Acoup de main (French pronunciation:[kudəmɛ̃],plural:coups de main,'blow with the hand')[1][a] is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow.
TheUnited States Department of Defense defines it as"An offensive operation that capitalizes on surprise and simultaneous execution of supporting operations to achieve success in one swift stroke."[3]
The termcoup de main originally meant "by direct assault rather than by artillery".[4]
The firstairborne assault by theAllies inWorld War II during theinvasion of Normandy, onPegasus Bridge, is sometimes referred to asOperation Coup de Main, although the actual code name for the British airborne attack wasOperation Tonga.[5][6]
In theAmerican Civil War,Emory Upton used the tactic for the Union Army during theBattle of Spotsylvania Courthouse.[7]
During theSecond Battle of Porto,Arthur Wellesley crossed theDouro in acoup de main attack upon the French forces ofMarshal Soult.