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 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 the British airborne attacks was Operation Tonga.
