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Posted by Ponsonby (U3591043) on Friday, 24th March 2006
Just add your vote to the list below.
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, in reply to message 1.
Posted by Grand Falcon Railroad (U3267675) on Friday, 24th March 2006
The coup de' main to seize Mussolini at the Gran Sasso byt Otto Skortaeny and the 1st SS para unti he led - fantasic.
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eben emael
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Pegasus Bridge.....5th June '44.
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, in reply to message 3.
Posted by Grand Falcon Railroad (U3267675) on Friday, 24th March 2006
Spot on post there - very daring and amazing that only like 100 men beat the Belgians there - but they were elite troops and I don't know if the Belgians were.
What about though the invasion of the Falklands - the Argies thought that we'd do exactly what they did - hit Moody Brook and go in through Stanley but we landed a hundred miles away and walked/fought our way over to Port Stanley.
Also the SAS mission to strike Pebble Island airbase - fantastic small unit operation that resulted in the loss of lots of Argie kit incl. Pucara light-strike aircraft and a few choppers - all for the cost of one broken ankle (if I remember rightly).
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Posted by marduk-slayer of tiamat (U2258525) on Friday, 24th March 2006
the E.R.E leaving the sassanid army sat outside constantinople while it requonquered anatolia and took syria and palestine, meanwhile cutting off the sassanid supply lines and leaving them to suffer in the cold
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Napoleon-Austerlitz- deliberately weakened his right to provoke the attack there, let his right fall back, the austrians exploit this advantage by taking troops from thir centre, then Napoleon sends soult to smash the austrians weakened centre, turn around an take out the attacking austrians from the rear.
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Hannibal at Cannae. Still studied by modern strategists.
Wellington at Salamanca.
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Yes, I was going to suggest Austerlitz and Cannae.
There was also an incident during the Napoleonic Wars where one of Napoleon's Marshals captured a strategically important bridge single handed by riding up to the defending army and persuading them to surrender by means of a bluff.
I seem to have forgotten the details so if anyone can fill me in...
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i read this book about the napoleonic wars, and it said that Napoleon controlled the opponents army as well as his, it also said that the allied armies of austria and russia's fate was sealed before the first musket shot rang out.
When i said that he controlled both armies, as in another previous post, he wanted the austrians to get troops from the center to thier right so he could attack them from the rear.
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Ponsonby
I dont understand u there
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I mean the title.
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In the War of 1812 in Canada, Isaac Brock convinced the American army of 5000 at Detroit to surrender to his much smaller mixed force (500 regulars, 500 Indians). He gained a supply of arms, credibility in the eyes of the Indian tribes, and killed the momentum of the American forces at the time.
His superiors had advocated a defensive strategy of retreat to Montreal. Brock went on the offensive with a small force, and was succesful until killed in a later battle while leading an attack. His offensive spirit probably was instrumental in the British retention of Canada.
Regards from the Great White North.
Brian
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Rossbach & Leuthen 1757 (Frederick the Great of Prussia)
Rossbach - Frederick fools the enemy into thinking he is retreating then destroys the "pursuing" enemy with a flank attack by his cavalry. Enemy destroyed in less than 2 hours.
Leuthen (1 month later) - Frederick makes diversionary attack in enemy right flank, leading them to weaken the left. Meanwhile makes a huge flank march against the weakened left. Enemy destroyed in 3 hours.
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What about Alam Halfa? Potentially a great tactical victory over the Germans which potentially gave us victory at El Alamein and eventually the war. Personally I think Monty's ability to draw the Germans into his stationary tanks and dug in anti - tank weapons around the ridge was something special. Additionally he didnt pursue them once they retreated because it wasnt part of his 'master plan'. The fact that he had everything already planned out against the rampaging German Army and the great Rommel makes this tactical victory my vote especially with regards to it's context.
Cheers,
WF.
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I think battle of Hastings, when William "the conqueror" fooled the Saxon by retreating more than before, so the drunk Saxons pursuited the Normans and this was the time the Normans were waiting for, william told his cavalary to smash and ambush them from the wings and Harold's right-wing was damaged, although harold put his shieldwall in order, it was finished, and that is why the Normans won and went on to rule the rest of ENGLAND and not Scotland or Wales.
Bloods
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I think battle of Hastings, when William "the conqueror" fooled the Saxon by retreating more than before, so the drunk Saxons pursuited the Normans and this was the time the Normans were waiting for, william told his cavalary to smash and ambush them from the wings and Harold's right-wing was damaged, although harold put his shieldwall in order, it was finished, and that is why the Normans won and went on to rule the rest of ENGLAND and not Scotland or Wales.
µþ±ô´Ç´Ç»å²õÌý
I hadn't ever heardthatthe Saxons were drunk atthe Battle of Hastings. Care t share your sources?
The reason William did not try to conquer Scotland was because it was a separate kingdom with a separate king and army who had not submitted to him. What was left of the English nobility did submit to him and, as he did not have huge numbers of troops, he had enough on his hands keeping England and Nomandy under control without trying toextend his kingdom further. Also, England was many times wealthier than Scotland, so there was no reason for him to try to conquer anyway as the reward was insufficient for the risk involved. His successors did manage to subdue Wales (although the Welsh might argue that, with the succession of the Tudor kings, Wales subdued England).
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I think battle of Hastings, when William "the conqueror" fooled the Saxon by retreating more than before, so the drunk Saxons pursuited the Normans and this was the time the Normans were waiting for, william told his cavalary to smash and ambush them from the wings and Harold's right-wing was damaged, although harold put his shieldwall in order, it was finished, and that is why the Normans won and went on to rule the rest of ENGLAND and not Scotland or Wales.
µþ±ô´Ç´Ç»å²õÌý
A colourful interpretation (no doubt of 'celtic' origin) of the interpretation of a couple of rather suspect sources which were written to glorify and justify the Conquest. Very amusing.
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Cerdic
I think you are referring to the incident which took place after the French captured Vienna in 1805. The French army had to cross the Danube to catch the combined Austro-Russian Army and the only route was over a bridge at Spitz which was mined and held by the Austrians.
Murat and Lannes rode over the bridge and bluffed the Austrian Commander into believing that an Armistice had been signed and one of the terms was that the bridge was to be handed over to the French.
By the time the Austian Commander realised this was a hoax it was too late as a party of French Grenadiers who were sneaking up had defused the mines and captured the bridge.
Craig
Yes, I was going to suggest Austerlitz and Cannae.
There was also an incident during the Napoleonic Wars where one of Napoleon's Marshals captured a strategically important bridge single handed by riding up to the defending army and persuading them to surrender by means of a bluff.
I seem to have forgotten the details so if anyone can fill me in...Ìý
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To add to the list for consideration,
Harry Smith and the Battle of Ailwal (the Battle without a mistake),
U S Grant and the Vicksburg Campaign. Audacious, brilliantly planned and excellently executed (with the possible exception of ordering the assault on Vicksburg, but Grant did have a reason for attempting it).
Cheers AA.
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Cheers Craig! That is exactly the incident I dimly remembered.
You have to give Murat and Lannes top marks for balls! Wonder how the Austrians felt when they realised they had been fooled?
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i once defeated an opponent with a spinning back fist heeeeyahhh
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Big balls indeed! It was a hige risk they were taking especially as they rode over in their full Marshals uniforms so the Austrians knew exactly who they were. They would have been a major prize if it backfired and were captured. Ney would probably have been the only other Marshal to attempt it.
I wouldn't have liked to be in the Austrian Commanders shoes when having to report that incident back to his Commanders especially considering the events which were to follow.
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miyagi2,
Are you a UFC fan?
Matt.
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General Douglas MacArthur’s assault at Inchon. It was a strategic masterpiece. The invasion had suddenly positioned some of our finest fighting men across the main North Korean lines of supply, and retreat, far in the rear of their attacking armies. Within two weeks, the North Korean army was largely destroyed .
Cheers Matt.
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, in reply to message 1.
Posted by Backtothedarkplace (U2955180) on Monday, 27th March 2006
Anything by Stonewall jackson during the American Civil War.
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<quote user='TonyG' userid='1830405'><quote user='Bloodz' userid='3038272'> I hadn't ever heard that the Saxons were drunk atthe Battle of Hastings. Care to share your sources?
</quote>
Wace, I believe. So absolutely reliable, well at least compared to Benoit de St. Maure!
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Anything by Stonewall jackson during the American Civil War. Ìý
With the exception of the "Seven Days" and there is some doubt expressed about what Bee actually said or meant when he described Jackson "standing like a stone wall" (although not enough doubt IMO to use anything other than the widely accepted version).
Cheers AA.
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Belosarus the Battle of Daras
Frauenstädt 1706 where a Swedish army did beat a combined Polish,Saxon Russian army trice its size,by doubble outflanking.
Ceasar Alesia
Wolfe Quebeck
Napoleon Ulm
The list is nearly endless.
Hasse
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In the War of 1812 in Canada, Isaac Brock convinced the American army of 5000 at Detroit to surrender to his much smaller mixed force (500 regulars, 500 Indians). He gained a supply of arms, credibility in the eyes of the Indian tribes, and killed the momentum of the American forces at the time.
His superiors had advocated a defensive strategy of retreat to Montreal. Brock went on the offensive with a small force, and was succesful until killed in a later battle while leading an attack. His offensive spirit probably was instrumental in the British retention of Canada.
Regards from the Great White North.
Brian
Ìý
Scarboro: As a Yank I have enjoyed studying the War of 1812. IMO if Brock had not been killed, the whole western theatre of the war would have been different. He and Tuchmusa (sp) got along great. They knew and understood each other.
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