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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).
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).
163 assets in this story
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A view of an Iraqi SA-2 medium-range surface-to-air missile system destroyed in a coalition attack during Operation Desert Storm near the Ali Al Salem Air Base.. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Kuwait(KWT)
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Photo collection Service for army contacts Indonesia. DLC Return to and entry into solo. Soldier of the connecting troops engaged in field telephone lines. December 21, 1948. Indonesia, Java, Dutch East Indies, Surakarta
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A German soldier, wearing Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical gear, winds up a hose at the conclusion a NATO joint forces training exercise to familiarize German troops with procedures for decontamination of the F-4 Phantom II aircraft. Base: Zweibrucken Air Base Country: Deutschland / Germany (DEU)
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DA-SN-84-07979. Base: Fort Richardson State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Attached to the Royal Netherlands Indies Army Air Force as tail gunner this Australian is loading ammunition on a bomber at its base somewhere in Australia. Serviced by Dutch attached R.A.A. F. personnel, Indonesians and West Indians, piloted by Dutchmen and with their tail guns all manned by Australians, planes of the Royal Netherlands Indies Army Air Force are taking part in raids over enemy occupied territory and doing their share in the liberation of the Indies. April 17, 1945. (Photo by Netherlands Information Service)
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Royal Air Force, the Rhodesian Air Training Group in Southern Rhodesia, 1941-1945. An instructor, Corporal W Gilligan from Dublin,, gives pupils a practical lecture on the .303 Vickers K-type gas-operated machine gun at No. 24 Bombing, Gunnery and Navigation School, Moffat.
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08/09/1936. A machine gun repair workshop on the Somosierra front.
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British Equipment at An American Airfield- Anglo-american Co-operation in Wartime Britain, 1943 Captain D G Parker, a B17 pilot from Valparaiso, Indiana, prepares to aim his shotgun during rifle practice at an American airfield, somewhere in Britain. The guns and ammunition have been supplied by Britain as part of 'reverse Lend-Lease'. According to the original caption, pilots and gunners enjoy this 'fine recreation' as it 'keeps their eye in'.
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French Train as NATO Paratroopers at Pau. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel
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Allied Capture of Mubo Private Dennis Buzza of the Brisbane place a jap officer's Identification emblem on his grave after the officer had been killed in a skirmish on Nassau Bay beach. August 8, 1943. (Photo by Department of Information, Commonwealth of Australia).
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Every type craft imaginable is represented here in this huge fleet of ships assembled in a port of southern Italy in preparation for the invasion of southern France.
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More New Arms For Egypt -- Egyptian troops with some of the new 6 inch Howitzers which recently arrived in Cairo. Since Egypt obtained for Independence following the Treaty of Montreux, she has been carrying out her rearmament plan. New guns of the latest type have been manufactured in England and sent to Egypt with British officers to instruct the men in their use. January 03, 1938. (Photo by Keystone).
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An armed soldier takes an obstacle.
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Photograph of a 4-in. Mortar detachment used by the Arab Legion. Dated 20th Century
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Display By Territorials Of Army Equipment.. TA Adopted by City of Westminster - On Horse Guards Parade. Sgt. James Grindlay of Greenwich helps four-year-old Allen Williams of Edmonton - as the latter tries the elevation of a 40 mm Bofors gun on the Horse Guards Parade this morning. A display of territorial army equipment was held on the Horse Guards Parade this morning, a display which culminated in the adoption by the City of Westminster of the TA units in the city area. June 15, 1951. ;Dis
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Swiss Ghost Soldiers.10,000 feet up the Mountains with the Swiss Skiing Troops.Ski Patrol on a mountain ridge. The soldiers are camouflaged by wearing white overalls which makes them almost invisible. June 29, 1940. (Photo by Paul Popper; Hans Steiner Bern).
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King Vittorio Emanuele III observing field operations with Prince Louis Napoleon and General Vittorio Zupelli, Italy, World War I, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XLII, No 45, November 7, 1915.
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Sergeant George Camblair learning to drive a Tank, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, USA, Jack Delano, U.S. Office of War Information, September 1942
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DA-SN-84-07971. Subject Operation/Series: BRIMFROST '83 Base: Fort Richardson State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Army sniper carrying out rifle range practice at Army Small Arms School during World War II.
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Anefo photo collection. Navy Navy Anefo London series. board Dutch cruiser southwest Pacific Ocean. Crew lookout strong binoculars. immediately report they're noticeable. {1940-1945}
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DF-SN-86-11325. Subject Operation/Series: GUNPOWDER 85 Base: Shaw Air Force Base State: South Carolina (SC) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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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.
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89C - Loading Bombs And Ammunition - Bombing Crew At Work, Gunners Etc. April 16, 1944. (Photo by Planet News Ltd.).
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Dresden. K. S. Protect - Regiment No. 108
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30.5 cm Mortar on Kote 1717, taken in April 1916.
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First Lieutenant Randy Graddic, Executive Officer, D Battery, 12th Marines, uses the transit compass to survey the impact area prior to the live firing exercise. Base: Northern Training Area (NTA) State: Okinawa Country: Japan (JPN)
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Aircraft, Burma, India &Troops &Paratroops
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DA-SN-84-07965. Subject Operation/Series: BRIMFROST '83 Base: Fort Richardson State: Alaska (AK) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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Shield in different uses. .
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British military 1898, Middle East, Israel and/or Palestine
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Mrs. Ada Schilling with rifle
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A close-up view of a bayonet being attached to an M16 rifle during training on the North Fort bayonet range. Base: Fort Lewis State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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A Marine Corps M-923 5-ton truck and other vehicles sit dispersed around a desert camp site following the withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. Subject Operation/Series: DESERT STORM Country: Kuwait (KWT)
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09/30/1936. A soldier with a Gas Mask.
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Photograph showing the crew of a West Berlin locomotive hoisting the banner 'Greetings to Western Germany' onto the front of their train at the end of the Berlin Blockade, May 1949. This train was about to make its first journey out of West Berlin to Western Germany, via East Germany, for a year. Between April 1948 and May 1949 Josef Stalin, leader of the USSR, imposed a land blockade on supplies from Western Europe to West Berlin. In response the British and American governments organised
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German army with field radio in operation Date: 1940
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Soldier Displaying Proper Shooting Position During Training Session, WWII, 2nd Battalion, 389th Infantry, US Army Military Base Indiana, USA, 1942
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JOHN WAYNE in SANDS OF IWO JIMA (1949), directed by ALLAN DWAN.
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Men displaying various types and sizes of shells , Bombs, Watertown Arsenal Mass.. Records of U.S. Army Operational
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Algerian Desert Maneuvers. Photographs of Marshall Plan Programs, Exhibits, and Personnel
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Exhibition space (O.A. with Mortier) from the Marines Corps during the 1989 fleet days.
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DN-SN-85-00791. Base: Beirut Country: Lebanon (LBN)
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Front of the trailer with the fire line radar AA 3MK7. This radar was used in the air cooling gun 90 mm.
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Canadian Train in Commando Tactics -- ***** obstacles in an advance rush.Canadian soldiers in this country are now undergoing intensive training in Commando tactics. These men have already earned themselves the reputation of being tough but the training they are now receiving givens them the right to insert the prefix "super" before the "tough". April 01, 1942. (Photo by Fox Photos).
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Japanese weapons captured in New Guinea during outpost skirmishes. September 20, 1942. (Photo by Official Army Photo).
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Royal Air Force Film Production Units, 1941-1945. A cameraman of the RAFFPU poses, focussing a Bell & Howell Eyemo 35mm film camera with a telephoto lens.
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Marines of the 32nd Marine Amphibious Unit unroll matting to be used as a portable roadway for vehicles coming ashore. The Marines are arriving to participate in a multinational peacekeeping operation. Base: Beirut Country: Lebanon (LBN)
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1000.303 rifles being valued at the Victoria Barracks. December 24, 1941.
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Three militants practice gun shooting on Märsgarn, 1937 . Three military practice gun shooting on Märsgarn, 1937.
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Photograph showing a Dutch army drummer of the Bicycle-Mounted Regiment; stationed at S'Hertogenbosch, September 1937. The drummer was provided with an arm-rest in order to improve his steering. Date: 1937
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Painting of cowboy shooting machine gun
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Pictures From Iran- Our troops attacked the Island of Aradian on the River Shatt Al Arab, at the head of the Persian Gulf as their first objective. on this Island is the largest oil refinery in the world and it is the most important objective we have in Persia. It belongs to the Angle Iranian Oil Company and it is mostly staffed by British Personnel, who were present when the attack came.Indian troops were landed from assualt ships on the quayside and they attacked the Iranian strong points in the refinery. December 30, 1941. (Photo by British Official Photograph).
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DN-ST-90-03756. Base: Naval Air Station, Norfolk State: Virginia (VA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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This daughter of Australia is wearing a civilian gas mask, components of which have been made and assembled here. July 17, 1942.
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Operation Pedestal, August 1942 12 August: The bombing of HMS INDOMITABLE: The score-board for the successes of HMS INDOMITABLE's air group painted on the island. INDOMITABLE's fighters claimed to have shot down 38 Axis aircraft.
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Dueller, in uniform, using wax bullets, New York
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SGT Arthur Leon, 172nd Light Infantry Brigade, Fort Richardson, Alaska, aims the Redeye/Stinger ground-to-air hand-held Rocket Weapons Simulator. Base: Fort Lewis State: Washington (WA) Country: United States Of America (USA)
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fort battlesment sky and star brick in oman muscat the old defensive sea mountain
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The Loader in Action -- Able Seaman Dennis Hatch of Waikerie (SA) shows how it is done of Bofors anti-aircraft gun aboard HMAS Sydney. August 6, 1954.
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The eye and ears of the army, greetings from Camp Lee, Va. , Military facilities, Tichnor Brothers Collection, postcards of the United States
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Egyptian Women Study Guerilla Tactics - Ironically armed with British Lee Enfield rifles, Egyptian women members of the "Liberation Battalions" undergo guerilla warfare manoeuvers near Cairo. Their grim occupation adds another disturbing note to the tense British-Egyptian dispute over the Suez Canal area. November 21, 1951. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
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A left side view of a soldier aiming a Soviet AT-4 Spigot anti-tank guided missile. The AT-4 is the Soviet Union's first Semi-Automatic Command to Line of Sight (SACLOS) anti-tank guided missile system. Country: Unknown