On This Day ... in 1706 & Others
Following Marlborough's success in 1705 in penetrating the French defensive Lines of Brabant, Louis XVI instructed the Duc de Villeroi to take the offensive during the 1706 campaigning season. Villeroi duly advanced across the River Dyle with some 60,000 French, Spanish and Bavarian troops, and met Marlborough's English, Dutch, Danish and German army of similar size near the village of Ramillies.
Villeroi adopted a strong defensive position behind two streams and in several villages. Marlborough launched a feint attack in the north, then, when Villeroi moved his reserves to bolster that flank, hit the south with massed cavalry. The French cavalry responded, and a huge cavalry melee ensued, during which Marlborough himself, leading from the front, was unhorsed. He was unhurt however, and delivered the coup de grace with a massed infantry assault on the French central position around Ramillies, which had been weakened by the need to support the flanks. As the French broke, the Allied cavalry turned the retreat into a rout. The French lost 15-18,000 men, the Allies some 4-5,000, although Dutch casualties were disproportionately heavy
1858: During an Indian Mutiny action, Lieutenant Lyster won the Victoria Cross with a single-handed charge of a defensive square of rebels, which broke and ran.
1982: In the Falklands, HMS Brilliant had joined the Carrier Battle Group during the night, HMS Antelope replaced her at San Carlos, bringing with her the first re-supply convoy made up of the Stromness, Norland and Europic Ferry. The ships had spent the day before, along with Elk and RFA Resource on the edge of the TEZ, transferring hundreds of loads.
Four GR3s took off from HMS Hermes to bomb West Falkland airstrip.
The San Carlos frigates launched strikes, Argonaut's Lynx attempted a Sea Skua missile attack on the Rio Carcarana but was thwarted by technical problems. Antelope's flight then attacked the same target, firing two Sea Skuas, both of which hit the ship.
The unloading of the stores ship was carried out with little interruption. The Stromness had brought equipment intended for assembly as GR3 landing pads which the Royal Engineers wasted no time in putting it together.
The San Carlos Bridgehead was consolidated with 5,000 troops dug in.
HMS Antelope flew off her Lynx to investigate the extent of damage inflicted on the Rio Carcarana. As the Lynx returned it was overflown by four Skyhawks and the pilot broadcast a warning of the raid. Consequently , Broadsword, Antelope and Yarmouth were ready and the first pair of Skyhawks were turned back.
The second pair selected Antelope and Broadsword, Premier Teniente L Guadagnini pressed home his attack on the Antelope despite being hit by 20mm fire and scored a direct hit about six feet above the water line on the starboard side of the frigate, below the hangar. The Skyhawk collided with the main mast, blew up and fell into the water.
Another Skyhawk attacked unnoticed from Antelope's port and put another bomb into her port side.
Both bombs had failed to exploded, one was in Antelope's Air Conditioning Unit and the second in her Petty Officers Mess, Antelope lost one man and one was seriously injured. Later in the day the Antelope moved up San Carlos Water near the Fearless. The casualty was moved to the field hospital and two Royal Engineers bomb disposal experts came on board.
The first attempts to defuse the bomb unsuccessful. The men decided to use a small defusing charge. As they walked back to examine the results, the bomb exploded Staff Sargent Prescott was killed instantly, Warrant Officer Phillips left arm was badly injured. The explosion started a number of fires, as she burned the ship blazed white hot and was abandoned by her 175 crew.
Comments
Well, since this is the military section of the blog, I figure this is the appropriate place to let y'all know that I joined the US Marine Corps(Semper Fi!) and to ask for your thought and prayers as I go to Parris Island in September.
Posted by: Dan | May 24, 2006 1:05 AM
Which fits in nicely with my branch's idea of a gunfight...
1. Take an offensive posture offshore.
2. Send in the Marines
3. Drink coffee
I had thoughts of murder many times raising my middle son. I wasn't sure even the Marines could handle him, but he made us proud.
Grit your teeth, rub dirt in it, and be a Marine...will last you your entire life.
Luck
Posted by: trainer | May 24, 2006 1:25 AM
Dan - Good luck to you, and thanks for volunteering. Since you have the summer to prepare, check with your recruiter and get info. on PT requirements. Begin training right away. If you turn up at PI with a high level of fitness, you will have much more time and energy to concentrate on the rest of the many things you will have to learn. See if you can buy a pair of regulation boots (the kind you will be issued at Parris) and begin breaking them in. Keep a positive mental attitude. When you get there take nothing said or done personally. Remember that this too shall pass, and keep your eyes on the prize. South Carolina will still be hot in September.
Posted by: MP | May 22, 2008 6:43 PM
Lad, I did it 30 years ago, and knew it was worth it then, nothing has changed. Everything about you will be tested, your character the most. It will be demanded that you give all you have. If you do, it will be more then enongh. The physical fitness stuff is a good idea. Spend a lot of time in the heat now. You will later too.
Semper Fi. Bro.
Posted by: Chris | May 23, 2008 4:01 AM
Being ex army from over 25 years ago I dont normally intrude on a marine love in ours or yours but I wish to say thank you and well done, now the real work begins!
Posted by: TimC | May 23, 2008 8:53 AM
Nice post, but it was Louis Quatorze...
Posted by: Tony Suruda | May 26, 2009 1:14 AM