Name that Battle!

**Aymer de Valence** · January 28, 2015, 05:14 PM

Nope but those are definitely swordfish's!

**Spartan JKM** · January 28, 2015, 06:41 PM

This was the 'Channel Dash', I believe, undertaken from 11-13 February of 1942: not nince the days of Michiel de Ruyter had enemy ships ran the English Channel through a British blockade. The painting depicts the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, which led Brest Group safely to Wilhelmshaven. The Luftwaffe bested the RAF amid this fight (the vaunted FW-190 was now operational, and what is tactically reflected in the fine image is quite a mismatch against the RAF: all the Fairey Swordfishes were shot down, even with support from Spitfires). This surprise run on the British was known as Operation Zerberus to the Germans.

James

**Aymer de Valence** · January 29, 2015, 09:45 AM

Yep, you got it! I have to admit, the British back then did seem to suffer from Bismarck/Taranto syndrome.... What was the point in sending Swordfish against air cover like that? The audacity by the Germans in running the Channel/Straits of Dover has got to be admired....made no difference in the end though! Your turn!

Please could somebody rep Spartan for me!

**Spartan JKM** · January 29, 2015, 03:58 PM

Indeed, it was skillfully administered by the Germans, but they took a gamble. The proximate forces of the RN and the RAF fell to perhaps a case of 'double-bluff', not to mention the German usage of defensive smoke screens from a purposed drawing of British fire off Brittany. Moreover, the distance was short enough to enable the German squadron's escape. It was one of the better coordinated operations between the German naval and air forces involved.

Let's try...

James

**EmperorBatman999** · January 29, 2015, 04:47 PM

Yorktown?

**Spartan JKM** · January 29, 2015, 05:21 PM

Nope, not Yorktown, EmperorBatman999, but about as good a guess that can be.

James

**EmperorBatman999** · January 29, 2015, 05:42 PM

Hmmm this is tough. I'm trying to think of another British defensive battle fought in what looks like autumn. It appears to be the American Revolution to me.

**Spartan JKM** · January 29, 2015, 05:54 PM

You're thinking very astutely: this clash occurred in the autumn, and indeed within the American Revolution. The painting depicts a British stout defense of their redoubt, a successful one amid the battle.

James

**EmperorBatman999** · January 29, 2015, 06:27 PM

The Battle of Freeman's Farm - Saratoga?

**Spartan JKM** · January 29, 2015, 07:08 PM

Yes, being you added 'Saratoga': I hope I didn't mislead you, as Freeman's Hill was a tactical British success, but my painting - which I did state was 'a successful one' - was a success only in the revealed moment of action. The painting portrays, specifically, the first assault by Benedict Arnold on the redoubt of Alexander Lindsay, the 6th Earl of Balcarres, on October 7, 1777. The Continentals failed to take this redoubt, but moved over to break the defenses of the nearby Breymann redoubt (defended by Heinrich von Breymann, where he was killed by his own men after he attacked some them in frustration with his sabre!). This was the Battle of Bemis Heights, three weeks after the clash at Freeman's Farm - all part of Saratoga.

Your turn, Emperor.

James

**EmperorBatman999** · January 29, 2015, 08:01 PM

Thanks. Saratoga was actually my initial guess, but you threw me off by saying that it was a tactical victory at first. Saratoga, as far as I understood it, was a decisive battle in the end for the Americans that led to the French joining the war.

Let's give this one a try:

**Abdülmecid I** · January 30, 2015, 02:00 AM

Hmm, definitely the Ottomans attacking their enemy (St. John Knights) in an island. Between Malta and Rhodes, I'm gonna say... the siege of Rhodes of 1522 (random guess).

**Scharfrichter** · January 30, 2015, 02:43 AM

siege of malta?

**Lord Oda Nobunaga** · January 30, 2015, 12:19 PM

Gonna have to say Malta.

**EmperorBatman999** · January 30, 2015, 10:57 PM

Yep Scharfrichter. Specifically the Siege of Fort St. Elmo, 1565 on Malta.

**Scharfrichter** · February 02, 2015, 11:14 AM

**krste** · February 02, 2015, 12:57 PM

Most likely a battle in the Franco-Prussian War, by the backdrop one of the August ones. Still, there is a good number of them, I can't name which specific one.