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Learn about different types of weapons, from artillery and explosives to missiles and nuclear weapons, with definitions and examples. Explore the history and development of strategic and tactical missiles, and their roles in military conflicts.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
t. e. A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime (e.g., murder ), law enforcement, self-defense, warfare, or suicide.
Learn about the history and types of weapons, from shock weapons to missile weapons, conventional to nonconventional, and defensive to offensive. Explore the examples of weapons of war, such as the Thompson submachine gun, the M3 Lee tank, and the atomic bomb.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 5, 2024 · Nuclear weapon, device designed to release energy in an explosive manner as a result of nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, or a combination of the two. Fission weapons are commonly referred to as atomic bombs, and fusion weapons are referred to as thermonuclear bombs or, more commonly, hydrogen bombs.
Learn about the different types and features of military weapons, from aerial weapons to infantry weapons. Browse the list of weapons by category and see photos and descriptions of each weapon.
A firearm is a barreled ranged weapon that inflicts damage on targets by launching one or more projectiles driven by rapidly expanding high-pressure gas produced by exothermic combustion ( deflagration) of a chemical propellant, historically black powder, now smokeless powder. [1] [2] [3]
List of World War I weapons.