The Battle of Tsushima

Background of the Russo-Japanese War: Conflict Over the Korean Peninsula

In the late 19th century, the Korean Peninsula (present-day North and South Korea) was a geopolitical powder keg in East Asia, much like Cuba during the Cold War tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union in the early 20th century. In 1895, Japan defeated China in the First Sino-Japanese War, pushing back Chinese influence in the region. Subsequently, King Gojong of Korea proclaimed the “Korean Empire,” emphasizing sovereignty similar to the American Declaration of Independence, and built the Independence Gate in Seoul as a symbol of freedom.

However, this nascent empire found itself caught between Russia—which was expanding its power into the Pacific much like its acquisition of Alaska—and Japan, which harbored expansionist ambitions similar to the United States during its annexation of Hawaii in 1898.

Russia and Japan attempted secret negotiations to divide their influence over Korea, but these ultimately failed. In February 1904, Japan launched a surprise attack on Russia’s Pacific Fleet at Port Arthur without a formal declaration of war, marking the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War.

The Ill-Fated Journey of the Baltic Fleet: History’s Longest Naval Expedition

What Was the Baltic Fleet?

The Baltic Fleet was Imperial Russia’s main naval force, based in the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe with St. Petersburg (now Russia’s second-largest city) as its primary port—comparable to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet using Norfolk or Mayport as home ports. Russia viewed this fleet as its only naval power capable of challenging the British Navy, which dominated the world’s oceans. However, behind Russia’s pride in its “invincible” fleet lurked the shadows of aging vessels and a lack of understanding of modern warfare.

In October 1904, Czar Nicholas II dispatched the Baltic Fleet on an 18,000-mile (approximately 29,000 km) journey to rescue the Pacific Fleet blockaded by Japan—a distance farther than a U.S. Navy vessel sailing from San Diego halfway around the world to the Philippines. From the outset, the fleet encountered numerous problems, primarily these three major issues:

1. The Dogger Bank Incident: A Diplomatic Disaster

Dogger Bank is a shallow sandbank area in the North Sea between England and Denmark, one of Britain’s major fishing grounds. On the night of October 21, 1904, as the Baltic Fleet passed through these waters, nervous Russian crew members mistook British fishing vessels for Japanese torpedo boats and opened fire.

The incident resulted in the deaths of three British fishermen and the destruction of several fishing boats. Outrage immediately erupted in Britain, which condemned Russia for “reckless attack on the high seas.” With Britain being allied with Japan at the time, tensions escalated almost to the brink of war—a moment as tense as the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s.

As a diplomatic consequence of the Dogger Bank incident, the Russian fleet was denied passage through the Suez Canal under British naval surveillance, forcing them to detour around the Cape of Good Hope at Africa’s southern tip—adding 7,000 miles (11,000 km) to their journey. This was comparable to the U.S. Navy having to circumnavigate the entire South American continent due to a closed Panama Canal.

2. Severe Supply Issues: A Struggle for Survival at Sea

The Baltic Fleet suffered from supply problems from the beginning. Russian steamships of that era used coal as fuel, which was difficult to obtain given Russia’s limited number of allied nations. Unlike modern U.S. Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, Russian ships needed coal replenishment every 2-3 days.

To solve this problem, Russia secretly contracted with the German Hamburg-America Shipping Company to position about 60 civilian coal cargo ships along global routes. However, British intelligence detected this arrangement, leading many countries to refuse coal supplies to the Russian fleet—a situation similar to economic sanctions against specific countries today.

Moreover, the fleet included various types of ships, some large battleships too big to pass through the Suez Canal. Consequently, the fleet had to split up during the voyage, making coordination with supply ships even more challenging.

By March 1905, the fleet was stranded in Madagascar (an island in the Indian Ocean), waiting for support vessels. Meanwhile, the Japanese fleet had already defeated Russia’s Pacific Fleet in November 1904 while the Baltic Fleet was still rounding the African continent—they were too late, far too late.

3. Crew Fatigue: An Endless Voyage of Suffering

During the seven-month journey, crew members suffered extreme physical and mental exhaustion. The heat of Africa’s tropical regions turned the enclosed metal ships into furnaces, while food shortages and vitamin deficiencies from the prolonged voyage led to outbreaks of scurvy—difficulties similar to those faced by Captain James Cook’s expedition crews in the 18th century.

Additionally, fear of battle with the Japanese fleet and news of revolution in Russia severely dampened the crew’s morale. A cynical joke circulated among sailors: “All we’re doing is sailing to Japan to commit suicide.”

By April 1905, when the fleet reached Vietnam, its combat effectiveness had been severely compromised. Sick crew members, hulls covered in seaweed, and poorly maintained guns and engines were completely unprepared for the impending decisive battle.

The Battle of Tsushima: The Worst Defeat in Naval History

In May 1905, the Baltic Fleet entered the Tsushima Strait en route to Vladivostok, where Admiral Tōgō Heihachirō’s Japanese Navy awaited with full preparation.

In this battle, the Russian fleet fell helplessly victim to Japan’s overwhelming intelligence capabilities and tactics, coupled with their own misfortune. The Russian hospital ship sailing with lights on in accordance with international law helped the Japanese pinpoint their location, though Japanese naval forces had already accurately tracked the Russian fleet’s position and movements through wireless communication interception. Japan’s modernized navy launched powerful attacks using the efficient “crossing the T” formation, sophisticated wireless communications, and accurate, concentrated fire. As a result, the Battle of Tsushima saw 35 out of 38 Russian ships sunk or captured by Japanese forces—marking the most one-sided defeat in naval history.

Admiral Tōgō’s meticulous strategy and tactics overwhelmed Russia’s outdated, poorly maintained ships and exhausted navy. This battle showcased the excellence of Japanese naval strategy and established Japan’s reputation as a powerful nation among world powers. The Battle of Tsushima subsequently had a significant influence on naval doctrine worldwide, particularly influencing the development of the British Navy’s Dreadnought-class battleships.

Reasons for Russia’s Defeat

Russia’s naval failure stemmed from several key factors:

1. Poor supplies: The Baltic Fleet’s arduous journey lacked proper planning and provisioning.
2. Underestimation of Japan: Russia dismissed Japan as inferior, overlooking its modernized naval power.
3. Diplomatic blunders: The Dogger Bank incident isolated Russia’s sea routes, complicating their strategy.
4. Low morale: Diminishing resources severely weakened the fleet’s efficiency, while the unexpectedly long journey exhausted naval personnel, damaging morale.
5. Command structure problems: Baltic Fleet Commander Admiral Rozhestvensky faced difficulties in effective command due to army interference and Czar Nicholas II’s unrealistic directives. Additionally, factional conflicts within the fleet and communication deficiencies undermined command unity.

Aftermath of the War: Shifting World Power Dynamics

The war ended with the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905 (a peace treaty between Japan and Russia signed in Portsmouth, USA), with Russia ceding its influence over Korea to Japan. Japan’s victory in the Russo-Japanese War shocked the world powers of the time, announcing Japan’s rise as a global power beyond Asia. It also exposed Russia’s weaknesses, fueling internal unrest that became a direct catalyst for the 1905 Russian Revolution and indirectly influenced the 1917 Russian Revolution. The Korean Empire faced tragedy as Japan’s dominance intensified, ultimately leading to Korea’s annexation by Japan in 1910.

Conclusion

The Russo-Japanese War and the Battle of Tsushima were not simply naval conflicts but significant events that altered the course of world history. Japan’s defeat of the enormous Russian Empire marked the first instance of an Asian nation defeating a Western great power, creating cracks in Western imperialism and inspiring independence movements across Asia and Africa.

This outcome brought about major changes in the world order, helping Japan secure its position in international society as we know it today. The Russo-Japanese War was a crucial turning point in modern history, with broad impacts on military strategy, international diplomacy, and the internal affairs of nations worldwide.

※ Note on the “Crossing the T” Tactic

This tactic was particularly important during the battleship era when main guns were positioned on the sides of ships. In a column formation with ships sailing in a line, only the lead ship could concentrate significant firepower forward, while the side gun ports could deliver maximum firepower.

The Japanese Navy accurately predicted the Russian fleet’s course and quickly shifted to a line abreast formation when they entered, forming the horizontal line of the “T.” The Russian fleet, unable to respond to the Japanese fleet’s maneuvers, maintained their column formation, becoming the vertical line of the “T” and exposing themselves to one-sided bombardment from the Japanese. This “crossing the T” tactic dramatically demonstrated the importance of information superiority, rapid maneuvering, and concentrated firepower in naval battles of that era.