A Coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow. The United States Department of Defense defines it as: The United States Department of Defense (DOD or DoD) is the federal department charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government relating directly to national security and the military. ...
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An offensive operation that capitalizes on surprise and simultaneous execution of supporting operations to achieve success in one swift stroke.[1]
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The literal translation from French means a stroke or blow of the hand[2]. The term coup de main originally meant "by direct assault rather than by artillery"[3].
The very first airborne assault in the Battle of Normandy, on Pegasus Bridge, is an example of a "coup de main" operation, and is sometimes referred to as Operation Coup de Main, though this is incorrect -- the code name for this operation still has not been released to this day, as it is of the classification known as "Bigot" a level of classification in the British Government above top secret[citation needed]. This article is about the assault phase of Operation Overlord. ... Pegasus Bridge before its replacement Pegasus Bridge in 1944 Original Pegasus Bridge in the Pegasus Museum - July 2005 The replacement Pegasus Bridge in operation The Pegasus Bridge is a bascule bridge over the Caen Canal, near Ouistreham, France. ... Operation Tonga: Pathfinders synchronising their watches in front of an Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle. ...
Notes and references
^ covering force, DOD Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
^ in French, coup de main can also mean "a helping hand" (informal language), or "know-how".
Coupde grace (k??" de gr?s") [F.], the stroke of mercy with which an executioner ends by death the sufferings of the condemned; hence, a decisive, finishing stroke.
Coupdemain (k??` de m?n`) [F.] (Mil.), a sudden and unexpected movement or attack.
Coup d'['e]tat (k??" d?-t?") [F.] (Politics), a sudden, decisive exercise of power whereby the existing government is subverted without the consent of the people; an unexpected measure of state, more or less violent; a stroke of policy.
A Coupdemain is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow.
However, in French a "coupdemain" (un coupdemain) means "a helping hand" and does not carry the negative connotations of the English "coupdemain."
The very first airborne assault in the Battle of Normandy, on Pegasus Bridge, is an example of a "coupdemain" operation, and is sometimes referred to as Operation CoupdeMain, though this is incorrect -- the capture of Pegasus Bridge did not have a code-name.
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