Favourite battle where underdog won

[The Basket]

What battles in history have been fought where the weaker side won?

Does the side with the bigger numbers always win?

I am talking about military defeats not political so Americans in Vietnam doesn't count although the French defeat in Vietnam would.

 

[rochie]

on a small scale 2 Para at Goose green comes to mind, both sides were surprised at the numbers each opponent had when the battle ended.
the Argentinean commander didnt believe how small a force he surrendered to !

 

[Marcel]

Many battles of the winter war in Finland come to mind. Although the finns ultimately lost the war.

 

[rochie]

what about the battle of the bulge ?

were the US forces outnumbered in general ?

i think the action around Bastogne could be included !

 

[buffnut453]

Battle of the Admin Box, Burma. Gritty determination and courage aplenty.

 

[swampyankee]

I think the best USN example is the Battle off Samar (The Battle off Samar: The Sacrifice of "Taffy 3"), where an few escort carriers, destroyers, and destroyer escorts beat back a Japanese force that included battleships and cruisers, and inflected significant losses on the IJN.

It was, arguably, the result of an error on Halsey's part, in that the USN forces off Samar should never have been in a position to have to face such a Japanese force.

 

[michaelmaltby]

The German Army in the Cortland Pocket, along the Baltic coast, in 1945 was never defeated in battle and was still a functional army when the surrender took place.

 

[Glider]

Rorkes Drift 150 vs 3,000 (ish)

 

[The Basket]

I would agree with Samar.

 

[Capt. Vick]

The 300...wait...how about Custer's Last...hmm...the glorious glosters...damn!

 

[nuuumannn]

The All Blacks versus Munster.

Munster's historic 1978 victory over mighty All Blacks proved a defining moment

 

[nuuumannn]

On a more serious note, The Battle of Gate Pa.

Battle of Gate Pa, 28th - 29th April 1864

 

[PFVA63]

Hi,
One thought that comes to mind is the actions of May 16th, 1940 in and around the Village of Stonne. Although it was not a complete battle itself, since the town was to eventually change hands about 17 times over several days, but during a period of a few hours on the morning of the 16th a single French Char B1 bis tank was able to take out a complete German Armored Company (11 Panzer IIIs and 2 Panzer IVs) plus two additional 37mm guns, while surviving about 140 hits from the Germans tanks and AT weapons.
Pat

 

[swampyankee]

The German Army in the Cortland Pocket, along the Baltic coast, in 1945 was never defeated in battle and was still a functional army when the surrender took place.

The German Army in Norway wasn't either, but that was because nobody bothered to attack it. Was the German Army in the Cortland Pocket seriously attacked or just isolated and ignored?

 

[flypaper2222]

U.S. Revolution

 

[fubar57]

I once had this bottle of ketchup that was really, really hard to open. Snuck up on it with some hot water on the lid, couple of taps with a butter knife and I'm here to tell about it

 

[XBe02Drvr]

I think the best USN example is the Battle off Samar (The Battle off Samar: The Sacrifice of "Taffy 3"), where an few escort carriers, destroyers, and destroyer escorts beat back a Japanese force that included battleships and cruisers, and inflected significant losses on the IJN.

"Last Stand of the Tincan Sailors" A great read!

 

[XBe02Drvr]

First assault on Wake Island.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

May 6, 1801. 14 gun brig, HMS Speedy encounters 32 gun Spanish frigate El Gamo sent to sink her, attacks the larger ship and captures HER. Speedy is later captured by an ENTIRE SQUADRON of French and Spanish frigates that corner her and force her to strike.

 

[Lucky13]

Battle of Narva?