The Ultimate WWII Military Equipment Quiz

By: Jacqueline Samaroo
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
The Ultimate WWII Military Equipment Quiz
Image: WikiCommons via Euro-t-guide.com

About This Quiz

Fall in! Here is a look back at the military equipment which helped to make WWII the war to end all wars

It is a known fact that soldiers win wars, but what is also true is that they rely heavily on the equipment they have to help them do it. At the beginning of WWII, much of that equipment was brand-new tech which had been developed by both sides in the interwar years. As the war progressed, the Allied and Axis countries worked feverishly to stay one step ahead of each other while keeping their defenses up and hammering away at the enemy with offensive tactics.

All sorts of equipment featured prominently in WWII. Navigation devices, personal protection gear and a wide assortment of vehicles also played their part. It was firepower, however, which took center stage. From pistols, rifles and submachine guns to howitzers, anti-tank guns and missiles, the variety of weaponry was astounding. What would be even more astounding, however, is working through the quiz and being able to identify them. If you think you are up to the challenge, then it's time to proceed to battle stations as you duke it out with this quiz!

WWII history buffs will definitely overpower this quiz - but how will you do? Charge right in and find out!

I.D. bracelet
KCCI
What is the name of the personalized piece of equipment shown here?
I.D. bracelet
M3 scabbard
liquid-filled wrist compass
Ka-Bar combat knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The I.D bracelets issued to servicemen and women in WWII were not all the same – some carried more detailed information than others. At a minimum, most were inscribed with the soldier’s name, rank and serial number, as well as his or her blood type.

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M1941 Johnson machine gun
WikiCommons via Fab-pe
Do you know the name of the firearm showed in this photo?
Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless
V-2 rocket
M1941 Johnson machine gun
M2 flamethrower
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The M1941 Johnson machine gun was described as a light machine gun and typically written as the Johnson M1941 LMG. It is named after its designer, United States Marine Corps (USMC) reservist Melvin Johnson, Jr. who held the rank of captain. The Johnson M1941 LMG is often referred to simply as the Johnson or by its nickname, the Johnny gun.

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Gammon bomb
WikiCommons
Can you name the handheld explosive device shown in this image?
Grand Slam earthquake bomb
M115 howitzer
M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher
Gammon bomb
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Gammon bomb (more formally known as the Number 82 grenade) was designed by a member of the British Parachute Regiment. It was put to extensive use by Allied paratroopers, including American paratroopers who took part in D-Day activities. Users were pleased with how easy it was to customize the Gammon bomb to suit the intended target.

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Tallboy earthquake bomb
WikiCommons via RF
Which 12,000-pound explosive weapon is shown here?
Fu-Go fire balloon
Wasserfall supersonic missile
Tallboy earthquake bomb
Fritz X guided bomb
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barnes Wallis, a British aeronautical engineer, first developed earthquake bombs, such as Tallboy and Grand Slam in 1941. The British Royal Air Force successfully used Tallboy earthquake bombs on several occasions. These include the sinking of the Tirpitz, a German Bismarck-class battleship off the northern Norwegian coast.

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liquid-filled wrist compass
WikiCommons
Can you name the direction finder shown in this photo?
I.D. bracelet
Liquid-filled wrist compass
M1 carbine sling
D-Day paratrooper cricket
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

American paratroopers who took part in D-Day operations were issued larger and more accurate versions of the liquid-filled wrist compasses than were given to other troops. The compasses were worn on the wrist; over the sleeve higher up on the arm; attached to the shoulder loops of the uniform; or at the ankle over a jump boot.

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Smatchet fighting knife
WikiCommons via Michael E. Cumpston
Do you know what this cutting tool is called?
M2 flamethrower
M1 Garand bayonet
M3 trench knife
Smatchet fighting knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

British Capt. William E. Fairbairn designed the Smatchet during WWII and it was put to use by both British and American troops. It is a combat knife with an 11-inch blade which is designed with a dull matte finish to make it undetectable during night attacks.

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M3 scabbard
WikiCommons via Armémuseum
Can you name this covering which was used on bayonets?
M3 gas mask
M3 scabbard
M1916 holster
Map case
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The M3 scabbard was designed soon after the start of WWII as a sheath for the M1 bayonet. Materials used in previous scabbards issued for the M1 bayonet included wood, leather, canvas and rawhide. The new M3 scabbard’s sheath was fiberglass and its throat was made of metal.

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V-2 rocket
WikiCommons via Raboe001
Which German projectile is shown in this picture?
Type 95 Ha-Go light tank
Fat Man atomic bomb
Borgward IV demolition vehicle
V-2 rocket
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

During WWII, Germany developed several “Vergeltungswaffen” or retaliatory weapons, one of which was the V-2 rocket. The V-2 goes down in history as the world’s first long-range guided ballistic missile and the first manmade object to achieve space travel – it did this during a test on June 20, 1944 when it managed to leave Earth’s atmosphere.

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M3 submachine gun (Grease gun)
WikiCommons via Jeff Kubina
What is the name of the firearm shown here?
Colt 1911
M3 submachine gun (Grease gun)
Schwerer Gustav railway gun
M1A1 carbine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The M3 submachine gun is often referred to as the M3 SMG or by its nickname, “grease gun.” The US military began using it in December 1942 with the intention that it would replace the popular Thompson submachine gun (Tommy Gun). Production levels of the M3 SMG, however, never rose to meet demands.

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M4 Sherman medium tank
WikiCommons via Euro-t-guide.com
Do you know what this armored fighting vehicle is called?
U-boat submarine
Schwerer Gustav railway gun
Goliath tracked mine
M4 Sherman medium tank
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The United States produced an abundance of M4 Sherman medium tanks and began putting them into service in 1942. Due to the large numbers of Sherman tanks which were available, the US was able to distribute some to other Allied armies via the WWII Lend-Lease program.

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Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless
hickok45
Do you know what the pistol shown here is called?
Thompson submachine gun
Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless
PPSh-41 Shpagin machine pistol
Sten gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Production of the Colt M1903 pocket hammerless began in 1903 and lasted until 1945. It was issued to general officers in both the US Army and Air Force. Despite the term “hammerless” in its name, this semi-automatic pistol did, in fact, have a hammer out of sight under the slide.

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Grand Slam earthquake bomb
WikiCommons via Wilson44691
Which massive 22,000-pound explosive device is this?
Grand Slam earthquake bomb
Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon
Fu-Go fire balloon
Gammon bomb
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Grand Slam earthquake bomb was almost twice as heavy as the Tallboy earthquake bomb which was also used during WWII. Grand Slam weighed 22,000 pounds or 10,000 kilograms which earned it the nickname “Ten ton Tess.” It was used successfully in several dam busting operations by the British RAF No. 617 Squadron (known as The Dambusters).

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U-boat submarine
WikiCommons
Can you identify the underwater WWII vehicle shown here?
Scout cruiser
Sleeping Beauty motorized submersible canoe
U-boat submarine
E-boat motor torpedo boat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term U-boat was used by Allied forces in reference to the submarines used by the German military in both WWI and WWII. The German word for submarine or undersea boat is “unterseeboot” and so the term U-boat should really apply to all submarines!

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M3 gas mask
WikiCommons via Auckland Museum
Which face covering is shown in this photo?
M2 paratrooper helmet
M3 gas mask
M3 scabbard
M1941 canteen cover
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Both the M3 lightweight gas mask and the similar-looking M4 were introduced into service by the US military in 1942 as replacements for the M2. The M3 was either black or gray while the M4 was issued in olive drab (greenish brown).

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M2 flamethrower
WikiCommons
Do you recognize this device which sprays out fire?
Vickers K machine gun
M3 submachine gun (Grease gun)
M2 flamethrower
TM-35 anti-tank mine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The M2 man-portable backpack infantry flamethrower was an intimidating weapon for troops to have. It was used by US troops during WWII but became an unnecessary piece of equipment when flamethrower tanks were introduced.

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Tiger I heavy tank
WikiCommons via Aleksandr Markin
Which armored means of transport is this?
FN Tricar
CV 33 tankette
Dingo scout car
Tiger I heavy tank
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Germany brought the Tiger heavy tank into service in 1942 and it soon became a formidable presence on the battlefield. It was both heavily armed and armored, weighing over 50 tons, and having the ability to travel over 40 mph. Phasing out of the Tiger 1 began in 1944 when the upgraded Tiger II was deployed.

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Oscar paradummy
WikiCommons via Valder137
What is name of this airborne deception device?
TM1942 paratrooper trousers
A-frame assault pack
Oscar paradummy
Miaodao saber
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paradummies were dropped by airborne troops as a way to distract and deceive the enemy on the ground. They look like real paratroopers and while they drew enemy fire, actual paratroopers could land safely elsewhere. They were called Oscar paradummies by American troops and Rupert dolls by British troops.

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V-1 flying bomb
WikiCommons via Alan Wilson
What is the name of this WWII cruise missile?
Pelican guided bomb
Schwerer Gustav railway gun
Funryu surface-to-air missile
V-1 flying bomb
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The V-1 flying bomb was one of the retaliatory or vengeance weapons developed by Germany during WWII. Between June and October, 1944, Germany launched almost 10,000 V-1 flying bombs at England from locations in France and the Netherlands.

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Ka-Bar combat knife
WikiCommons
Which United States Marine Corps cutting tool is this?
Miaodao saber
Fat Man atomic bomb
I.D. bracelet
Ka-Bar combat knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Both the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy issued the Ka-Bar combat knife to troops during WWII. It served as a replacement to outdated knives which had been in use since WWI. The Ka-bar’s hilt was made of stacked washers and its blade was 7 inches long. It was designated a fighting/utility knife.

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Schwerer Gustav railway gun
WikiCommons via Andrew Butko
Can you name the massive tracked weapon shown here?
Schwerer Gustav railway gun
Grand Slam earthquake bomb
M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher
Borgward IV demolition vehicle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The railway gun was by no means a new weapon when WWII started – the first one had been used from as far back as the American Civil War. What set them apart in WWII was the sheer size of them. The incredibly enormous Schwerer Gustav railway gun fielded by Germany holds the distinction of being the war’s largest piece of artillery.

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M115 howitzer
WikiCommons
Do you know what this type of cannon is called?
TM-35 anti-tank mine
M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher
PIAT man-portable anti-tank weapon
M115 howitzer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At roughly 36 feet and 16 tons, the towed M115 howitzer required a 14-man crew to operate it in the field. Designed in 1939, it was used in WWII and also saw action in both the Korean and Vietnam wars.

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Goliath tracked mine
WikiCommons
What is the name of the roving bomb shown here?
Type 97 grenade
Goliath tracked mine
Bouncing Betty S-mine
Blockbuster bomb
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Goliath tracked mine (also known as a beetle tank to the Allied troops) was a demolition vehicle produced by Germany in WWII. It was tethered, remote-controlled and weighed over 800 pounds. Over 12,000 were made during the war years, with some models being powered by a gas engine while others were electrical.

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Vickers K machine gun
WikiCommons
Can you say what this automatic weapon is called?
Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon
TM-35 anti-tank mine
Type 97 grenade
Vickers K machine gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Vickers K machine gun was used by both the British Royal Air Force and the Coastal Forces of the Royal Navy. It served as a rapid-fire weapon on some light and medium bomber aircraft, as well as some Motor Torpedo Boats (MTBs) and Motor Launches (MLs).

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Fu-Go fire balloon
WikiCommons
What is the name of this Japanese long-range, floating explosive device?
Barrage balloon
Fu-Go fire balloon
Blohm & Voss BV 141
Outward balloon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Fu-Go devices were unmanned, explosive-laden, hydrogen balloons released from Japan with the aim of travelling over the Pacific Ocean to the west coast of North America. Between November, 1944 and April, 1945, over 9, 000 were released, but estimates say fewer than 300 made their target and only one resulted in fatality, Killing a pregnant woman and 5 children in May 1945.

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Fat Man atomic bomb
WikiCommons
Do you know the name of this nuclear weapon?
Fat Man atomic bomb
M8 barrage rocket
R4M rocket
Enzian anti-aircraft missile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only two nuclear weapons have ever been used in the history of warfare: the Little Boy and Fat Man atomic bombs. Fat Man weighed 10,300 pounds and was dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 – 3 days after Little Boy hit Hiroshima. Japan formally surrendered to the Allied forces 6 days later, on August 15.

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E-boat motor torpedo boat
WikiCommons by Esquilo
Which marine vessel is shown in this photo?
U-boat submarine
Minesweeper
E-boat motor torpedo boat
Light cruiser
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

E-boats were fast attack German vessels developed by Germany during the interwar years (that is, between the end of WWI and the start of WWII). In German, they are known as Schnellboot (fast boat) or S-Boot. but the Allied armies used the designation E-boat, with the E standing for “enemy.”

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Thompson submachine gun
WikiCommons by National Park Service
Can you name the high-powered weapon shown here?
Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless
Lee Enfield rifle
Thompson submachine gun
Colt 1911
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Gangsters during the U.S. Prohibition era of the 1920s had a special liking for the Thompson submachine gun. It took on a nobler image, however, when it became one of the most-liked weapons of troops during WWII. The stopping power of the Thompson meant that its low range of roughly 160 feet was not of any real concern.

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Matilda I infantry tank
WikiCommons by Bukvoed
Can you name the armored fighting vehicle shown here?
Bishop self-propelled artillery
Matilda I infantry tank
M39 Pantserwagen armored car
M40 gun motor carriage
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Matilda infantry tank was utilized by the British throughout WWII. It carried a 4-man crew and although it was well-armored, the Matilda was also slow and lightly armed. Troops nicknamed it the Waltzing Matilda.

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Type 97 grenade
WikiCommons by US War department
What is this incendiary device called?
Type 97 grenade
Tallboy earthquake bomb
TM-35 anti-tank mine
Fat Man atomic bomb
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Type 97 fragmentation hand grenade was used by both the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Special Landing Forces. It was activated by pulling out the safety pin and hitting the grenade against a hard surface. Care had to be taken, however, as its 2.3 ounces of TNT would detonate just 4 – 5 seconds after activation.

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TM-35 anti-tank mine
WikiCommons by MKFI
Which explosive device is shown in this picture?
Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless
V-1 flying bomb
TM-35 anti-tank mine
M2 flamethrower
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The weight of a vehicle, such as a tank, driving over the pressure plate of a Soviet-made TM-35 anti-tank mine was sufficient to trigger its detonation sequence. The mine contained 7-ounce blocks of TNT and usually incorporated some sort of anti-handling device to prevent anyone tampering with it.

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Little Boy atomic bomb
WikiCommons by Nick-D
What is this nuclear device called?
Gammon bomb
Little Boy atomic bomb
U-boat submarine
Type 97 grenade
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Little Boy was the first of two atomic bombs dropped on Japan in August 1945. It weighed 9,700 pounds and was released over the city of Hiroshima on August 6 by Enola Gay, a U.S. superfortress bomber. Japan surrendered on August 12, following a second atomic bombing (on Nagasaki on August 9 by a weapon code-named Fat Man).

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Borgward IV demolition vehicle
WikiCommons by Alan Wilson
Can you name the remote-controlled explosives carrier in this photo?
Borgward IV demolition vehicle
M1941 Johnson machine gun
M2 switchblade knife
Tiger I heavy tank
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Borgward IV, Springer and Goliath were 3 remote-controlled, charge-carrying vehicles produced by Germany during WWII. At nearly 4 tons, the Borgward was the heaviest of the three. It was protected by armor which was made as much as 20 mm thick in some places.

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Type 95 Ha-Go light tank
WikiCommons by Alan Wilson
Do you recognize the armored fighting vehicle shown in this photo?
Boys anti-tank rifle
E-boat motor torpedo boat
Type 95 Ha-Go light tank
TM-35 anti-tank mine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Type 95 Ha-Go light tank was produced by Japan from 1936 until 1943. Some U.S. troops will remember it well, as it was the first enemy tank American forces faced during WWII. Being lightly armed and armored, the Type 95 Ha-Go did not prove to be much a match for medium and heavy tanks.

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Boys anti-tank rifle
WikiCommons by the Imperial War Museums
Do you recognize this firearm nicknamed “elephant gun?”
Miaodao saber
M2 flamethrower
M3 submachine gun (Grease gun)
Boys anti-tank rifle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This bolt-action rifle was named for its creator Captain Henry C. Boys, a British weapons designer. Troops nicknamed it “elephant gun” because of its large size. It was initially quite effective at taking out enemy tanks, but these were upgraded with improved armor to withstand the assault from weapons like the elephant gun.

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Blohm & Voss BV 141
WikiCommons
Do you know the name of this unusual German reconnaissance plane?
Smatchet fighting knife
Blohm & Voss BV 141
Tallboy earthquake bomb
Oscar paradummy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The unusual placement of the cockpit, along with the absence of a tailplane on the right-hand side, gave the Blohm & Voss BV 141 its “impossible to fly” look. Less than 30 of the asymmetrical Blohm & Voss BV 141 were ever produced and today, there are no surviving examples.

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M2 switchblade knife
WikiCommons by Iamthawalrus
Can you name this cutting tool used mostly by paratroopers?
M3 scabbard
Schwerer Gustav railway gun
Miaodao saber
M2 switchblade knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The M2 switchblade knife is often referred to as the paratrooper’s knife, because it was mainly issued to American paratroopers. Its switchblade design meant it could be opened easily with just one hand then used to quickly cut the paratrooper free of the harness of his parachute.

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M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher
WikiCommons by U.S. Army Signal Corps
Which shoulder-fired weapon is this?
M1 Bazooka anti-tank rocket launcher
Tiger I heavy tank
Grand Slam earthquake bomb
Borgward IV demolition vehicle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This reusable rocket launcher was introduced by the United States Army in 1942. It was later upgraded to the M20 Super Bazooka, which had more penetrating power being able to pierce 11 inches of armor plate, whereas the original bazooka could only handle 4.7 inches.

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Miaodao saber
WikiCommons by Haozwang618
Do you know what this two-handed long sword in called?
M2 flamethrower
Vickers K machine gun
Miaodao saber
Colt M 1903 pocket hammerless
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The miaodao saber, a traditional Chinese weapon, found a place in WWII due to the shortage of firearms experienced by some Japanese troops. With a blade which was normally made longer than 47 inches, the miaodao proved to be effective in close quarters combat.

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PIAT man-portable anti-tank weapon
WikiCommons by Ranger Steve
What is the name of this explosives projector?
PIAT man-portable anti-tank weapon
Gammon bomb
Oscar paradummy
M1941 Johnson machine gun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The British PIAT (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) was a man-portable weapon introduced in 1942 to provide better firepower to troops who had been using the Boys anti-tank rifle. The new PIAT was capable of penetrating thicker tank armor than the Boys. Its downside, however, was that its effective range was only 115 yards.

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Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon
WikiCommons by United States Government
Can you name the rapid-fire weapon shown in this image?
U-boat submarine
V-2 rocket
Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon
Goliath tracked mine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Imperial Japanese Navy used the Type 99 Mark 2 aircraft autocannon to arm both the Mitsubishi A6M Zero and the Kawanishi N1K. Whereas an autocannon is normally a very heavy piece of equipment, the Type 99 was designed to be much lighter but suffered some loss of firepower.

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You Got:
/40
WikiCommons via Euro-t-guide.com