Which battles in world history can be remembered as much/more for use of a new or unique weapon?

[chacoguy]

The Bridge over the River Kwai was taken out by one of the first smart bombs.

[Donnerwetter]

@colonial

The Prussian “Needle gun”, first breech-loading rifle used on a large scale in war,
contributed to the Prussian victory over Austria at the 1866 battle of Koeniggratz.
Although the it had a shorter range than the Austrian muzzle-loader, it had a higher
rate of fire, and the user did not have to stand while reloading.

I was about to mention this, it’s a very good example. The effect of the Prussian rifles upon the Austrian troops was devastating. Paul von Hindenburg, who was a young lieutenant in the battle of Königgrätz and who later rose to the rank of field marshal in WWI described it in his memoirs decades later.

[Elmer_J.Fudd]

With only a few exceptions the posts in this thread have totally ignored the title:

“Which battles in world history can be remembered ***as much/more ***for use of a new or unique weapon?”

[Spiny_Norman]

@colonial

The Prussian “Needle gun”, first breech-loading rifle used on a large scale in war,
contributed to the Prussian victory over Austria at the 1866 battle of Koeniggratz.
Although the it had a shorter range than the Austrian muzzle-loader, it had a higher
rate of fire, and the user did not have to stand while reloading.

The needle-gun was used previously at the 1864 battle of Dybbøl (2nd Schleswig War) and with much the same effect.

[TruCelt]

@colonial

Napalm was invented during WW2 and used extensively beginning 1944, . . .

See Post 54

@colonial

The term “Police Action” was I think a Truman coinage, applied in a speech to the beginning of Korean War, and thereafter only ironically. I was in college 1967-71 and I never once heard the term used to describe the Viet Nam War. . .

My dad graduated West Point in '66 and served three tours in Viet Nam. I was indeed being ironical.

[Colibri]

@Elmer_J.Fudd

With only a few exceptions the posts in this thread have totally ignored the title:

“Which battles in world history can be remembered ***as much/more ***for use of a new or unique weapon?”

Since that rule was violated by the OP, I don’t think it needs to be taken very seriously. In any case, if followed it would make for a pretty short thread.

[Spiny_Norman]

@Elmer_J.Fudd

With only a few exceptions the posts in this thread have totally ignored the title:

“Which battles in world history can be remembered ***as much/more ***for use of a new or unique weapon?”

OK, then.

Cambrai? Remembered as the first successful use of tanks en masse, although that’s currently being disputed.

[Dave_Hartwick]

Not so much a new weapon but a new tactic, but Dutch Admiral Maartin Tromp is generally credited with first using line of battle tactics in the Action of 18 September 1639. You could, at a stretch, call it the first appearance of the ship of the line. It’s a claim based on function rather than design; Tromp’s ships would hardly have been 74s.

[Dave_Hartwick]

Remember the 1804 battle for Fort Amsterdam between the British and Dutch? Of course you do, and all because it was the first recorded use of the Shrapnel shell.

[Leo_Bloom]

@Dave_Hartwick

Not so much a new weapon but a new tactic, but Dutch Admiral Maartin Tromp is generally credited with first using line of battle tactics in the Action of 18 September 1639. You could, at a stretch, call it the first appearance of the ship of the line. It’s a claim based on function rather than design; Tromp’s ships would hardly have been 74s.

line of battle tactics
ship of the line

[Fubaya]

I guess this won’t fit the OP, but during the Hussite Wars, the Czech Jan Ziska went 50-0 in battles against the German knights and infantry of the day by using heavily armed wagons as mobile fortifications. Filled with crossbowmen, pikemen and “handgunners” (the early handguns were nothing like modern pistols), the enemy was usually torn to shreds before they got close. If they did, infantry using the wagons for cover would finish them off. Zizka’s wagons from the early 1400s are often called the ancestor of modern tanks, and Ziska is one of the few historical generals to go undefeated in battle throughout their career.

Sorry if that’s too far off the mark, but it’s pretty cool and worth mentioning.

[morgensd]

Battle of the East China Sea - 2050 - first use of ship-mounted rail gun

Oh wait, that hasn’t happened yet has it. Just forget I said that. Must slip off into the TARDIS now.
Doctor Who

[dropzone]

@Leo_Bloom

line of battle tactics

Line of battle

ship of the line

Ship of the line

I can see you being unfamiliar with the first, since naval battle tactics of the 17th-19th centuries aren’t a hot topic in mdern history classes, but I thought “ship of the line” was a common-enough term, especially here, where Hornblower and Aubrey–Maturin books are required reading.

thinking

No, because of that you should have gotten both terms. Shame on you!

[dtilque]

@AK84

1962. The First successful intercept of an aircraft by a SAM

1959, actually. No doubt you’re thinking of this guy for 1962, but this other guy (1960) was perhaps better known.

[robert_columbia]

The US Civil War introduced large-scale use of railroads for troop transport.

@http://www.brettschulte.net/CWBlog/2010/02/16/the-impact-of-railroads-on-warfare-during-the-american-civil-war/

The First and Second Battles of Bull Run (First and Second Battles of Manassas to the Confederates) were fought over possession of the rail communications node and railhead of Manassas Junction. In addition to the numerous roads that ran through Manassas Junction, there were several railroads and railheads in close proximity (many of which are still there today – Manassas continues to serve the DC area as a transportation hub). Manassas would serve as an important logistics point for any Confederate invasion of the Union capital, which is located approximately 35 miles to the northeast of Manassas. Also, through the bridges and fords in the vicinity of Manassas, the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia could avoid major opposed river crossings along the Bull Run and Occoquan Rivers and attack north following rail lines directly into Cent[re]ville, Fairfax Station, and then into Washington DC.

I believe there were several other railroad related incidents during the war in NoVA where a railroad, train, or train station was involved. Afaik there was at least one in Vienna and one in Burke. I think the incident in Vienna involved not only troop transport by rail but involved a literal fight over the train itself.

[China_Guy]

@Loach

The Battle of Khalkhin Gol: first combined arms attack of armor and air power.

I believe in Soviet history. At least according to Wiki: Battles of Khalkhin Gol - Wikipedia

[China_Guy]

@Kevbo

Midway-Kamikaze aircraft.

I don’t think this is correct. Midway was 1942 when the Japanese were unstoppable, so no need for desperate suicidal attacks.

According to Wiki says the first organized kamikaze’s was Leyte Gulf in 1944

Of course, you wanted to pick nits, 1274 was when the Kamikaze winds wiped out maybe 75% of the Mongolian invasion force. If those winds were in fact brought up by the Emperor or warlock, then maybe it would count to the OP.

[Little_Nemo]

@colonial

The term “Police Action” was I think a Truman coinage, applied in a speech to the beginning of Korean War, and thereafter only ironically. I was in college 1967-71 and I never once heard the term used to describe the Viet Nam War.

It actually was first used by a reporter. Truman was meeting with the press and explaining that despite appearances what was going on in Korea wasn’t technically a war. After he explained the legal nuances of how the United States was just providing troops so the UN could enforce international law, one of the reporters asked “So you’re saying this is more like a police action?” and the Truman administration jumped on the term.

[David_H_Singanas]

@AK84

All the Israel ones are wrong. UAVs, ABM and Active tank protection measures were in use long before the OP believes. UAVs were extensively used in Vietnam and as far back as WW2. The US and Soviets both deployed ABMs before the 1972 treaty took effect. The Soviet Naval Infantry had active protection measures on their tanks from the 1970’s and they saw extensive use in Afghanistan.
Come to think of it, Hannibal elephants is wrong as well. It was used in the Sub Continent for thousands of years before Hannibal and by Hellenistic rulers in the East.

I believe the OP specified use in battle. This infers recorded battle and a sortie or
deployment is not a battle. Therefore Hannibal would have the first battle
with the elephant weapon. What were the first recorded battles for the use
of the crossbow, Greek fire, and the cannon ?

[TokyoBayer]

@China_Guy

I don’t think this is correct. Midway was 1942 when the Japanese were unstoppable, so no need for desperate suicidal attacks.

According to Wiki says the first organized kamikaze’s was Leyte Gulf in 1944

There were a number of cases on both sides of pilots choosing to crash their planes into the enemy after their plane was heavily damaged, but it wasn’t until Leyte Gulf that they became planned tactics.