The Korean Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. They were astonishing.
Some 300 soldiers held against 2400 enemy soldiers at one time
192 kills for only 11 killed during one battle
Kill ratio of 25:1
204 enemies killed without even one soldier killed in one battle

Some other astounding stories I hear...I wonder why they weren't included in the list...I think the Korean veterans of the Vietnam War would be emotionally hurt...

All the UK/DK and other ISAF troops involved in the defence, releif, resupply and fighting in and around the Platoon Houses (District Centers) in Sangin, Kajaki, Now Zad and Musa Qala, Helmand provins, Afghanistan - in 2006-2007.

Cpl. Bryan Budd (RIP) of A Company (3PARA), 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions during the fighting around Sangin. This being the first posthumous VC awarded since the Falklands, and only the 13th VC awarded since WW2.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Budd


Other ref.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Sangin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmand...aign#Musa_Qala

The Knights of St John

Has any one ever considered them for this title....If you look at the feat of arms in the 1540's when the Ottam Empire invaded Malta and some 600 of these knights fought a Turkish force of 150.000 men to a stand still and making them withdraw from Malta

Agreed Enfield, the original post does injustice to the The Knights Hospitaller of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta. Their Military achievements far eclipse anything the Templars have ever done. suffice it to say that their heroic victory in the Great Siege of Malta and their contribution to the victory at Lepanto alone have literally defined the course of History. if there is a fighting force that consistently punched above their weight - it must surely be them.

however slight correction to the size of the invading force. Most historians now agree that the ottomans numbered anything between 25-60000 - still no joke, the defence was conducted by 600, Knights, circa 2000 spanish and italian soldiers and 6,000 Maltese Militia (who incidentally bore most of the brunt of the fighting and suffeing

I think you find that the Turks took around 150.000 men to Malta but as you say about 60.000 of them were fighting men the rest were cooks and bottle washers so to speak and other supporting arms

How about Jan Ziizika and the Hussies in the early 1400’s?
The first war in Europe where firearms were decisive and Ziizika’s use of wagons with cannons mounted on them foretold modern artillery and armor.

i would just like to thank Easy-8 and Doppleganger for the brilliant information on the waffen ss divisions i have enjoyed reading it thanks

Originally Posted by Easy-8

Pre Middle Ages

- Persians under Cyrus the Great
- Spartans at Thermopylae
- Macedonians Army under Alexander the Great
- Romans in almost every war/battle they fought
- Carthaginian Army under Hannibal
- Visigothic heavy Cavalry at Adrianople in 378 and Chalons in 451
- The slave rebellion in Rome under Spartacus
- Germanic tribial fighters at Teutoburg Forest
- Huns under Attila

i will add (the pharaonic army under ramsis and ahmos in Pre Middle Ages).

Winged Hussars

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_Hussars

Most batsh*t awesome cavalry the world has ever seen, not even the Mongols could compare.

Regularly winning at 5 to 1 odds with top battles being 10 to 1 or 12 to 1.

Originally Posted by muscogeemike

How about Jan Ziizika and the Hussies in the early 1400’s?
The first war in Europe where firearms were decisive and Ziizika’s use of wagons with cannons mounted on them foretold modern artillery and armor.

Not really, the tabor was decisive (hence the taborites) also the Czechs used crossbows extensively, the gonnes and artillery were far too primitive to have impact.