← Military & Defence

Historical Military Equipment

Photographs of damaged or abandoned military equipment, reflecting wartime conditions and the aftermath of battles across different eras.

Cpl C A Russell, of the 2 Stores Dept, RAAF, Regents Park, prepares on of the Caterpiller diesel grader for shipment to Malaya. July 25, 1955. (Photo by Frank Albert Charles Burke/Fairfax Media).

Japanese Midget Submarine Blasted By Allied Bomb -- This Japanese midget submarine, its sides torn open by explosion of an Allied aerial bomb, is pictured in the submarine base at Kiska, in the North Pacific Aleutian Islands. Japanese forces abandoned their bases on Kiska and fled before Allied troops landed on the island August 15, 1943. Ruins of Japanese installations found by the Allied ground forces attested to the accuracy of Allied bombing attacks that preceded the enemy retreat. January 31, 1944.(Photo by U.S. Office Of War Information Picture).

Cpl C A Russell, of the 2 Stores Dept, RAAF, Regents Park, prepares on of the Caterpiller diesel grader for shipment to Malaya. July 25, 1955. (Photo by Frank Albert Charles Burke/Fairfax Media).

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Camping life of IV-8 Regiment Infanterie in Klender (last Sawit, East Jakarta). Soldiers with bren-machine guns in a machine gun station. May 1946. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

The Royal Navy during the Second World War The guntrainer at the sights of his 4 inch Quick Fire (QF) Mark V gun on High Angle (HA) Mark III mounting aboard HMS HAZARD.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Report Semarang and surroundings. A fabric dog as a mascot in a army. March 1947. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies, Semarang

Anefo photo collection. Netherlands Brigade maneuvers. Loading a 3 inch MORTER. Training for the Task WHCIH Eventually Will Befall Them. Exercises Princess Irene Brigade. Loading a 3 inch mortar. Practicing for a task that they may have to do. July 1943. Great Britain

DN-SN-87-11731. Base: Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay Country: Cuba (CUB)

Anefo photo collection. Royal Dutch Brigade Princess Irene training. Gunner. 1944. Britain

French Mortar. Tylory cargo load volunteer the one by motor exam. July 12, 1950.

Sea Gunnery: Fireman Jim Giffard (New York) and Seamen B. Echols (Lexington, Kentucky), man a 20- millimetre gun on a US transport as it approaches Saidor, New Guinea. January 08, 1943. (Photo by Dept. of Information Photograph).

Front view of a medium combat tank RAM II.

12/31/1937. Republican Soldiers Exercising in the Use of Automatic Weapons.

Royal Air Force Coastal Command, 1939-1945. Armourers fitting 25-lb armour-piercing heads to 3-inch rocket projectiles and loading them onto the wing rails of a Bristol Beaufighter TF Mark X of No. 144 Squadron RAF at Dallachy, Banffshire.

Silhouetted against the early morning sun, a Liberator is seen taking off the runway, with a ground crew man waving in the foreground.

Vice Admiral James R. Hogg, commander, 7th Fleet, looks through the sights of a jeep-mounted tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile launcher during his visits to the camp. Base: Camps Hansen And Courtney State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)

12/31/1938. One of the Machine Guns Taken from the National Troops in the hand-to-hand fight.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Garut Tasikmalaja. Mountain potrouille and tea firm Soemadra. Tasikmalaja. The "field" is also in the site to speak a word with this if necessary. King. Schouten, Rotterdammer, from 3-8 RVA only focuses on brushing the final piece. November 23, 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

US servicemen examine a Cuban (Czechoslovakian-made) M-53 quad 12.7 mm anti-aircraft gun seized during the multiservice, multinational Operation URGENT FURY. Subject Operation/Series: URGENT FURY Country: Grenada (GRD)

U.S. torpedo station, Newport, Rhode Island ca. between 1910 and 1926.

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- the RAF in France, 1940 Lewis gun at the ready, an airman watches for enemy aircraft from the cab of one of No 615 Squadron's lorries, 17 May 1940.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Madioen: train protection. Protection of a train at Madioen, by Jager Bal from IJmuiden and Karel Horsman from Leiden. February 10, 1949. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies

12/31/1936. Reveille on the front of Teruel Photo: Tello.

Altair (depicted - name).Altair (depicted - name)

The Second Indochina War, known in America as the Vietnam War, was a Cold War era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the U.S. and other anti-communist nations. The U.S. government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam and part of their wider strategy of containment. The North Vietnamese government viewed the war as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S., and later against South Vietnam, which it regarded as a U.S. puppet state. U.S. military advisors arrived beginning in 1950. U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s, with U.S. troop levels tripling in 1961 and tripling again in 1962. U.S. combat units were deployed beginning in 1965. Operations spanned

This Vickers gun is firing more than 200 rounds a minute. Smokeless cartridges make it difficult to tell the gun is in action from the picture, but the belt suggests action. April 8, 1940.

Species.The shooting.At the middle of the Stockholm archipelago.Sweden, Blekinge, Blekinge, Karlskrona, Karlskrona, External War Gogs (depicted, City)

''Combat Aerien; Guynemer; Le jeune heros sur son Nieuport de Chasse', 1917. From "L'Album de la Guerre 1914-1919, Volume 2" L'Illustration, Paris, 1924.

CPL Randy Carr, from Marine Reserve Unit, 1ST Battalion, 24th Marines, fires the M-47 Dragon medium anti-tank/assault weapon. Base: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Robot Bomb Engine Undergoes Test -- A completed Robot bomb jet propulsion Engine Undergoes a test at a ford Motor Company Plant. Note the streak of Flame Issuing form the "Flying chimney." The power unit is a copy of the one used by Germans on the V-1 Robot Bomb, According to caption accompanying this picture supplied by the ford Motor Company. December 18, 1944. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Firing a Vickers Gun from a foxhole during intensive training at Haramura Japan. WOII D. Griffiths of 14 cooper Street Cootamundra NSW and Pte D.R. Woods of Dairy Road Ingleburn NSW.The British Commonwealth Occupation Force in Japan is being raised to war time strength and 3 Bn Royal Australian Regiment has been training intensively for the type of terrain which will have to be covered in Korea. September 13, 1950. (Photo by Public Relations Section, HQ BCOF).

The Raiders Prepare -- Airmen of the Spanish government forces loading up a bomber with her cargo of death-dealing missiles, preparatory to a raid on the Franco Lines on the Ebro front, south of Barcelona. June 27, 1938. (Photo by Keystone).

British Flying Corps gunner fires from an aircraft on a German position below

Air Ministry Second World War Official Collection

DN-SN-89-03336. Base: Naval Air Station, Jacksonville State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Flying Bomb Site (French Military) - French Military. June 18, 1945. (Photo by The Associated Press Photo Ltd).

U. S. Army in France. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel

Members of Co. C, 229th Attack Helicopter Bn., 101st Abn. Div., load 20mm cannon rounds into the ammunition box of an AH-1S Cobra helicopter. The men are participating in training Exercise Attack Eagle. Subject Operation/Series: ATTACK EAGLE Base: Fort Campbell State: Kentucky (KY) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Instruction of the federal army in Tjimahi. Drill exercise. April 1949. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies, Tjimahi

Training with Mortier, 1947.

09/19/1937. A republican army sergeant who is missing three fingers on his right hand.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Tegal. A genist runs with a cable reel, behind him armored cars that await until they can cross a bridge. July 1947. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies, Tegal

Coast Guard... On Land, On The Sea, In Air. This image depicts a U.S. Coast Guard aerial gunner draws a bead.

09/30/1936. Exhibition of the Front's loudspeaker, on Alcalá Street, number 62, in Madrid, where War Notes, Photographs and Trophies Taken from the National side are displayed.

John Travers Cornwell, Boy Seaman First Class on H.M.S Chester. H.M.S Chester was on the front lines at the Battle of Jutland and came under fire from four Kaiserliche Marine cruisers. John was the sole survivor of all the gun turret positions and remained at his position, though severely wounded, until the battle ended. He died in hospital of his wounds and was awarded a Victoria Cross after his death in honour of his bravery and determination.

Lacrosse Surface-to-Surface Guided Missile Launcher, Aberdeen, Maryland, USA

Military transport on the line between Nässjö - Falköping.

Left front of the anti-tank weapon tow (threaded rocket) on ground diffuit in a concealed arrangement during an exercise in the field. The soldier on the right of the photo is armed with a UZI gun-machine gun.

DF-SN-86-03570. Subject Operation/Series: BRAVE SHIELD XX Base: Fort Lewis State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

DF-SN-85-03506. Base: Moody Air Force Base State: Georgia (GA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Description: Fort Charlotte, Nassau. Location: Nassau, Bahamas Date: 1954-1955 caribbean, bahamas, caribbeanthroughalens

Military exercise, cartilage in Åstorp.

Coast Guard Gun Crew Manning an Anti-aircraft Battery Pointed Skyward Against Raids by Japanese Bombers. Alert Against Jap Sky Raiders. A Coast Guard gun crew stands at its battle station, manning an anti-aircraft battery pointed skyward against raids by Jap bombers. It is an all-Chicago gun crew, serving aboard a Coast Guard-manned LST somewhere in the far Pacific. Left to right: Coast Guardsmen Dan Stileanpoules, Chief Commissary Steward, of 11246 St. Lawrence Avenue; David J. Dubinsky, Motor Machinist's Mate, of 1254 S. Avers Avenue; Albin A. Sporny, Gunner's Mate, of 8600 Escanaba Avenue; and William O. Davis, of 828 West 31st Street; all of Chicago.

Flyer repellent stand for Fiat Reveelli machine gun.

Fast fire channon of the Goalkeeper type aboard the Frigate Hr.Ms. Callenburgh.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Buitakten weapons in Praboemoelih. Praboemoelih: Sergeant. G.H. Smeets of the kn.i.l. (Gadja Merah) and 2 man of 7 r.s. are proud to look at the weapons shot by them. 26 October 1947. Indonesia, Dutch East Indies, Prabumulih, Sumatra

Photograph showing a British 6-pounder anti-tank gun, on a British army parade ground, 1944. This type of weapon was used extensively by the British Army, including use by the British First Airborne Division in Arnhem, during Operation 'Market Garden', September 1944. Date: 1944

Mobile Anti-Aircraft Gun about to go ***** shore at Werribee last night. It was the first time night ***** shells has been practised in Australia. The target was towed by an aeroplane. Guns are Australian-made. March 21, 1941.

Exercise Artillery, 1947.

Royal Air Force Bomber Command, 1942-1945. The pilot of an Avro Lancaster of No. 103 Squadron RAF based at Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire, wearing his oxygen mask while flying the aircraft at high altitude.

Grim, well drained, these U.S. Paratroopers hook their static lines to the tables in this C-47 troop carrier as it nears the dropping zone in Southern France. August 17, 1944. (Photo by U.S. Official Photograph).

... No resounding crash from the 20-pounder, no waste of a £25 shell, just a slight "crack" as a .22 bullet, worth a farthing, left the tiny barrel left) mounted alongside the big gun. It's a British invention-the range is scaled down so that a foot equals 100 yards ... June 03, 1955.

The Queen ***** in a ***** Scottish Machinegun ***** while the King chats to ***** during the.***** seen Canadians in Training - ***** Queen yesterday June 08, visited area encampment inspecting of the Canadian active service. July 22, 1940.

A. A. Gunnery For New Recruits -- Universal trainees, called up 12 days ago, learning anti-air-craft gunnery on 3-in. mobile guns near Melbourne today. October 22, 1940.

A Visit To An Anti-aircraft Ship, England, 1940 Royal Marines hold spare ammunition for the 4 inch twin mounted anti-aircraft gun as they stand by on this anti-aircraft ship, somewhere in England, 1940.

Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Miscellaneous and sworn officers of the 2nd Infantry Brigade in Tjikempek. Tjikempek. Maintenance of a track vehicle. October 1947. Cikempek, Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies

Private Des Ellis, of Kalgoorlie, examines a Russian-made Guryanov machine-gun which was captured by Australian A Company on a patrol. This gun is the first of its type to be captured by the Australians. June 06, 1951.

The Royal Navy during the Second World War Two naval fire fighters wearing the new equipment with the hose ready for action at Rosyth.

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

DN-SN-88-04053. Base: Persian Gulf

A driver of the women's help corps (VHK) checks its vehicle.

Anefo photo collection. ZKH Prince Bernhard opens expansion of the fortress museum in Naarden Prince Bernhard sticks drone in a gun. May 7, 1969. Naarden

NROTC students, Judy Smith and Michael Suski take a close look at the treads on an M-60A1 main battle tank. The students are visiting at range 408. Base: Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton State: California (CA) Country: United States Of America (USA)

Royal Air Force 1939-1945- Coastal Command Two airmen demonstrate the dorsal .303in Vickers 'K' guns of a Sunderland of No 210 Squadron at Pembroke Dock, December 1939.

Anefo photo collection. Royal Dutch Brigade Princess Irene training. Soldier stengun. 1944. Britain

Anefo photo collection. Front Noord-Oost Nederland: Groningen-Friesland. With the liberation of Northern Netherlands, the allied troops have given the statements at the Afsluitdijk at Zurich (Friesland). They can now oversee the German statements. The enemy still nestles on the Kornwernerzand.Canadese Brenmitraailer strip on the head of the Afsluitdijk. April 18, 1945. Friesland, Kornwerderzand

Geiser Theodore (mons) Collection German pilot seated in his plane.

Weapons - Revolvers & Pistols - Weapons.. Misc. September 2, 1935.

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

New York National Guard Soldiers of the 27th Divison's 106th Infantry regiment's cannon platoon training with the 37 millimeter M1916 infantry support cannon, the American version of a French-made light infantry cannon, near Abeele, Belgium on August 20, 1918. (National Archives)

Lance CPL. Gregory B. Cruz, left, and 1ST SGT. Charles M. Tonn sit on an Iraqi ZPU-4d anti-aircraft gun captured by Marines during Operation Desert Storm. The men are with the 1ST Marine Division in the desert west of Kuwait International Airport. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Kuwait (KWT)

Bren light machine guns seized by US military personnel during Operation URGENT FURY. Subject Operation/Series: URGENT FURY Country: Grenada (GRD)

Personnel of HMAS Nepal -- Japanese rifle captured by Commandos ***** being examined by AB F. Odmark, of Sydney. March 26, 1945.

World War One; Vickers Machine Gun Crew with gas masks

Sweden, Blekinge, Karlskrona (depicted, place).Sweden, Blekinge, Karlskrona (depicted, town)

No Load Too Heavy -- A Korean laborer illustrates the extraordinary native strength and endurance as he totes a 55-gallon drum of fuel oil up a steep hill to an Allied relay station near Waegwan. The familiar Korean carrying device appears adaptable for any task. Laborer's huge load - Carrying a 55-gallon drum of fuel oil, weighing 425lb, up a steep hill to an Allied relay station in Korea, is every day work for this Korean laborer. March 30, 1951. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Soldier being trained on the Vickers machine gun, Model 1915 at the Army Infantry Automatic Weapons School in Fort de la Piegney, Langres, France. The photo was taken on April 27, 1918, and received by the photographer on January 4, 1919. It was released by the A.E.F. Censor on January 7, 1919. Military training in progress.

Man shooting rifle

The new Belgian rifle (FN .30). February 3, 1955.

AUDIE MURPHY in GUNSMOKE (1953).

Detachment 101, an enigmatic Allied intelligence and special operations unit during World War II, played a pivotal role in the Burmese theater. Operating deep in the jungles of Burma, their mission was multi-faceted, encompassing guerrilla warfare, espionage, and sabotage against Japanese forces. Comprising a diverse group of individuals, from OSS agents to indigenous fighters, they effectively disrupted Japanese supply lines, gathered critical intelligence, and supported resistance movements.

Italian cannons in Gargaresch firing on Zanzur, Libya, Italian-Turkish war, photograph by Emegi, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXIX, No 8, February 25, 1912.

Side view overturned M998 High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV). Country: Saudi Arabia (SAU)

***** Silenced -- Inspecting a 16 ins. Gun captured at Calais are L to R: Spr. G.G. Bennett of Calgary; Lt. G.W. Theakston of Halifax, N.S. The last ***** the largest Nazi guns on the Channel ***** Calais has been taken by the *****. These are the 406 M.M. ***** one of which was found to have ***** by the Dover guns and put out of *****. September 28, 1944. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

A Marine surveys a mangled bicycle in a parking lot following the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from the city during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Base: Kuwait City Country: Kuwait (KWT)

Photograph showing a soldier, of the Motorcycle Section of the British First Airborne Division, heading off on his motorcycle, 1944. The lightweight machine shown had a two-stroke petrol engine, was geared for rough surfaces and was light enough to be carried over obstacles. In September 1944, the British First Airborne Division took part in Operation 'Market Garden'. Date: 1944

The British Army in Burma 1945 The .50-inch machine gun of a Priest 105mm self-propelled gun, 7 March 1945.

of 2