battles

A battle is a military engagement between organized armed forces, typically fought to achieve objectives within a larger war or campaign. Battles can take place on land, at sea, or in the air, and may last from a few hours to several weeks.

Key elements include the forces involved, leaders, tactics and formations, logistics, intelligence, terrain, weather, and morale. Decisions by commanders, the sequencing of attacks, and the use of reserves and firepower influence the outcome.

Battles vary in form, from open-field clashes and sieges to naval battles and air engagements. They may be fought as part of broader campaigns and can involve combined arms, fortifications, flank maneuvers, and deception.

Outcomes range from decisive victory to costly defeat, stalemate, or strategic withdrawal. Results can alter wars by changing territorial control, political alliances, or public support, and they leave a record in military historiography and collective memory.

Notable examples across history include Marathon, Hastings, Gettysburg, Midway, and Stalingrad.