Abstract: Disclosed is a high-speed, high-force impulse load damper susceptible to adaptive control including a cylinder, a piston defining in the cylinder a volume, a coil, fixed relative to the cylinder, configured to generate a magnetic field, and a fluid channel, configured to be influenced by the magnetic field, for one or both of providing fluid to and evacuating fluid from the volume. Also disclosed is a damper including a cylinder, a piston defining in said cylinder a first volume and a second volume, a first fluid channel for one or both of providing fluid to and evacuating fluid from the first volume, first means for regulating flow through said first fluid channel, a second fluid channel for one or both of providing fluid to and evacuating fluid from the second volume, and second means for regulating flow through said second fluid channel, wherein said first fluid channel and said second fluid channel are in fluid communication.