Igor Markov's answer to Why does the US government spend so much on military? Jon Davis' answer to Given that China is fine without blue-water navy, why does the US need one? Being even is the Deadliest form of Warfare
Imho the most influential war in history is the Caesar Augustus' failing attempt to conquer the Germans. He sent two legions over the Limes Renano expecting to tame the german population. It didn't happened: in the Battle of Teutoburg Forest the army of 15.000 well trained roman solders was completely slayed but Germans. In a what if...
The Battle of Santiago was one of the most important battles in the Spanish American War. It marked the defeat of the Spanish fleet in Cuba. The Spanish fleet was led by Admiral Cervera. To protect his fleet, he had taken shelter in the Santiago Harbor, but after the American army took the city, he tried to escape.