BATTLE // November 21, 1878
Battle of Ali Masjid
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Source · Wikipedia
Significance
The Battle of Ali Masjid opened the Second Anglo-Afghan War on 21 November 1878, serving as the British Empire's first offensive action following the Afghan general's refusal to admit a British envoy into the country. The fortress of Ali Masjid was the initial target, and its fall — secured when Afghan forces under Ghulam Haider Khan abandoned their position overnight — gave British forces under Lieutenant-General Sir Samuel Browne an early foothold in the campaign. The outcome was less a product of operational success than Afghan withdrawal: roughly half the British force was lost or delayed and missed the battle entirely, meaning the result hinged on the Afghan decision to evacuate rather than on British execution. Afghan casualties numbered around 300 against equal force sizes of approximately 3,000 on each side.
Tactics
The overview notes that a significant portion of British troops got lost or delayed and missed the battle entirely, indicating considerable disorganization in the approach. Beyond that, the source does not describe how either side deployed or maneuvered during the engagement, and no terrain or weather detail is recorded.
Forces & casualties
Troop strength
- British Empire3,000medium
- Afghanistan3,000medium
Both sides were near-evenly matched in numbers
Casualties
- Эмират Афганистан300medium
Commanders (3)
Afghanistan
British Empire
Samuel Brownegeneral
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5 sibling battles · 2 factions