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About This Quiz
As humankind has grown and developed over millennia, we have found more effective and complex ways of interacting with each other. From better agricultural techniques to more complex forms of government and even more advanced forms of technology, we have made huge leaps in a relatively short span of time. Likewise, military equipment and structures have evolved. Challenges such as the ability to shape metal into a blade or the ability to carry armies across seas on wooden boats were once thought to be the pinnacles of military power. Nowadays, massive aircraft carriers, deadly automatic weapons and incredibly fast jets are all commonplace military items.
We've taken a look at military items throughout the years and put together some of the most unique and challenging ones. Do you know the difference between an ironclad and a submarine? Can you identify a mortar from a missile? If you think you've got what it takes, then get ready to dive right into this expert military quiz!
Atomic bomb
The term "atomic bomb" refers to an explosive weapon of mass destruction that are powered by the rapid release of nuclear energy. Only two atomic bombs have been used in military conflicts, both times during World War II by the United States against Japan.
Arrow
Autocannon
Automatic rifle
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Advance guard
Artillery
Artillery is a broad category of military weaponry that provides destructive force that is well beyond the capabilities of small arms used by infantry (firearms, swords, etc.). Some notable types of artillery include mortars, howitzers and anti-aircraft guns.
Aerial port
Air cargo
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Bazooka
Boomerang
Bayonet
The bayonet is a simple ancillary weapon that is affixed to the end of a rifle. In the past, bayonets were simply spikes or modified swords; modern bayonets have taken the appearance of combat knives.
Bullet
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Battle axe
Brass knuckles
Ballistic vest
Ballistic vests are a type of personal armor that is designed to protect the user from projectiles or shrapnel that come from firearms or explosions. As the name suggests, it is worn over the torso and commonly used by military forces, bodyguards and law enforcement.
Biological weapon
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Bunker
A bunker is a defensive fortification that is used to protect personnel or resources from attacks (usually bombs). Civilian implementations of bunkers have been used in dangerous industrial locations and on residential properties to provide safety during tornadoes or other destructive events.
Blowgun
Baton
Blackjack
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Cannon
Catapult
Crossbow
The crossbow is a ranged weapon that is often viewed as an evolution of the conventional bow. It rose in popularity because it needed less energy and skill to operate.
Carbine
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Cutlass
Club
Cleaver
Cruiser
In the military, the term "cruiser" refers to massive multipurpose warships. Today, there are only two nations in the world that still operate cruisers: Russia and the United States.
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Dagger
Dart
Detonator
The term detonator refers to any device that triggers an explosive. While they are used in the military, they are also used for demolition, excavation and mining.
Depth charge
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Echelon
Entrenching tool
An entrenching tool is a collapsible (folding) spade that is used by military forces, as well as by hikers and survivalists. It is also known as a "trenching tool" or simply an "E-tool."
Electromagnetic device
Espionage
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Fireball
Flail
Flintlock
Flamethrower
While they aren’t widely used by militaries today (the U.S. Department of Defense has not used them since the 1970s), flamethrowers were once a destructive and feared weapon on the battlefield. They still see significant use by civilians for controlled burning tasks in agriculture and land management.
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Flare
Flail
The flail is a historical melee weapon that saw some military use throughout history, specifically by peasant armies and rebellions. This is because the weapon directly evolved from the less deadly farming tool of the same name.
Firing system
Fleet
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Grenade
Grenades are relatively small explosive weapons that detonate on impact or have a timed delay. Fragmentation grenades, which release deadly shrapnel upon exploding, are the most common grenade variation.
Guided missile
Gunpowder
Gear
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Grenade launcher
Gatling gun
The Gatling gun is a hand-cranked machine gun that was capable of rapid fire. It was first used in the American Civil War by the Union forces and is named after its creator, Richard Gatling.
Guerrilla
Ground control
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Halberd
Helicopter
Helicopters are rotary-wing aircraft notable for their precise maneuverability and ability to hover. They are not only widely used in the military; they are also used for healthcare, public safety and civilian transport.
Harpoon
Howitzer
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Hatchet
Harbor
Home station
Helipad
A helipad is a landing platform (or simple landing area) that is specifically designated to be used by helicopters. They are not restricted to military compounds and are usually a necessity for any organization that utilizes helicopters on a regular basis.
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Insurgent
Interceptor
Ionosphere
Ironclad
The term "ironclad" refers to the steam-propelled warships that emerged in the 19th century. The ironclad served as a replacement for the increasingly vulnerable wooden warships that had ruled the seas beforehand.
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Javelin
Jet
The term "jet" directly refers to any aircraft propelled by jet engines. While modern air-based transportation systems make heavy use of jets, militaries around the world also make use of extremely fast and deadly jet-propelled aircraft.
Jeep
Joiner
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Joiner
Jettison
Jeep
While today the word "Jeep" is usually used to refer to the brand of automobiles, back in 1941, it was actually the nickname of the Willys MB and the Ford GPW. These were off-road capable military utility vehicles that were widely used by the Allied forces.
Jet
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Knife
While tools and weapons have come and gone over the centuries of human development, the simple (yet effective) knife has endured for over 2.5 million years. Military forces still use combat knives to this day as general-use tools and close quarters weapons.
Kassnar
Kite
Katana
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Land mine
Laser
Lance
Longbow
While they have been made obsolete nowadays in the age of firearms, the longbow has cemented its place in history as one of the most influential and enduring weapons throughout the world. It was not only used in military conflicts, but was also an indispensable tool for hunting and survival.
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Lance
Laser
Land mine
As the name suggests, land mines are explosive devices that are placed on the ground or buried underground. They are commonly used as traps and deterrents against enemy combatants or even large vehicles like tanks.
Landmark
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Mace
Mortar
When it comes to weaponry, the term “mortar” refers to a lightweight and portable infantry weapon that launches explosive shells. Historically, they were used to provide close fire support, damage fortifications or bypass fortifications altogether and damage personnel behind them.
Magnum
Musket
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Mine
Missile
The term "missile" refers to a self-propelled explosive device that can be used over relatively long distances. They can be fired from the Earth’s surface or from the air when they are carried by aircraft.
Muzzle
Maul
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Nunchaku
Naval
Napalm
Napalm is without a doubt one of the most infamous incendiary weapons in recent history. Napalm was initially used in bombs, but it eventually served as a fuel for flamethrowers as well.
Nerve gas
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Ordnance
Onager
Oiler
Observation post
Observation posts are an aspect of the more strategic side of military warfare. They are usually hidden from plain sight (either due to their secluded location or by camouflage) and serve as a protected area from which soldiers can survey enemy personnel.
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Pickaxe
Pommel
Parachute
In the military, parachutes are primarily used to allow personnel to safely descend from dangerous heights (usually from a flying aircraft). However, they have also been used to safely send food and other essential resources to troops as well.
Pistol
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Pike
Payload
Parachute
Pistol
The pistol is a type of handgun that is featured in two common types: semi-automatic and single shot. While it's primarily used by military personnel and law enforcement, civilians also widely use it for hunting and self-defense in some parts of the world.
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Quay
A quay is a structure that is located on the shore and it serves as a location where ships can easily unload or load passengers and cargo. The usage of quays is not restricted to only military forces; however, the ones used by navies have to be far more defensible than their civilian counterparts.
Quarters
Quadrant
Quarterstaff
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Routing indicator
Ramjet
Rapier
Radar antenna
The acronym RADAR stands for RAdio Detection And Ranging. Radar systems feature large, complex antennas and are used for military purposes, civilian traffic control and meteorological monitoring.
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Rifle
While the rifle has evolved over the years, the core concept of the weapon has remained the same. It is, by definition, a long-barreled firearm that is primarily designed to excel at long-range precision shooting.
Rocket
Rapier
Radar
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Submarine
Submarines are a class of aquatic vessels that have the capability of operating with unhindered effectiveness underwater. While they are largely used by military forces, they are also used for marine exploration, scientific studies and salvage missions.
Sickle
Stiletto
Scythe
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Saber
Stun gun
Spear
Shotgun
While it is a popular hunting firearm, especially when it comes to birds and other small game, the shotgun also has a place in military and law enforcement arsenals. In the military, it is used as a defensive weapon or close quarters weapon.
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Tomahawk
Tank
The tank is without a doubt one of the most recognizable military vehicles, and it was an integral part of both World War I and World War II. The most effective tanks are designed to withstand heavy fire on the front lines while having strong firepower of their own.
Trebuchet
Trident
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Taser
Tank
Tear gas
The term “tear gas” refers to a type of chemical weapon that causes respiratory pain, skin irritation, eye pain, and other debilitating effects. Non-lethal types of tear gas are used today for riot control; however, deadly forms of tear gas were used during World War I.
Truncheon
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Tomahawk
Torpedo
In design (and usually appearance), a torpedo is strikingly similar to a missile. Torpedoes are self-propelled and feature an explosive warhead; however, whereas missiles travel through the air, torpedoes are propelled underwater.
Taser
Trident
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USAF
UNESCO
USDOD
UAV
The acronym UAV stands for “unmanned aerial vehicle” and, as the name suggests, they are designed to be operated without an on-board pilot. In the military, they are used for missions where it would either be wasteful or too dangerous to use a manned aircraft.
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Uzi
The Uzi is an Israeli submachine gun that was introduced in 1954 and is still used to this day. It is extremely popular and holds the distinction of being the most widely-sold submachine gun in the world.
Utopia
Umber
Umpire
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Warship
The term "warship" is used to describe any naval ship that is primarily designed for naval warfare. Warships have evolved from galleys to sailing ships to dreadnoughts.
Warble
Warhead
Wharf
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Xenial
Xenocracy
X-plane
X-plane is a group designation that is used to refer to experimental United States aircraft (and sometimes rockets). Over the years, the United States Air Force has usually operated the X-planes, in conjunction with NACA or NASA.
Xenium
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ZULU
Zealot
Zeppelin
The zeppelin is a type of airship that is notable for its rigid metal framework and relatively massive size. It was utilized heavily in World War I by the German military, especially during bombing raids against the British.
Zygote
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You Got:
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