Pylos and Sphacteria 425 BC: Sparta's Island of Disaster (Osprey Campaign 261)

During the Peloponnesian War the Athenians occupied the promontory of Pylos to counter Sparta’s repeated invasions of Attica. Over two days of fighting the small garrison beat off the Spartan army and the returning Athenian fleet won a crushing victory in the nearby waters, stranding a contingent of elite Spartan hoplites on the island of Sphacteria. With the campaigning season drawing to a close the Athenians mounted an attack on the island using an unconventional amphibious night assault they overran the Spartan outpost covering the beaches and light-armed missile troops landed at daybreak in overwhelming numbers.