicts the technological developments in firing mechanisms starting with the matchlock and working up to the percussion cap mechanism popular during the American Civil War. Note that the last weapon featured at the bottom of the page is of a wheel-lock mechanism which was invented centuries before the percussion cap mechanism.

  

Nuclear War in 1980s Europe

A global war between the Soviet Union and United States was a hot topic in foreign affairs during the 1980s. Both sides had large stockpiles of deadly nuclear weapons and other technologically advanced armaments. This diagram is of Soviet and NATO forces deployed in Europe in the early 1980s which would have been the center of such a conflict. It is one of many interesting maps and illustrations from the book Nuclear War in the 1980s? By Christopher Chant and Ian Hogg.  

Cold War Bombers

The United States nuclear deterrence strategy during the Cold War was called a Triad because it made use of 3 military components. These were land-based ballistic missiles, strategic missile submarines, and strategic long range bombers. During the latter Cold War (1975-1991) the United States had deployed 2 long range bombers to use against the Soviet Union, these were the B-1 Lancer, and the B-52 Stratofortress. During this time the United States was also developing a stealth bomber which became known in 1987 and was known as the B-2 Spirit. 

The mainstay of the Soviet Strategic bomber force was the Tu-95 Bear, and the Blackfire. Later during the early 1980s the Soviet Union developed a new bomber called the Blackjack, which was basically a Soviet version of the B-1. Although the Soviet Union was though to be capable of developing a stealth bomber, when the Cold War ended in 1991 it was found the the Soviet Union wasn't even close to coming up with the technology.

This Interesting, and well put together diagram from the 1985 book "Advanced Technology Warfare" does a great job of comparing the types of bombers used by the Soviet Union, and United States during the 1980s part of the Cold War. However this book was written before the B-2 stealth bomber was uncovered and is therefore not included. The illustrations are wonderful although it would be nice if it had more technical specifications listed.

This is one of my favorite aviation diagrams on the internet. It goes above and beyond in showing off the technical specifications of the Soviet Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber. Note that because of this diagrams complexity one can learn how Russian bombers have a smaller library of ordnance to equip their bombers with.

This Diagram includes the F-111 as a Long-Range Strategic bomber which many would disagree with because the F-111 was designed very specifically for a tactical role. This diagram is great because it shows the max speed of these aircraft which can be very useful for deciding how to intercept them.  

 

MiG-25 Foxbat

The MiG-25 is actually a very good aircraft, capable of reaching extremely high speeds, and carrying very decent air to air  weapons. The reason why this aircraft is so seemingly ineffective is due to the poor combat training of the pilots who have flown the aircraft in conflicts around the world. Even pilots in the former Soviet Union were to poorly trained to take full advantage of this aircraft which was technologically advanced for its time.

MiG-25 Foxbat Illustration

Midgetman Portable ICBM

The Soviet development of the SS-25 SICBM (small/portable ICBM) meant that ICBMs no longer required fixed silos to be launched from. Instead they could be mounted on truck pulled trailers and launched from anywhere. The United States attempted to match this program with the never finished Midgetman missile which would have been an American version of the SS-25. The development for the missile began in 1986, and went on until it was cut in 1992, because the fall of the Soviet Union meant that the missile would no longer be needed. The United States never developed a portable ICBM, however it is very likely the United States has developed equally powerful weapons in secret.

A full size mock up of the Midgetman Missile.

B-2 Stealth Bomber

The B-2 is an American strategic penetration bomber capable of carrying 40,000 pounds of either nuclear or conventional ordnance. Fewer than 30 were built because the aircraft's high cost. The B-2 is a very iconic aircraft, and carried out bombing missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan, although it was designed for a nuclear war with the Soviet Union which never happened.

I love this depiction of the B-2 bomber because it displays all the weapons and guts of the aircraft which were classified during the late 1980s until the early 2000s. One unique feature of the B-2 is not only it's design and materials are made for stealth, but it has a special RADAR absorbing paint. The only set back of this graphic is it doesn't discuss it's technical specifications which are equally important. The B-2's slow speed and lack of air to air weapons would make it an easy kill in a dogfight.  

Classic Chinese Nuclear Submarines

The first Chinese nuclear submarines were two submarines of the Han Class, the designs of which were copies of Russian SSNs. During the Cold War the Han class was China's main attack submarine for defending her shores. After China became a nuclear power in the 1970s China developed the Xia Class SSBN to launch ballistic missile attacks. Xia is interesting because the entire weapon system including its SLBMs (Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles) are all indigenous.

 An entry on the Han Class from the World Encyclopedia of Submarines by John Parker. 

An entry on the Xia Class from the World Encyclopedia of Submarines by John Parker. Note that the book discusses plans for new Chinese submarines and how those might affect American interests.  

Panzer IV

The Panzer IV was one of Germany's most widely used tanks during the Second World War. It mainly served German forces in Russia, and North Africa. After WWII it is said that the Syrian military attempted to use Panzer IVs against Israel during the Six Days War.

Sections on the Panzer IV From the 20th Century Encyclopedia of Weapons and Warfare

F-117 Stealth Fighter

The F-117 was a stealth fighter which was invented in the early 1980s. Although it is a not a true fighter aircraft because it only carriers four 2000 pound laser guided bombs, instead of missiles and cannons. The F-117's first actual conflict was the 1991 Persian Gulf War in which the F-117 played a key role in the air war.

A 1991 Article About the F-117

Resolution Class

The Resolution Class was a British missile submarine from the Cold war. Although it has been replaced by the newer Vanguard Class, the Resolution Class was a deadly platform for it's time, armed with 16 A-3 Polaris ballistic missiles.

Information on the Resolution Class From the Book Modern Naval Combat

Ballistic Missile Technology

The Germans invented the ballistic missile during World War II to "incinerate London." After the War ballistic missiles became a big deal in the Cold War arms race. More powerful ballistic missiles were invented with longer range. Eventually ballistic missiles were equipped with multiple warheads allowing one missile to destroy several targets. "Ballistic missiles have made global war, impossible to win."

Information About Cold War Ballistic Missiles From the Book Advanced Technology Warfare

B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Superfortress was invented to be able to attack targets in Europe from North American Bases. However it was deployed in the Pacific Theater to bomb Japanese cities, such as the fire bombing of Tokyo and nuclear raids.

Entry on the B-29 From Weapons of World War II by Alexander Ludeke

Chieftain Main Battle Tank

The Chieftain is a British main battle tank which came out in the late 1960s, and was the first Western tank to be equipped with Chobam armor and a 120mm main gun. The development of the Chieftain started in the late 1950s when a replacement was needed for the Centurion tank. "The Chieftain was the most advanced tank in the Western bloc until the introduction of the Leopard 2 by the West Germans." (Philip Trewhitt, 1999)

The Entry on the Chieftain From Armoured Fighting Vehicles by Philip Trewhitt

The Chieftain served in the British army until the late 1980s when it was replaced by the Challenger.

The Entry on the Chieftain from the Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare

War Elephants of the Hindu Kings

The first time Western military forces crossed with war elephants was during the time of Alexander the Great at the battle of Hydaspes in which their advantages and disadvantages were very apparent. Soldiers who had never experienced war elephants were terrified by them, but more disciplined and versatile forces could drive them into panic making them dangerous to both sides. 

War Elephants were very important to Indian military systems in the centuries before Alexander's invasion, where both tactics for using them, and methods of countering were developed. The Indian's had developed bamboo long bows which very extremely powerful, and a small barrage of them could easily wipe out several war elephants. At the same time elephants are smarter than horses of conventional cavalry. So elephants could actually be trained in combat similar to soldiers.

After Alexander the Great the Gupta Empire exchanged war elephants with Alexander's Successors for land in modern day Pakistan. These elephants and their offspring became used all over the Mediterranean  in many different military systems.

Exocet Missile

The Exocet missile is a French anti-ship missile developed in the late 1970s to give increased firepower to small warships and aircraft. The Exocet missile was used to by the Argentine Navy for attacking British ships during the Falklands war of the mid 1980s. During the Persian Gulf War of 1991, and Operation Iraqi Freedom the Exocet missile was used by Iraq in attempted to stop American naval forces. 

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare Entry on the Exocet Missile