Photo Courtesy: bbc.com
World War I (1914–1918)
April 18, 1915: Prelude to the Second Battle of Ypres
- Context: German forces prepared for the first large-scale use of chlorine gas.
- Action: British 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers conducted reconnaissance near St. Julien, Belgium, clashing with German patrols.
- Casualties: 27 British killed, 45 wounded.
- Heroism: Lt. Edward Unwin (later awarded the Victoria Cross at Gallipoli) led a daring night raid to capture German trench maps.
April 18, 1916: Gas Attacks at Hulluch
- Context: German 4th Army targeted British positions near Loos, France.
- Action: 16th (Irish) Division endured a chlorine gas barrage. Poor wind conditions caused gas to linger, inflicting heavy losses.
- Casualties: 538 British soldiers killed; 1,600+ injured by gas.
- Aftermath: British improved gas mask designs after the disaster.
April 18, 1917: Battle of Arras – Assault on Guémappe
- Context: British sought to exploit gains from the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
- Action: 12th Brigade (4th Division) attacked Guémappe village but faced entrenched German 23rd Reserve Division machine-gun nests.
- Casualties: 900 British troops killed/wounded; German losses minimal.
- Outcome: Highlighted the limitations of piecemeal infantry charges without artillery support.
April 18, 1918: German Spring Offensive – Battle of Béthune
- Context: Operation Georgette aimed to sever British-French lines.
- Action: 55th (West Lancashire) Division repelled German 6th Bavarian Division assaults using coordinated artillery and Lewis gun teams.
- Casualties: 1,500 Germans killed; British losses: 300.
- Heroism: Sgt. John Molyneux (King’s Liverpool Regiment) destroyed a German mortar team, earning the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
World War II (1939–1945)
April 18, 1940: Norwegian Campaign – Battle of Dombås
- Context: Germany’s invasion of Norway (Operation Weserübung).
- Action: British 1st Scots Guards and Norwegian 2nd Infantry Regiment ambushed German 324th Infantry Regiment at Dombås, delaying their advance.
- Casualties: 112 Germans killed; Allied losses: 43.
- Outcome: Bought time for Allied evacuation from Åndalsnes.
April 18, 1942: The Doolittle Raid
- Context: U.S. retaliation for Pearl Harbor.
- Action: 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers led by Lt. Col. James Doolittle launched from USS Hornet (CV-8) 650 nautical miles off Japan. Targets included Tokyo, Yokohama, and Kobe.
- Casualties: 50 Japanese killed; 8 U.S. airmen captured (3 executed).
- Heroism: Pilot Ted Lawson (crew Doolittle Raider) crash-landed in China, later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
April 18, 1943: Operation Vengeance – Death of Yamamoto
- Context: U.S. intercepted Japanese codes detailing Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto’s flight schedule.
- Action: 18 P-38 Lightnings from the 339th Fighter Squadron ambushed Yamamoto’s G4M Betty bomber over Bougainville.
- Casualties: Yamamoto and 11 staff killed; 3 P-38s lost.
- Heroism: Capt. Thomas Lanphier (credited with the kill) received the Navy Cross.
April 18, 1944: Burma Campaign – Battle of Admin Box
- Context: Japanese 55th Division besieged British-Indian forces in the Arakan.
- Action: 7th Indian Infantry Division broke the siege with airstrikes and armored counterattacks.
- Casualties: 5,000 Japanese killed; Allied losses: 3,500.
- Heroism: Subedar Richhpal Ram (6th Rajputana Rifles) posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for holding a hilltop under suicidal Banzai charges.
April 18, 1945: Battle of Berlin – Soviet Assault on Seelow Heights
- Context: Final Soviet push to encircle Berlin.
- Action: 1st Belorussian Front (Marshal Zhukov) overran German 9th Army defenses with 3,000 tanks and 1 million troops.
- Casualties: 12,000 Soviets killed; 40,000 Germans captured.
- Heroism: Sgt. Yakov Pavlov (Stalingrad hero) led a reconnaissance unit to mark artillery targets, earning the Order of Lenin.
U.S.-Vietnam War (1955–1975)
April 18, 1966: Battle of Xa Cam My
- Context: North Vietnamese 272nd Regiment ambushed U.S. 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment in the Iron Triangle.
- Action: Charlie Company fought for 18 hours against 400 Viet Cong.
- Casualties: 134 U.S. killed/wounded; 41 Viet Cong confirmed dead.
- Heroism: Sgt. Jimmy Howard (Medal of Honor) led a 17-man recon team, surviving 3 days under siege.
April 18, 1972: Operation Linebacker – Bombing of Haiphong
- Context: Nixon’s response to the Easter Offensive.
- Action: B-52 Stratofortresses from Guam targeted Haiphong’s oil depots.
- Casualties: 200 Vietnamese civilians killed; 3 B-52s shot down.
- Impact: Disrupted 35% of North Vietnam’s fuel reserves.
Gulf War (1990–1991)
April 18, 1991: Operation Provide Comfort Begins
- Context: U.S.-led coalition protected Kurdish refugees post-war.
- Action: 173rd Airborne Brigade secured Drop Zone Alpha in northern Iraq.
- Casualties: 2 U.S. helicopters lost; 12 troops injured.
- Outcome: Established Kurdish safe havens, averting a humanitarian crisis.
Iraq War (2003–2011)
April 18, 2003: Fall of Tikrit
- Context: Final major stronghold of Saddam’s regime.
- Action: 1st Marine Division and 4th Infantry Division captured Tikrit after fierce resistance from Saddam Fedayeen.
- Casualties: 250 Iraqis killed; 8 U.S. troops wounded.
- Heroism: Sgt. Paul Ray Smith (posthumous Medal of Honor) defended 100+ soldiers at Baghdad Airport on April 4.
