Captain America's Shield

Captain America's Shield is a vibranium shield that was extensively used by Steve Rogers.
== History ==
=== World War II ===
==== Captain America's USO Shield ====
Once Steve Rogers had been rebranded as Captain America, following the successful plan to turn him into a super soldier with the Super Soldier Serum, he had been gifted with a prop shield to go on tour with, promoting war bonds to the people of America. However, when Captain America had learned that HYDRA had kidnapped Bucky Barnes, and the rest of his unit, Captain America used this shield to break inside the HYDRA Base Camp C3, where he rescued all the prisoners. During their mission, Captain America's shield was damaged during his fight against Red Skull, although he was still able to escape, and brought the damaged shield back with him.
==== Designed by Howard Stark ====
The second shield used by Captain America was a prototype made from the only supply of vibranium that the United States Army had available. Howard Stark presented several differing prototypes that Rogers passed over for an ordinary, circular shield on a shelf under the table. Remarking that it was a proper weight and size, Stark tried to convince Rogers it wouldn't suit his needs but Rogers insisted he'd found the shield he wanted. While showing off the shield, Captain America was shot at by Peggy Carter, with these bullets being deflected by the shield. The shield was then integrated into the patriotic motif of Captain America's uniform, adding the white star onto the center and making the three concentric outer circles into red and white stripes, which Captain America would wear.
==== Raid of HYDRA Bases ====
In his continued mission to destroy HYDRA, Captain America carried the shield during all of his raids on HYDRA facilities and their other missions during the war, as he and the Howling Commandos would storm the facilities, with Captain America leading and protecting all his fellow soldiers with the shield. Captain America would also use the shield as an offensive weapon, defeating Red Skull's soldiers in combat, while he also launched the shield at his enemies, including a HYDRA soldier hidden in the trees. While battling against a HYDRA Uber Tank, Captain America used his shield to smash the lock on a top hatch, before James Montgomery Falsworth threw him the bombs, which he had then used to destroy the tank, leaping to safety as it exploded.
==== Capture of Arnim Zola ====
Having been able to track down Arnim Zola, who was on board the Schnellzug EB912 and traveling through the mountains, Captain America overlooked the mountains, with his shield on his back, and Bucky Barnes at his side. Once the train appeared, Captain America led Barnes and Gabe Jones onto the train, and sneaked inside. Captain America kept his shield ready as they made their way through the train, only for Zola to shut the doors and separate him and Barnes, while HYDRA soldiers ambushed them.
Captain America was able to block energy shots with his shield, before knocking out his attacker with a blow from his shield. With Barnes held down, Captain America was able to throw him another gun, allowing Barnes to shoot him. However, when another attack separated them again, Barnes grabbed Captain America's shield, only to be blasted off the train. Although Captain America subdued the attacker, Barnes fell from the train to his apparent death.
==== Attack on HYDRA Headquarters ====
In order to finish their war against HYDRA, Captain America had ridden his Motorcycle into the HYDRA Headquarters. On the way, Captain America was chased down by Lindworm-5 Motorbikes, which attempted to shoot at him, only for the shield on his back to deflect the shots. Once he had taken down the motorbikes, Captain America moved his shield to the front of his motorbike, as a HYDRA Mini Tank had continued shooting at him, until it was destroyed with another missile, as Captain America rode forward.
Captain America then rode his motorbike directly into the HYDRA Headquarters, where he leapt off, striking a HYDRA soldier with his shield in midair, while his motorbike destroyed the headquarters entrance. Surrounded, Captain America used his shield to throw at his enemies, as well as blocking shots from their Assault Weapons. Having deflected his shield off a tank to subdue a soldier, Captain America was then surrounded by the HYDRA Flamethrowers.
With Captain America captured, his shield was taken by a HYDRA soldier, while he was interrogated by Red Skull. However, before Red Skull could execute him, Captain America was saved by the Howling Commandos and the United States Armed Forces, who stormed the base, with James Montgomery Falsworth throwing Captain America his shield during the chaos. Captain America chased Red Skull and threw his shield, only for it to become jammed in a doorway.
Having been rescued from flamethrowers by Peggy Carter, Captain America reclaimed his shield and continued chasing down Red Skull, who was attempting to escape on his Valkyrie. Captain America was then assisted by Chester Phillips and Agent Carter, who had taken Red Skull's Coupe to help with the chase. As he neared the plane, Captain America used his shield to ensure he was not shredded by the propellers, before leaping on board the plane as it took off.
==== Battle in the Valkyrie ====
: "You could have the power of the gods! Yet you wear a flag on your chest and think you fight a battle of nations! I have seen the future, Captain. There are no flags!""Not my future!"
: ―Red Skull and Captain America[src]
Once Captain America had boarded the Valkyrie, he had then found several HYDRA soldiers boarding the HYDRA Parasits. Captain America proceeded to ambush the soldiers, but as he attempted to use his shield to break one soldier out of a Parasit, another knocked the shield out of his hand. Once Captain America had flown the final Parasit back on board the Valkyrie, he reclaimed his shield.
Stepping into the cockpit, Captain America searched for Red Skull, who tried to shoot him with a Assault Weapon, which was deflected with the shield. As they began to fight, Captain America attempted to strike Red Skull with his shield, only for it to be knocked out of his hands, and Red Skull to them use it to pin Captain America back. However, Captain America was able to reclaim his weapon, and used it to launch Red Skull into the plane's controls.
Once Red Skull got the ship back under control, he attempted to shoot Captain America with his HYDRA Pistol, only for the shots to be blocked by Captain America's shield, who then launched the shield at Red Skull, knocking him into the Cosmic Cradle. While Red Skull had then grabbed the Cosmic Cube and was inadvertently shot into space, Captain America left his shield on the ground, before then crashing the plane into the Atlantic Ocean.
=== Iron Man 2 ===
The shield prototype was found by Agent Coulson in Stark's lab. Stark claimed that the shield was just what he was looking for. He then set it under an electrical wire in order to make the it higher.
=== Chitauri Invasion ===
=== Battle of New York ===
== Capabilities ==
=== USO Shield ===
Captain America's original shield was a heater-shaped shield that was made of a relatively sturdy metal that allowed Captain Rogers to rely on it as a viable weapon in battle. The outer surface of the shield was painted in an American Flag motif, with an area of blue with three white stars across the top, and a series of vertical red and white stripes running down to the point. The inner surface had the appearance of a polished brass plate and had mounted leather handles that allowed it to be held. This shield was mostly used as a melee weapon to attack enemies directly and provide some protection from gunfire and debris from explosions. After its surface was punched in by the Red Skull, Captain America abandoned the shield.
=== Vibranium Shield ===
After entering World War II as a fully recognized soldier, Captain America switched to a special, disc-shaped shield made of vibranium provided to him by the Strategic Scientific Reserve. This shield appeared to be composed of four concentric sections, with fittings on the inner surface for two leather straps that allow the shield to easily be held and worn on Captain Rogers' arm. 
Captain America relied heavily on the shield as a weapon that was balanced in both defensive and offensive capabilities. Made from vibranium, it is able to absorb and reflect kinetic energy, enabling it to withstand impacts that would break a shield made of any other material. The shield's center is also highly deflective, able to redirect flying projectiles- as demonstrated when Rogers was able to ricochet a concentrated fire of high caliber bullets from a minigun back at his enemies- and also reflect the impact of Mjølnir to cause a massive shock wave. It was also discovered to be incredibly effective at deflecting or diffusing attacks from energy-based firearms such as those developed by HYDRA, Iron Man's repulsor beams, or Chitauri weaponry. The vibranium shield also demonstrated that it can be used to cushion falls from great heights.
As an offensive weapon, the shield's discus shape and vibranium composition make it powerful as both a close-quarters melee weapon and a thrown weapon. In the hands of a trained fighter like Captain America, the shield is a strong melee weapon, using the flat surface and blunt outer edge of the shield to strike enemies in vital areas. In the right hands, the shield is also an exceptional ranged weapon as its vibranium composition and broad, curved shape allow it to easily move through the air when thrown while maintaining nearly constant velocity and momentum. One of the most unique attributes of the shield is its ability to ricochet after striking a solid surface when thrown, losing very little of its momentum, allowing it to strike several targets, and, if aimed properly, return to the thrower.
The shield originally had a reflective, shiny grey appearance due to its vibranium composition. However, the shield was later painted to match the appearance of Captain America's uniform, placing a white star in the center, surrounded by blue, and making the three outer rings into red and white stripes. During modern stealth missions, the red sections of the shield would temporarily be covered with a light blue color to make it appear less conspicuous.
== Appearances ==
In chronological order:
* Captain America
* Iron Man 2 (depiction)
* The Avengers
== Trivia ==
* In the comics, Captain America's shield is made from a unique mix of Vibranium and an iron alloy; attempts to duplicate this mixture led to the development of adamantium.
* Howard Stark, being tasked with the duty of creating shield prototypes for Captain America, designed five other special shields besides the one made from Vibranium. Some of these prototypes were equipped with guns and electrical relays.
* Prior to making the shield his primary weapon, Rogers showed an affinity for using shields when he fought, such as picking up a circular garbage can lid to protect himself and later using a detached car door to protect himself from gunfire.
* A replica/prototype of the shield can be seen in Tony Stark's workshop in Iron Man and Iron Man 2, first behind Tony when he is first seen removing his armor, and then when he is building a particle accelerator.
Category:Weapons
Category:Items
Category:Shields
Category:Comics Items
Category:The Avengers Items
Category:The Avengers Weapons
Category:Captain America Items
Category:Captain America Weapons