Greatest Defensive battle 1700-1799

We have two Greatest defensive battle threads already. I thought we could do one of that century above(some say 1800, some say 1700s, this way noone missunderstands)

I nominate The battle of Svenskund. Swedish king Gustav III had tried to attack Russia. Sent forward the fleet and now was backed into a corner. The fleet was trapped it seemed and it was to be had a do or die battle. The only thing goin for the swedes was the weather. The battle of Svensksund is the biggest victory the swedish navy ever produced, one of the few naval victories ever mentioned in our historybooks btw
 
Battle of Bunker Hill. 'Nuff said.

Wouldn't a qualification for candidates for the greatest defensive battle be, by definition, one in which the defences held?

British losses were heavier but they did technically win at Bunker Hill because they took the Rebel positions.
 
I don't think so. At Bunker Hill, the Rebels inflicted significantly higher casualties on the British than they took themselves. Sure, they were eventually overwhelmed, but so were the Spartans at Thermopolyae. (Is that how you spell it? I'm not sure.)
 
How about the Great Siege of Gibraltar (1779-1782)? The defenders were outnumbered about eight to one, and only minimally supplied, yet not only did they repulse the final assault, they launched an incredibly daring, and successful counterattack in the midst of the siege.
 
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I don't think so. At Bunker Hill, the Rebels inflicted significantly higher casualties on the British than they took themselves. Sure, they were eventually overwhelmed, but so were the Spartans at Thermopolyae. (Is that how you spell it? I'm not sure.)

The casualty ratio was about 2:1 in favour of the Rebels, there are plenty of 18th Century battles with far more disproportionate losses.
 
Battle of Bunker Hill. 'Nuff said.

If we're gonna have Bunker Hill then we'll also have Malplaquet - another Pyrrhic victory for the Allies, and one where France lost half as much men compared to the Allies.

And Marlborough didn't receive a letter of thanks from Queen Anne, so make of that what you will.
 
The Battle of Bunker Hill is, by European standards, merely a skirmish. A 2:1 ratio, when one is defending an elevated, fortified position, isn't extremely impressive, nor was it decisive.

As for my nomination, I would say the Battle of Zenta. It took place in 1697, but it can, in many cases, be considered an extremely impressive victory. 500 dead to 30,000 dead (with the Imperials capturing everything from the Ottoman seal to the sultans harem.
 
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