This is a list of conflicts involving the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and its predecessor states (the Kingdom of Great Britain, Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Scotland and generally the British Isles). Notable militarised interstate disputes are included. For a list of wars before the Acts of Union 1707 please see List of wars involving England & List of wars involving Scotland. To see wars that have been fought on the United Kingdom mainland, see the list of wars in Great Britain.
Historically, the United Kingdom relied most heavily on the Royal Navy and maintained relatively small land forces. Most of the episodes listed here deal with insurgencies and revolts in the various colonies of the British Empire.
During its history, the United Kingdom's forces (or forces with a British mandate) have invaded, had some control over or fought conflicts in 171 of the world's 193 countries that are currently UN member states, or nine out of ten of all countries. [1]
*e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum , result of civil or internal conflict, result unknown or indecisive, inconclusive
Conflict | Britain & allies | Britain's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
The Great Northern War (1700–1721) | ![]()
| ![]() | Inconclusive for Great Britain
Russian Allied victory:
|
The War of the Spanish Succession (1701–1714) including | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Civil war: Post-Spanish Succession Caribbean Piracy (1715–1726) | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Civil war; royal victory Details
|
Civil war: (1715–1716) Jacobite rising of 1715 | ![]() | ![]() | Civil war, Hanoverian victory Jacobite restoration attempt defeated |
The War of the Quadruple Alliance including
| ![]() ![]() | ![]() Jacobites (against the British Crown and government only) | British Allied victory:
|
Dummer's War (1721–1725) | ![]() Mohawk | Wabanaki Confederacy | British victory
|
The War of Jenkins' Ear (1739–1748) Location: New Granada, Caribbean, Florida, | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/other outcome
|
The War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) including | ![]()
| ![]() | French Allied victory in Europe but British victory outside of Europe
|
Civil War: Jacobite rising of 1745 | ![]() | ![]() | Civil war, British victory Jacobite restoration attempt defeated |
The Second Carnatic War (1749–1754) | ![]() Forces of Nasir Jang Mir Ahmad | ![]() Forces of Chanda Shahib Forces of Muhyi ad-Din Muzaffar Jang Hidayat | British Allied victory
|
Seven Years' War (1756–1763) including | ![]()
Cherokee Nation (before 1758) Lenape (from 1758) Wyandot of Ohio Country (British supported faction) | ![]()
Lenape (until 1758) Wyandot of Fort Detroit (French supported faction) | British Allied victory
|
Anglo-Cherokee War (1758–1761) | ![]() | Cherokee | British victory Pro-British Attakullakulla becomes Cherokee leader |
Tacky's War (1760) | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Ashanti Slaves | British Allied victory
|
Pontiac's Rebellion (1763–1766) | ![]() | Native American Coalition: | Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
First Anglo-Mysore War (1766–1769) | ![]() | ![]() | Mysore victory Hyderabad cedes territory to Mysore |
First Anglo-Maratha War (1774–1783) | ![]() | ![]() | Maratha victory
|
| ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Civil War / American Allied victory
|
4th Anglo-Dutch War (1780–83) | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | British victory
|
2nd Anglo-Mysore War (1780–1784) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome |
3rd Anglo-Mysore War (1789–1792) | ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
War of the First Coalition (1793–1797) | ![]() (until 1795) [15] ![]() ![]()
| ![]() ![]() French satellites: [22]
| French victory
|
War of the Second Coalition (1797–1802) | ![]()
| ![]() ![]() French client republics: [32] | French victory Treaty of Lunéville, Treaty of Amiens
|
Ibn Ufaisan's Invasion (1793) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Second Maroon War (1795–1796) | ![]() British Jamaica | Jamaican Maroons | British victory Maroon defeat
|
Hawkesbury and Nepean Wars (1795–1816) | Burrberongal Tribe![]() from 1801: ![]() | Dharug Eora Tharawal Gandangara ![]() | British victory Displacement of Aborigines from their land |
Anglo-Spanish War (1796–1808) Location: Newfoundland, English Channel, | ![]() from 1801: ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome |
Kandyan Wars (1796–1818) | ![]() from 1801: ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Irish Rebellion of 1798 (1798) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
4th Anglo-Mysore War (1798–1799) | ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory Complete annexation of Mysore by Britain and allies |
Conflict | Britain & allies | Britain's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Temne War (1801–1807) | Susu tribes | Kingdom of Koya | British Allied victory Northern shore of Sierra Leone ceded by Koya |
Second Anglo-Maratha War (1802–1805) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Extensive territory in India ceded by the Maratha Empire |
First Kandyan War (1803–1805) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Territory captured from Kandy |
Civil War: Emmet's Insurrection | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Rebellion defeated |
British Expedition to Ceylon (1803) | ![]() ![]() | Chiefdom of Vanni ![]() | British Allied victory
|
War of the Third Coalition (1805–1806) | ![]() | ![]() | French Allied victory
|
War of the Fourth Coalition (1806–1807) | ![]() | ![]()
| French Allied victory
|
Ashanti–Fante War (1806–1807) | ![]() | Fante Confederacy ![]() | Dutch victory |
Anglo-Turkish War (1807–1809) | ![]() | ![]() | Turkish victory
|
Gunboat War (1807–1814) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Anglo-Russian War (1807–1812) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
Peninsular War (1807–1814) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Travancore rebellion (1808–1809) | ![]() | ![]() Kingdom of Cochin | British victory |
War of the Fifth Coalition (1809) | ![]() | ![]() | French Allied victory
|
Persian Gulf campaign of 1809 (1809) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory |
4th Xhosa War (1811–1812) | ![]() ![]() | Xhosa tribes | British victory Xhosa tribes pushed beyond the Fish River, reversing their gains in the previous Xhosa wars |
War of 1812 (1812–1815) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome Treaty of Ghent; Status quo ante bellum with no boundary changes
|
War of the Sixth Coalition (1812–1814) | Original Coalition![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() After Battle of Leipzig | ![]() Until January 1814
| British Allied victory
|
Second Kandyan War (1815) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Hundred Days (1815) War of the Seventh Coalition | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Third Anglo-Maratha War (1817–1818) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Virtually all territory south of the Sutlej River controlled by Britain |
Greek War of Independence (1821–1829) | 1821:![]() ![]() After 1822: ![]() Supported by:
| ![]() | British Allied victory
|
First Ashanti War (1823–1831) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826) | ![]() Native tribes | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
British attack on Berbera (1827) | ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Revolt of the Mercenaries (1828) | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Baptist War (1831–1832) | ![]() Colony of Jamaica | Rebel slaves | British victory
|
First Carlist War (1833–1840) | ![]() | Carlists:
| Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
The 6th Xhosa War (1834–1836) | ![]() | Xhosa tribes | British victory Extensive territorial gains from Xhosa |
Rebellions of 1837 (1837–1838) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() Hunters' Lodges Reform Movement | British victory
|
Pastry War (1838–1839) also known First Franco–Mexican War | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Victory
|
First Anglo-Afghan War (1838–1842) | ![]() Durrani Kingdom Maimana Khanate Khulm (August 1840 for mere days, September 1840-November 1841) Sadozai loyalists | ![]() Principality of Qandahar Khanate of Kalat Khulm (August 1840, November 1841 onwards.) Marri Bugti Afghan Tribes Barakzai Loyalists | Barakzai Afghan victory
|
Anglo-French blockade of the Río de la Plata (1845-1850) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Argentine Confederation victory
|
First Opium War (1839–1842) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Second Egyptian-Ottoman War (1839–1841) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | British Allied victory
|
First Anglo-Sikh War (1845–1846) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
The 7th Xhosa War (1846–1847) The War of the Axe | ![]() ![]() | Xhosa tribes | British victory Territory ceded from Xhosa |
Caste War of Yucatán (1847–1901) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Maya | British Allied victory
|
Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848–1849) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Complete annexation of the Punjab by the East India Company |
Battle of Tysami (1849) | ![]() | Chui A-poo's pirates | British victory |
The 8th Xhosa War (1850–1853) Mlanjeni's War | ![]() ![]() | Xhosa tribes Khoikhoi tribes | British victory Xhosa-Khoi attacks defeated Status quo ante bellum |
Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Taiping Heavenly Kingdom | British Allied victory
|
Second Anglo-Burmese War (1852–1853) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Burmese revolution ended fighting Lower Burma annexed |
Crimean War (1853–1856) | ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory |
Second Opium War (1856–1860) Arrow War | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Anglo-Persian War (1856–1857) | ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory Persian withdrawal from Herat |
Indian Rebellion of 1857 (1857–1858) | ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory Act for the Better Government of India:
|
Bombardment of Kagoshima (1863) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
British Expedition to Abyssinia (1867–1868) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory |
Klang War (1867–1874) Selangor Civil War | Forces of Raja Abdullah of Klang
| Forces of Raja Mahadi | British Allied victory |
Third Ashanti War (1873–1874) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Treaty of Fomena:
|
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880) | ![]() | ![]() | Stalemate
|
Anglo-Zulu War (1879) | ![]() | Zulu Kingdom | British victory Zululand annexed to Natal |
'Urabi Revolt (1879–1882) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Basuto Gun War (1880–1881) | ![]() ![]() | Basuto people | Basuto victory
|
First Boer War (1880–1881) | ![]() | ![]() | South African victory
|
Mahdist War (1881–1899) | ![]() ![]() | Mahdist Sudan | British allied victory
|
Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Upper Burma annexed to India |
Sikkim Expedition (1888) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Tibet recognizes British suzerainty over Sikkim |
Anglo-Manipur War (1891) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory |
First Matabele War (1893–1894) | South Africa Company | Ndebele Kingdom | British victory |
Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Pro-British Sultan installed |
Second Matabele War (1896–1897) | South Africa Company | Matebele | British victory |
Cretan Revolt (1897–1898) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Second Samoan Civil War (1898–1899) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome |
Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Second Boer War (1899–1902) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
War of the Golden Stool (1900) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
Mahsud Waziri blockade (1900–1902) | ![]() | Mahsud rebels | British victory |
Anglo-Aro War (1901–1902) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory Aro Confederacy destroyed |
British expedition to Tibet (1903–1904) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory |
Bazar Valley campaign (1908) | ![]() | Rebel tribes | British victory |
First World War (1914–1918) | Allied Powers
| Central Powers | British Allied victory
Treaties of Saint-Germain-en-Laye and Trianon:
Russia pulls out in 1917
Creation of League of Nations:
|
Estonian War of Independence (1918–1920) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]()
| British Allied victory
|
Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War (1918–1920) | ![]()
| ![]()
| Bolshevik victory
|
Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
| ![]()
Supported by: | Turkish Allied victory
|
Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919) | ![]() | ![]() | Barakzai Afghan Victory [37] [38]
|
Kuwait–Najd War (1919–1920) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory |
Irish War of Independence (1919–1921) | ![]() | ![]() | Irish Republic victory
|
Great Iraqi Revolution of 1920 (1920) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other
|
1922 Burao Tax Revolt (1922) | ![]() | Habr Yunis tribesmen | Tribal victory
|
Conflict | Britain & allies | Britain's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Adwan Rebellion (1923) | ![]() ![]() ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory Sultan al-Adwan's defeat and exile |
Ikhwan Revolt (1927–1930) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Great Arab Revolt in Palestine (1936–1939) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory [41] Revolt suppressed |
Jewish insurgency in Mandatory Palestine (1939–1948) | ![]() | ![]() | Yishuv victory [42]
|
S-Plan 16 January 1939 – March 1940 | ![]() | ![]() | British victory [43]
|
Second World War (1939–1945) | Allied Powers
| Axis Powers
| British Allied victory Nazi Germany formally surrenders 8 May 1945, ending the Second World War in Europe. British (and Commonwealth), French, American, and Soviet troops occupy Germany until 1955, Italy and Japan lose their colonies, Europe is divided into 'Soviet' and 'Western' spheres of interest. |
Afghan tribal revolts of 1944–1947 (1944–1947) | ![]() •Allied Nuristani tribesmen ![]() • ![]() | Rebel tribes: | Afghan government & British victory
|
1944–45 Insurgency in Balochistan (1944–1945) | ![]() | Badinzai rebels | British victory
|
Northern Campaign 2 September 1942 – December 1944 | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Greek Civil War (1946–1948) | ![]()
| D.S.E. (Δ.Σ.Ε.) | British Allied victory Communist forces defeated, many D.S.E. soldiers exiled in Eastern Europe. Battalion of UK troops still in Greece until 1948 |
1945 Sheikh Bashir Rebellion (1945) | ![]() | Armed Habr Je'lo tribesmen | British Pyrrhic victory Sheikh Bashir killed, unrest continues, anti-colonialist and nationalist sentiment increases in Somaliland |
Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1949) | ![]() ![]()
| ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
Operation Masterdom (1945–1946) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Corfu Channel incident (1946–1948) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
Malayan Emergency (1948–1960) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Korean War (1950–1953) | ![]()
| ![]()
| Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
1951 Anglo-Egyptian War [45] (1951–1952) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Mau Mau Uprising (1952–1960) | ![]() | Mau Mau | British victory
|
Jebel Akhdar War (1954–1959) | ![]() ![]() | ![]()
| British Allied victory
|
Cyprus Emergency (1955–1959) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome [46] [47] [48]
|
Suez Crisis (1956–1957) | ![]() | ![]() | Inconclusive/Other Outcome Coalition military victory [52] [53] [54]
|
Border Campaign (1956–1962) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory IRA campaign fails |
First Cod War (1958–1961) | ![]() | ![]() | Icelandic victory [lower-alpha 5] Iceland expands its territorial waters to 12 nautical miles |
Upper Yafa disturbances [58] (1959) | ![]() | Rebels | British victory |
Dhofar Rebellion (1962–1975) | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | British Allied victory Insurgency defeated |
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation (1963–1966) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory Indonesia recognises Malaysian rule over former North Borneo |
Aden Emergency (1963–1967) | ![]() ![]() | ![]() FLOSY | Yemeni NLF victory People's Republic of South Yemen established |
The Troubles (1968–1998) | ![]() | | Stalemate Inconclusive/Other Outcome
|
Second Cod War (1972–1973) | ![]() | ![]() | Icelandic victory [lower-alpha 5] UK accept Iceland's 50 nautical mile exclusive fishery zone |
Third Cod War (1975–1976) | ![]() | ![]() | Icelandic victory [lower-alpha 5] Iceland expands its exclusive fishery zone to 200 nautical miles |
Falklands War (1982) | ![]() | ![]() | British victory
|
Multinational Force in Lebanon (1982–1984) | ![]()
| Islamic Jihad Organization ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Syrian Allied victory [59]
|
Gulf War (1990–1991) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory Kuwait regains its independence |
Bosnian War (1992–1995) | ![]() | ![]() | Military stalemate |
Operation Desert Fox (1998) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory Objectives largely achieved |
Kosovo War (1998–1999) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory Kosovo occupied by Nato forces |
Sierra Leone Civil War (2000–2002) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory Rebels defeated |
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) | ![]()
| ![]() | Taliban victory
|
Iraq War (2003–2009) | ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory:
|
First Libyan Civil War (2011) | Many NATO ![]() ![]()
| ![]() | British Allied victory
|
Operation Shader (2014–present) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | Ongoing
|
Operation Prosperity Guardian (2023–present) | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() | Ongoing
|
The American Revolutionary War, also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a military conflict that was part of the broader American Revolution, where American Patriot forces organized as the Continental Army and commanded by George Washington defeated the British Army.
Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians including recruited children, use ambushes, sabotage, terrorism, raids, petty warfare or hit-and-run tactics in a rebellion, in a violent conflict, in a war or in a civil war to fight against regular military, police or rival insurgent forces.
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Fighting between Kuwait's forces and Wahhabi supporters of Ibn Sa'ud broke out in May 1920, and the former were soundly defeated. Within a few weeks, the citizens of Kuwait constructed a new wall to protect Kuwait City.
that no one had emerged after four years of violence as an outright winner
Defeat of the ENOSIS cause