Glossary of Weapons and Military Terms



ICBM

A long-range missile capable of delivering nuclear or conventional warheads over distances greater than 5,500 km. ICBMs are launched into space on a ballistic trajectory before re-entering the atmosphere to strike their target.
CSS-3 Dongfeng-4 Ballistic Missile CSS-4 Dongfeng-5 ICBM LGM-30 Minuteman LGM-25C Titan II LGM-118 Peacekeeper R-7 Semyorka

MANPAD

A shoulder-fired, surface-to-air missile designed to target low-flying aircraft and helicopters. Portable and relatively lightweight, MANPADs are used by both regular militaries and insurgent forces.
Fliegerfaust

Minie System

A 19th-century innovation in rifled muskets, using the conical Minie ball that expanded upon firing to grip the rifling grooves. This allowed faster loading and improved accuracy, revolutionizing infantry firepower during conflicts like the Crimean and U.S. Civil War.
P53 Enfield 1861 Springfield 1863 Remington Zouave Rifle M1854 Lorenz

Indirect Fire

A method of firing artillery or mortars where the target is not visible to the gunner. Instead, calculations, spotters, or forward observers provide targeting data to hit distant or hidden objectives.
M114 155 mm howitzer Stokes mortar

FFAR

A family of unguided rockets developed for U.S. aircraft in World War II, featuring fins that folded during storage and deployed in flight. They were widely used for ground attack roles.
3.5-Inch FFAR

Minenwerfer

A class of German trench mortars first introduced in World War I. They were designed for short-range, high-angle fire to destroy fortifications and barbed wire.
17cm mittlerer Minenwerfer 7.58cm Minenwerfer 25cm schwerer Minenwerfer

CIWS

A point-defense naval system designed to intercept incoming anti-ship missiles or aircraft at close range. Typically, CIWS employs rapid-fire autocannons or missiles with radar guidance.
DARDO Breda Type 70 AK-230

MRBM

A ballistic missile with a range of approximately 1,000 to 5,500 km. MRBMs fill the gap between short-range and intercontinental systems, often used for regional deterrence.
CSS-1 Dongfeng-2 Ballistic Missile S-2 Missile

flintlock

A firearm ignition system developed in the 17th century, using a piece of flint striking steel to create sparks that ignite gunpowder. Flintlocks dominated infantry and civilian weapons for over two centuries.
Brown Bess 3rd Model 1777 An IX Musket 1766 Charleville Musket Pattern 1759 Elliot Light Dragoon pistol Pistolet modele An XIII

yataghan bayonet

A bayonet with a distinctive curved, yataghan-style blade, resembling a short sword. Popular in the mid-19th century, it was used by France and other European armies.
Egyptian Remington bayonet M1866 French

NLOS

A term used for weapon systems or communications that can engage targets without direct visual contact. In weapons, this often refers to guided missiles or artillery that strike from concealed positions.
Spike NLOS

Recoilless Rifle

An anti-tank and anti-fortification weapon that vents propellant gases backward to offset recoil. This allows it to be fired from lightweight mounts, though at the cost of a large backblast.
Type 78 recoilless gun Carl Gustaf M42 20mm recoilless rifle Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle M40 recoilless rifle B-10 recoilless rifle SPG-9

water jacket

A cooling system used on early machine guns, where a metal jacket around the barrel was filled with water to dissipate heat. It allowed sustained fire but added significant weight and complexity.
Schwarzlose machine gun Skoda 1909 Machine Gun MG08 Fiat-Revelli Modello 1914 Browning M1917

barrel shroud

A covering that surrounds part of a gun barrel to protect the operator from burns during prolonged firing. It also reduces the chance of snagging or damage to the barrel.
Intratec TEC-9 Encom MP45 Sites Spectre Pistol

battle rifle

A military rifle chambered for full-powered rifle cartridges such as 7.62x51mm NATO. Examples include the FN FAL, M14, and G3, bridging the gap between bolt-action rifles and modern assault rifles.
SIG STG-57 L1A1 M14 Rifle CETME C

chain gun

A type of autocannon that uses an external power source, such as an electric motor, to cycle the action. Known for reliability, it is widely used in aircraft and vehicle armaments like the M242 Bushmaster.
M242 Bushmaster XM913 chain gun

cap-and-ball revolver

A type of percussion revolver where the shooter loads powder, a lead ball, and a percussion cap into each chamber. Popular in the mid-19th century, it was a major step forward in repeating firearms.
Beaumont-Adams Revolver Colt 1860 Army Revolver 1847 Colt Walker Colt 1851 Navy Revolver

hanger

A short, curved sword used by infantry and naval forces from the 17th to early 19th centuries. It served as both a sidearm and utility tool.
1790 Grenadier Saber

en-bloc clip

A clip that holds a full set of cartridges together and is inserted into a rifle's magazine as a unit. Made famous by the M1 Garand, the clip is ejected when empty with its iconic "ping."
M1895 Mannlicher Mannlicher M1888 Mannlicher M1886 M1 Garand

schmeisser

A colloquial misnomer used by Allied troops for the German MP 40 submachine gun in World War II. Though incorrectly attributed to designer Hugo Schmeisser, the name stuck in popular culture.
MP40 MP41 Submachine Gun MP28 Submachine Gun