History PintsizedPowerhouse / RealLife

* Likewise, the [[UsefulNotes/IsraelisWithInfraredMissiles Israeli Air Force]]. There are more Israeli jet aces than there are jet aces together in the rest of the world.

* Four of the most prominent members of the Bones Brigade -- Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain, and Steve Caballero -- were kids at the time when they were recruited but Steve was the most prominent example as Stacy commented in Film/TheBonesBrigadeAnAutobiography that Steve was the smallest skateboarder he ever seen, even compared to other kids like Tony Hawk, yet Steve is able to do tricks that he shouldn't be able to do, hence the reason why Stacy wanted him to be on the Bones Brigade. [[http://www.allisports.com/images/uploads/steve-caballero-chris-miller-masters-bowl-practice-dew-tour-portland.jpg Even when all grown up he is still consderably shorter than most people]].

* Kingdom of Serbia during UsefulNotes/WorldWar1 , managed to give shocking defeats to Austria-Hungary, who was 10 Times larger than Her in territorial and demographic area. As part of the Five Nation Army, Serbians, along with French, managed to break Salonika Front in October 1918, thus leading to end of World War 1.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobuyoshi_Tamura Nobuyoshi Tamura]], a former student of Ueshiba, sensei of the French Aikikai, an 77 years old quite small man (compared to his French and European student) who has no qualm about having his younger, taller and stronger students crawl to the ground.

* Taffy 3, a small group of destroyers, destroyer escorts, and escort carriers, which fought off a major Japanese assault on the Leyte Gulf landings during the [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII Battle Off Samar]]. Their opponents included the enormous battleship ''Yamato'', which alone exceeded the displacement of the entire task group ''combined''. Taffy 3 fought with such ferocity that the captain of the ''Yamato'' was forced to retreat because he believed that he was fighting a much larger group and couldn't sacrifice one of the three most expensive ships the IJN had.

* For carriers of the time, the Yorktown Class were very much on the small side. That didn't stop ''Enterprise'' and ''Hornet'' from fighting Japan's ''Kido Butsi'' at every turn, managing to HoldTheLine until the Essex Class had been completed.

* [[TheAce Ace]] major league baseball pitcher, Tim Lincecum, was short and scrawny for a starting pitcher at 5'11, when most starters are well above 6'0 feet. He was called "the freak" for being able to pitch like a powerhouse twice his size. Throughout his career during the late 2000s and 2010s, he won two Cy Young awards, pitched two no-hitters, was a 4-time all-star, and helped led teams he pitched on to 3 world series titles overall.

* UsefulNotes/{{Estonia}} is this when it comes to computer science and security. The country was an early adopter of [[EverythingIsOnline putting government and business services on the Internet]]. In 2007, in response to [[EvilIsPetty the removal of a Soviet war memorial from the center of Tallinn to a military cemetery]], Russia perpetrated what was, at that time, the largest-ever cyberattack, which disrupted the country for weeks. Fearful it might happen again, [[CharlesAtlasSuperpower Estonia embarked on a national effort to make its IT infrastructure robust]] and train just about everybody in the basics of computer security, along with widespread instruction in programming. Nowadays, NATO's cybersecurity headquarters is located in Tallinn, and they are considered a world leader in information security and anti-hacking practices.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Volkanovski Alexander Volkanovski]], MMA fighter, current UFC featherweight champ, and former rugby player is 5'6. He began his career fighting at welterweight against significantly taller and bigger opponents before slimming down to 145 pounds, where he is still among the shortest fighters in the division. This also extended to his rugby career where he played as a forward prop, a position usually occupied by the largest members of a rugby team.

** The Ratel, or [[FluffyTheTerrible Honey Badger]], is an animal only three feet long. It is also [[TheDreaded the most feared animal in Africa]]. [[MemeticMutation Honey badger don't give a shit]] about lions, cobras, etc. since their skin is thick enough to protect them against most animal stings and bites and actually too tough to be pierced by a spear or an arrow and it can withstand several machete blows, they have been known to chase away adult lions and steal their kills, they raid henhouses by actually tearing off the planks from their walls... short of actually being bulletproof, there is little they can't withstand. They are also related to the above-mentioned wolverines.

* A common misconception about medieval warhorses/destriers is that they were tall and lumbering draft horses, but [[DatedHistory historians constantly correct it.]] Draft horses (and horse BREEDS in general) are much Newer Than They Think, and accounts of medieval warhorses were far closer to this type: Existing horse armor usually fits regular horses at 15 or 16 hands high, and their key difference was an ''extremely'' muscular build at 1200-1300lbs (compared to average riding horses, who are easily 200lbs lighter). Most records of warhorses either name or describe Iberian/Spanish-type horses, who kept much the same height and build as their ancestors, and were famously sought for their agility, speed, and NervesOfSteel--something that draft horses, being {{Gentle Giant}}s, are ''not'' known for.

* A common misconception about medieval warhorses/destriers is that they were tall and lumbering draft-types, but [[DatedHistory historians constantly correct it]] since they're far closer to this type: Existing horse armor usually fits short or regular horses at 15 or 16 hands high, and their key difference was an ''extremely'' muscular build at 1200-1300lbs (compared to average riding horses, who are easily 200lbs lighter). Most records of warhorses either name or describe Iberian/Spanish-type horses, who kept much the same height and build as their ancestors, and were famously sought for their agility, speed, and NervesOfSteel--something that draft horses, being {{Gentle Giant}}s, are ''not'' known for.

* A common misconception about medieval warhorses/destriers is that they were tall and lumbering draft-types, but [[DatedHistory historians constantly correct it]] since they're far closer to this type: Horse-armor finds usually fit short or mid-sized horses at 15 or 16 hands high, and their key conformation was an ''extremely'' muscular build at 1200-1300lbs (compared to average riding horses, who are easily 200lbs lighter). Another aspect is that most records of warhorses would match up to Iberian/Spanish-type horses, who kept much the same height and build as their ancestors, and were famously sought for their agility, speed, and NervesOfSteel--something that draft horses, being {{Gentle Giant}}s, are ''not'' known for.

* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weng_Weng Weng Weng]]. He was a martial arts movies actor. 83 centimetres tall (2'9").
* In some cases, being short can be an asset in a fight, as short people have a lower and more stable center of gravity. For this reason, it is actually much easier for a woman to suplex or lift a man on her shoulders --since, on average, women tend to be a bit smaller than men.

* Johannes Lichtenauer, one of the prominent Medieval figures in [[UsefulNotes/EuropeanSwordsmanship German School of Swordsmanship]] considered an ideal knight to be rather small and concord in stature than big and well-built, and having rather stamina than strength. Strong, tall and well-built men would make fine [[AnnoyingArrows archers]].

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hidenoyama_Raigor%C5%8D Hidenoyama Raigoro]], the 164 cm (5'4") [[SumoWrestling Sumo wrestler]] who had a win rate of 84.2%, won 6 championships, and became Yokozuna (the highest Sumo ranking) in 1847.
* While size does make a major difference among ''evenly skilled'' fighters in the martial arts scene, the smaller competitors are still formidable fighters capable of impressive feats; many ostensibly lower weight class fighters have fought in the heavyweight divisions and done quite well. Also, when weight classes were introduced to competitive judo, many of the small judoka left the sport, saying that building the skills to overcome larger opponents were an integral part of it.

* Boxer Creator/MannyPacquiao is 5'6", and tends to come weighing in the mid-140-pound area. He's one of the best boxers in the world. You can underestimate him because of his size, goofy smile and friendly manner if you want to, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEPtojKdQuU but he will fuck you up if you do]].

* Foil Fencers are often going to be better if they are both short and skinny, and they are harder to hit, and can get in close more easily. Short historical fencers who know that they're doing are nothing to sneeze at, either, when you realize that you have to bend at the knees (bending over exposes your head) to hit anywhere except for the head, which is far easier to defend against than your legs, which is their primary target.

* Benny Urquidez stands at 5'6 and weighs only about 145 pounds but became a truly epic asskicker nonetheless, training in [[MasterOfAll nine different martial arts style including Judo, Aikido, Taekwondo, Shotokan Karate, Kung Fu, Jujitsu and Kickboxing]] and even creating some of his own and amassing a ninteen year long fighting career in which he often fought much larger men and by knockout on fifty-seven occasions and was only defeated once.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Volkanovski Alexander Volkanovski]], MMA fighter, current UFC featherweight champ and former rugby player is 5'6. He began his career fighting at welterweight against significantly taller and bigger opponents before slimming down to 145 pounds, where he is still among the shortest fighters in the division. This also extended to his rugby career where he played as a forward prop, a position usually occupied by the largest members of a rugby team.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Altuve#2018/ Jose Altuve]], the second baseman for the Houston Astros, is the shortest active player in Major League Baseball at 5'6" tall. He holds numerous titles, including American League MVP (2017), Gold Glove (2015, second base) and five All-Star appearances.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDllYLasHxU Liam Hoekstra: The world's strongest toddler]]. He has a rare genetic disorder that makes him have a (incredibly high) metabolism and has 40% more muscle than the average kid. In short: he's three and has a six pack. How does that make you feel, [[SelfDeprecation nerd]]?

* Many small ice hockey players (David Krejci, who ended his career with the Boston Bruins, and Theoren Fleury, who most famously played for the Calgary Flames) can play a style better suited for players way larger. Krejci's hit opponents so hard, he gained the nickname of ''Wrecking ball''.

** Doug Flutie was the same height as Jones-Drew and was thought to be too small to play QB, partly because he theoretically couldn't see downfield over his 6 foot plus offensive linemen. In spite of this, he had a respectable career in the NFL, and stars in one of the most memorable plays in college football history.

* Four of the most prominent members of the Bones Brigade, Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Lance Mountain and Steve Caballero, were kids at the time when they were recruited but Steve was the most prominent example as Stacy commented in Film/TheBonesBrigadeAnAutobiography that Steve was the smallest skateboarder he ever seen, even compared to other kids like Tony Hawk, yet Steve is able to do tricks that he shouldn't be able to do, hence the reason why Stacy wanted him to be on the Bones Brigade. [[http://www.allisports.com/images/uploads/steve-caballero-chris-miller-masters-bowl-practice-dew-tour-portland.jpg Even when all grown up he is still consderably shorter than most people]].

* Many combat specific soldiers are shorter, around the 5' range or even less, and a Napoleon complex isn't uncommon. But in a Real Life aversion, it's a common complaint among drill sergeants in Combat Arms [=OSUTs=] that 'the skinny ones break too easily', while the overweight recruits develop muscle mass from fat with fewer injuries.

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bantam_(military) Bantam units]] in the British Army during UsefulNotes/WorldWarI consisted of men below the minimum regulation height of 5 ft 3 in (160 cm), instead the bantams had to between 4 ft 10 in (147 cm) and 5 ft 3 in (160 cm).

* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_ship_Revenge_(1577) HMS Revenge]] may be the single most extraordinary example of this in all history. At her last stand, the Battle of Flores, the ''Revenge'' stood alone against '''53''' Spanish ships, even though she was outclassed by each individual enemy vessel; the Spanish flagship ''San Felipe'' alone weighed three times as much as she did. ''Revenge'' was also seriously undermanned, with half her crew sick from fever (the reason why the Spanish caught her in the first place was that her captain [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Grenville Sir Richard Grenville]] waited to bring the sick onboard instead of fleeing at once). Despite every disadvantage, the ''Revenge'' sunk or disabled '''16''' enemy ships, and surrendered only when all her masts had been shot away, she was totally out of gunpowder, and had just 16 men left unwounded out of a crew of 250. Her courage was memorialised in [[http://www.online-literature.com/tennyson/726/ a poem by Tennyson]].

--> '''German General:''' How large is your army?
--> '''Swiss General:''' We can field a hundred thousand men.
--> '''German General:''' And what if we show up on your border with a million men?
--> '''Swiss General:''' [[MathematiciansAnswer We will all shoot ten times]], [[BadassBoast then go home.]]

** The Kingdom of Sardinia amounted to what now are the Italian regions of Sardinia, Piedmont, Liguria and Aosta Valley, plus the now French territories of Savoie and Haute Savoie (the historical region of Savoy) and the arrondissement of Nice. While the second largest of the Italian states it was positively ''tiny'' compared to the Austrian Empire... And yet always managed to put a hard fight, though it ultimately lost the first war once the other Italian states abandoned the war and needed French help to win the second.
** Garibaldi would always lead volunteer forces that caused much disproportionate damage to the enemy. His greatest feat was the Expedition of the Thousand, in which he led a badly-armed force of about a thousand soldiers against the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and its well equipped army of 90,000 and ''conquered it all'' (in no small part due a combination of his larger-than-life persona and status prompting many enemy soldiers to desert if not outright ''defect to his side'').

* Humans, too. 80 kg man can hunt almost any prey using tools. Without them, however, a man still can defeat an alligator or survive an encounter with a bear, if lucky. If you take account of the muscle mass, humans are incredibly strong.
* Arabian Horses. Most range from 12-14 hands high (the technical size of ''[[AllGirlsLikePonies ponies]]''), and are renowned for three things: Their delicate beauty, being gentle enough that children can ride ''stallions'', and having so much natural speed and endurance that it's ''illegal'' to race them against any other breed. [[GameBreaker Because it just wouldn't be fair to the other horses]].

* Methocha wasps are the size of ants, but can take down and drag away the enormous tiger beetle larva, which normally preys on ants.
* [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantis_shrimp Mantis Shrimp]] and related groups. On average, they grow to less than one and a half feet long. They are able to swing their claws with an average acceleration of over 100,000 meters per second (330,000 feet per second). Because of this ability to swing their claws so rapidly, they also generate cavitation bubbles that collapse with enough power to produce instant forces of 1,500 newtons. This means that even if their attack misses, the resulting shock wave will be enough to stun or even kill their prey.

* The [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Lancer_Evolution#UK_models "FQ" series]] produces anywhere from 300 to '''400''' horsepower. The engine is a two liter straight-4. Most consumer level cars with that engine produce under 200 horsepower.

** The [=JP233=] has since been pulled from service citing several advances in cruise missile technology that can mitigate the risk to the Tornado and its crew. On top of that, when the bomblets are dropped, the [=JP233=] has to be carried back to base, not exactly a good thing to have when you're trying to outrun a bunch of very pissed off fighters that managed to get off the runway before you ensured they couldn't return to it.

* While not exactly a small aircraft by any standards, the [[CoolPlane B-25 Mitchel]] of US Army Air Force fame in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII was still smaller than most other bombers of the war, but it was probably the single most versatile bomber of the war as a result. The most widely used version, the [=B-25J=], was used in just about every attack role imaginable. Aside from the defensive machine guns (which the B-25 had in abundance), the bomber also had 4-6 .50cals fixed forward for strafing duties, with a later version even mounting a 75mm cannon in the nose. It would be this bombers small size, and still impressive bomb capacity (3,000lbs), that would make it the perfect choice to launch the Doolittle Raid with, since the bomber was small enough, and[[note]]after shedding unnecessary weight[[/note]] light enough to launch from the Aircraft Carrier Hornet. Compared to the damage [=B-29s=] would do some years later, the raid itself did little physical damage, but [=B-25s=] were still able to send the message to Japan that they really DID wake a sleeping giant.

* The HAL Tejas is a positively tiny warplane designed by India--it has an empty weight of only 6,500 kg. The single-engine Tejas has a maximum takeoff weight of 13,200 kg, just over twice its empty weight. For contrast, the US-made twin-engined Raptor weighs 19,700 kg and a maximum takeoff weight of 38,000 kg, which is a bit ''under'' twice its empty weight. In case you are under the impression that the Tejas buys this relatively greater lifting power at the expense of agility or speed, it is, in fact, a highly maneuverable supersonic multirole fighter, meant to challenge both enemy aircraft and ground targets. On top of that, two of the featured weapons in its loadout are fuel air explosives and incendiary bombs. That means that this little monster will cheerfully bring a disproportinately large amount of fiery death to your door and remind you exactly why the named it [[MeaningfulName the "Radiant"]].
* Likewise, [[FluffyTheTerrible Folland Gnat]] and its descendant, HAL Ajeet. Gnat was originally designed to be a budget alternative for bigger and faster fighters, and fighter version of Gnat F.1 was first operationally flown by Finnish Air Force in 1958. It proved extremely manouevreable and a skilled pilot could easily challenge a [=MiG=]-21. The Indian Gnats proved superior to Pakistani Sabres and Starfighters, and the indians developed Gnat further into HAL Ajeet ("Unconquerable"). Finnish Gnats were withdrawn from service 1972 and Indian Ajeets [[LongRunner in 1991]].

* UsefulNotes/SimoHayha, at 5'3" (160 cm), was likely the greatest sniper of all time. He is officially credited with killing 705 Soviet soldiers over roughly 100 days of combat.

[[folder:Single Ships & Small Naval Groups]]'''

* Benny Urquidez stands at 5'6 and weighs only about 145 pounds but became a truly epic asskicker nonetheless, training in [[MasterOfAll nine different martial arts style including Judo, Taekwondo, Shotokan Karate, Kung Fu, Jujitsu and Kickboxing]] and even creating some of his own and amassing a ninteen year long fighting career in which he often fought much larger men and by knockout on fifty-seven occasions and was only defeated once.