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THE AGE OF STEAM AND BIG GUN
AND IMPERIALISM 1815–1914
THE BATTLE

OF TSUSHIMA

In the second half of the 19th century, new technology
transformed the world’s navies. Wooden sailing ships were
replaced by steel warships with coal-fired engines, armed
with powerful rifled guns in rotating turrets. The Russians
and Japanese fought the first fleet encounter between these
formidable vessels in the Tsushima Strait in May 1905.

Russia and Japan went to war in 1904 a maximum field of fire without the
over their rival ambitions to control risk of hitting a friendly ship. Togo
Manchuria and Korea. From the outset turned his fleet to sail parallel to
Y the Japanese Imperial Navy outclassed the Russians, with his flagship Mikasa
INDUSTR Arthur and Vladivostok. In a bold bid began at a range of around 6,000
the Russian Pacific Fleet based at Port in the vanguard. The exchange of fire

to redress the balance, Russia decided yards (5,500 meters). Crucially, the
Japanese had superior range-finding
to send a large part of its Baltic Fleet
from European waters to East Asia,
hit a target at such distance. They
a grueling voyage that took seven technology, vital if gunners were to
months. By the time the Russian ships also had shells more suitable for the
reached the Pacific, Port Arthur had conditions: whereas the Russians fired
fallen to the Japanese. The Russians had armor-piercing rounds, the Japanese
to head for Vladivostok, farther north, shells were fused to explode on
which meant steaming past Japan. contact. Packed with high explosives,
Short of coal, Russian Admiral Zinovy they devastated the superstructure of
Petrovich Rozhestvensky chose the ships they hit, starting fires and raking
shortest route, through the Tsushima the decks with deadly steel splinters.
Strait between Japan and Korea. Moreover, the Japanese fleet’s speed
Japanese commander Admiral Togo advantage enabled them to “cross the
Heihachiro was on the lookout for the T,” sailing their ships across the front
Russian fleet, the progress of which of the Russian line. This maneuver
around the world had been a public brought all their guns to bear on the
event. Rozhestvensky hoped to dash Russians, while the Russians could only
through the Strait under cover of reply with some of their forward guns.
darkness, and he might have succeeded
but for a new invention: wireless ENDGAME
telegraphy (radio). When a Japanese By nightfall the outclassed Russian
vessel patrolling the Strait spotted the fleet had suffered devastation; Admiral
Russian fleet, it was able to inform Rozhestvensky, wounded by a piece
Admiral Togo instantly. Fast-moving of steel embedded in his skull, was
Japanese cruisers kept in visual contact among thousands of casualties. When
with the Russians, radioing their one of the Russian battleships, the
position to Togo so he could direct his Borodino, exploded, a shell striking one
main force in pursuit. The Japanese of its magazines, 784 of its 785 crew
fleet had no difficulty intercepting were killed. After dark, the Japanese
the Russians because it enjoyed a unleashed their destroyers and torpedo
substantial speed advantage, steaming boats upon the fleeing, disorganized
at around 15 knots against the 6 knots enemy. Repeated torpedo runs
of the Russian vessels. Battle was completed the rout begun by the heavy
joined on the afternoon of May 27. guns. In total, 17 Russian warships
Both fleets steamed in “line astern” out of the original fleet of 27 were
formation—one vessel following destroyed, including seven battleships.
another—allowing their turret guns Only three reached Vladivostok.