History buffs: "underdog" battles?

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A little personal history.

1973 - A bigger stronger Irish mercenary force hired by the local upper class to put down the upstarts, staging a surprise attack is stopped in its tracks when initial contact results in more damage to the attacking force than the defender.

When I was a smartass punk freshman in high school some of the seniors paid the toughest kid in my class a carton of smokes to kick my ass rather than risk getting in trouble doing it themselves. Kelly had suggested we step out back of the shop building for a smoke, when we got there, there were about 5 of the seniors waiting to see the show. Not having a clue what was about to happen, I was totally surprised when Kelly threw the first punch. It landed on my left cheekbone, and he broke a couple of his knuckles on my hard Swedish head. I went totally berserk, and while he screamed in the pain of his fractured hand, rushed him, threw him down, put the boots to him then turned for the nearest senior, all of whom were scattering as their plan for some entertainment at my expense fell apart.
Learned a couple of important lessons that day. #1 Always be aware of your surroundings. #2 If you are in a fight, go all out or else you are done for

bergie
 
Battle of Long Tan

6th Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR) v Viet Cong 275th Main Force Battalion & Local Force Unit D445 Battalion

"D Company of the 6th Battalion, on it's first tour in 1966-67, earned the high honour of being awarded the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation. The award was made for it's part in the battle of Long Tan, when; on August 18, 1966, the Company was on sweep operations in a rubber plantation and was attacked by a regiment of North Vietnamese and Vietcong troops.

Although outnumbered by more than 10 to one, the Company held it's position for more than three hours until a relief force from other companies arrived in armoured personnel carriers. The enemy fled, leaving 245 dead on the battlefield. D Company lost 17 killed in action and 21 wounded. One soldier of 3rd Troop, 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Squadron, was also killed in action."
 
MAJ W. G. Barker of No 201 Squadron, RAF, flying a Sopwith Snipe (E8102) on 27 October 1918 (his 10th day in an operational squadron).

While engaging and destroying a German two-seater, Barker is shot through the left thigh by an unseen Fokker DVII. He blacks out and spins down, waking alone in the middle of a formation of 15 Fokker DVIIs, shoots down one of these and receives a second wound in the left thigh. Again he blacks out and when he came to he was surrounded by another group of Fokkers, shoots one down, and receives a wound in the left elbow and loses consciousness. He regains consciousness while under attack by yet another group of fighters and dispatches another while diving away from the fight. Getting his bearings, he dives for the lines, through a fourth enemy formation and crash lands just inside the British lines.

Final tally:
4 German aircraft
3 bullet wounds
1 Victoria Cross

The riddled fuselage of Sopwith Snipe E8102 was recovered and is now on display in Canada.


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Cry "Havoc!" and let slip the dogs of war.
 
Mr. Feral:

Thank you, now I can sleep. I'm trapped at my beau's house without my reference library and the RFC pilot in that engagement had completely slipped my mind. Neither Mannock nor Ball, but the indomitable "Billy" Barker.

I was totally tortured until you posted that...

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"..but never ever Fear. Fear is for the enemy. Fear and Bullets."
10mm: It's not the size of the Dawg in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog!
 
Okay, I'm game...

Battle of Tsushima Straits, 1904(?). My memory isn't working right, I can't remember the name of the Japanese admiral who lead the Japanese fleet...
But, basically, he pulled a page out of Nelson's book and "crossed the T", destroying the Russian Baltic fleet off the coast of Japan (big embarassment for the Russians).

Or, how about the Ethiopians, early 20th century, kicking some Italian butt with spears (the Italians paid them back under Mussolini, though).

Then there's a local one (don't remember the year). South Georgia, St. Simon's Island - Battle of Bloody Marsh. The British forces surprised the Spainish troops (caught them at dawn, IIRC). The Spainish were caught with their rifles stacked & were decimated; the British lost one man - who died of a heart attack chasing the Spainiards. This battle ended any Spainish claims in Georgia.

Don't forget Eric Rudolph vs. the FBI...

[This message has been edited by Danger Dave (edited May 15, 2000).]
 
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