Special Report

The 18 Deadliest Weapons of All Time

ajw1970 / Flickr

Throughout human history, conflicts driven by territorial disputes, resource acquisition, and ideological differences have spurred the quest for military advantage. This pursuit has led to the development of increasingly deadly technologies, often disregarding the horrifying consequences of these new weapons. As a result, military technology has evolved over millennia, yielding instruments of destruction with astonishing effectiveness. Many modern weapons leverage the power of terror itself—exploiting the psychological impact on enemies—to achieve victory. (also read: The Future Weapons the US is Spending Billions in R&D On.)

To identify history’s deadliest weapons, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a report called “Quantification Related to Weapon Lethality,” originally issued in 1964 by the Historical Evaluation and Research Organization for the U.S. Army Combat Developments Command. It rates the lethal potential of various weapons on such quantifiable measures as number of potential targets per strike, relative effect, effective range, accuracy, reliability, and mobility.(Also see: 17 prototype guns rejected by the US military.It’s important to acknowledge that this list is meant to be a sample of some of the deadliest weapons — there are, for example, other highly-deadly nuclear weapons besides those listed here.  

Some entries on this list underscore the rapid technological evolution since the Industrial Revolution. Take the sword, a tool used across cultures and eras, which retains ceremonial significance in military contexts. In contrast, the weapons employed in World War I were rendered obsolete at the outset of World War II.

Click here to see history’s deadliest weapons

The progression of military technology often originates from scientific advancements in unrelated fields. For instance, the airplane, initially conceived as a rapid mode of transportation, swiftly found application in warfare. This relationship is reciprocal; gunpowder, employed in Chinese warfare as early as the 10th century, serves not only as a tool for destruction but also as a means to excavate tunnels and provide entertainment through fireworks. (Here are some examples of World War II Weapons That Didn’t Work.)

 

18. Arquebus
> Lethality index score: 10

The arquebus was an early firearm that appeared in 15th century Europe. It was slow to reload, inaccurate and so heavy that it had to be mounted on a pole to fire. Originally, it was used as a defensive weapon for protecting cities and other fortifications. There is a potent French spirit called Arquebuse de l’Hermitage, which legend has it was first formulated to treat those wounded by an arquebus.

[in-text-ad]

Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

17. Sword
> Lethality index score: 20

The most ubiquitous and iconic pre-gunpowder weapons, swords have come in countless different forms and styles around the world. An evolution of daggers, early swords date back at least to around 3300 BC, at the beginning of the Bronze Age. They remained in military service long after the invention of firearms and are still widely used ceremonially.

liveslow / iStock / Getty Images Plus

16. Crossbow
> Lethality index score: 32

First seen in East Asia, crossbows applied many of the principals of bows while allowing users to harness more power and accuracy. They were easier to operate than conventional bows, so took considerably less training to be used effectively.

15. 16th-century cannon
> Lethality index score: 43

The rise of cannons changed warfare on land and sea. Fortifications were forced to adapt to siege from cannon fire and in turn arm themselves with these powerful weapons. Cannons in this time period were often difficult to maneuver and not very accurate. However, they did massive damage if they found their mark.

101561334@N08 / Flickr

14. Flintlock musket
> Lethality index score: 47

Flintlocks are front-loading firearms that use flint to ignite gunpowder. It replaced guns with other firing mechanisms in the 17th century. While not the most accurate, flintlocks could be effective if fired in large numbers. The weapon stayed popular until midway through the 19th century.

[in-text-ad-2]

John H. Hall, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

13. Breech-loading rifle
> Lethality index score: 229

Breech-loading firearms took off in the 19th century with the advancement of the precision machinery needed to make them effective. These firearms are loaded from the rear instead of the front of the gun. This method is much faster and safer and is used in almost all modern weapons. Combined with their rifling — the spiraling of the inside of the barrel for accuracy — breech-loading rifles were far more lethal and effective than muskets.

Armémuseum (The Swedish Army Museum), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

12. Springfield 1903 sniper rifle
> Lethality index score: 778

The Springfield 1903 is a five-round magazine bolt-action rifle. It was adopted by the U.S. military around the beginning of the 20th century and saw action during World War I and to some extent in World War II, though it was outdated at that point. It was a deadly accurate weapon that could be fired and reloaded rapidly.

blackwaterimages / Getty Images

11. Assault rifle
> Lethality index score: 4,200

The first assault rifle was German-made and first saw widespread action during World War II. Assault rifles have detachable magazines for rapid reloading and several different rates of fire. AR’s are the most popular weapon for soldiers in the modern world and have improved considerably since their first conception. The Soviet AK-47 and American M16 are two of the most iconic assault rifles.

[in-text-ad]

JOHNGOMEZPIX / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

10. World War I machine gun
> Lethality index score: 12,730

Machine guns saw widespread use in World War I with devastating effect. At the time, machine guns were heavy, required several people to operate, and were prone to overheating. However, they unleashed carnage on the battlefield like the world had never seen before. In many ways, the weapons of the time were ahead of the tactics and commanders often foolishly sent soldiers and cavalry to charge in only to see them mowed down by these rapid-fire weapons.

9. World War I tank
> Lethality index score: 68,300

Tanks were originally invented to break the deadlock of World War I trench warfare. These heavily armored vehicles used treads instead of wheels and were armed with machine guns and naval cannons. Winston Churchill is regarded as one of the key figures who pushed for the development of tanks to turn the tide of the war.

8. World War I fighter-bomber
> Lethality index score: 229,200

World War I was the first time airplanes saw widespread action in combat. Fight-bombers were equipped with machine guns to take down enemy aircraft and a limited number of bombs to drop on targets. Bombing accuracy was poor at the time but a successful hit could devastate exposed enemy troops. Pilots suffered high numbers of casualties and flying was still very dangerous even when not in combat.

[in-text-ad-2]

7. French 75mm gun
> Lethality index score: 340,000

Commonly known as the French 75, the cannon was originally designed to fire anti-personnel shrapnel shells but was later adapted to also use high-explosive shells and toxic gas shells. It was first adopted by French forces in 1898 and was a huge advancement in technology. New aiming and loading technology meant the cannon could fire significantly faster than other similar weapons at the time. Further, the gun did not shift after firing so artillery crews were not forced to re-align it after every shot. It saw extensive usage in World War I and some in World War II.

6. V-2 ballistic missile
> Lethality index score: 861,000

Created by the Nazis to retaliate against Allied forces for bombing German cities during World War II, the V-2 was the world’s first long-range ballistic missile. Together with V-1s, its cruise missile predecessors, the V-2 rained down on British cities in 1944 and ’45. There was no way to defend against them and very little warning before they arrived. After the defeat of the Nazis, the Americans and Soviets jostled to acquire V-2 technology and the scientists that had invented the missiles.

[in-text-ad]

usnavy / Flickr

5. Automatic grenade launcher
> Lethality index score: 1,500,000

Automatic grenade launchers are usually mounted on vehicles or helicopters and able to rapidly fire grenades to devastating effect. The U.S. first introduced its M19 automatic grenade launcher in 1966 and used it throughout the Vietnam War. The weapons are used for direct fire on targets and for indirect fire like mortars. As technology has advanced some launchers now fire smart grenades that explode at certain points in the air.

GeorgePeters / iStock via Getty Images

4. World War II tank (Sherman M4)
> Lethality index score: 2,203,000

Tank technology advanced rapidly during the interwar period. In World War II they were a critical part of combat. Nazi forces took massive amounts of territory with rapid tank advances known as blitzkriegs — literally “lightening wars.” Their ability to move quickly while being armored and carrying massive firepower shocked several armies into submission in the early days of the war. However, as tank technology advanced so did anti-tank weapons, proving that the vehicles were not invincible.

garylestrangephotography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

3. World War II fighter-bomber
> Lethality index score: 3,037,900

As with tanks, aircraft technology advanced significantly in the inter-war period. Most militaries adopted single-wing aircraft and air power became another staple of combat. Fighter-bombers were capable of shooting down other planes as well as devastating ground targets. Advances in weapons and flying technology meant that these planes had significantly larger range, more firepower, and more advanced tactical abilities.

[in-text-ad-2]

U.S. Department of Defense, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

2. 20-kiloton nuclear bomb (“Fat Man”)
> Lethality index score: 48,550,000

The atomic bomb nicknamed “Fat Man” brought Armageddon to Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of World War II. More powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima three days earlier, it destroyed Nagasaki in a split second, killing tens of thousands instantly and leaving many more seriously wounded by the blast and sickened by nuclear fallout. The explosion would lead to unconditional surrender by the Japanese. It remains only the second time a nuclear bomb has been used in war.

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

1. 25-megaton hydrogen bomb
> Lethality index score: 210,000,000,000

Created in the manic arms race of the Cold War, the B-41 hydrogen bomb is the deadliest weapon on this list. The bomb has never been used in warfare but is capable of destruction on a colossal scale. Its 25-megaton payload is equivalent to 25 million tons of TNT and significantly more powerful than Fat Man’s 20 kilotons of destructive power. The bomb entered US military service in 1961 and was retired in 1976.

Find a Qualified Financial Advisor (Sponsor)

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.