Battle of Tsushima
The Battle of Tsushima, fought on May 14-15, 1905, was a pivotal naval engagement during the Russo-Japanese War. This battle marked a significant turning point, demonstrating Japan's emergence as a formidable naval power. The Russian Pacific Fleet, already weakened from previous conflicts, had formed new squadrons from older ships of its Baltic Fleet to engage in this battle. The confrontation took place in the Straits of Tsushima, where Vice Admiral Heihachirō Tōgō led the Japanese forces against Vice Admiral Zinovy P. Rozhdestvensky's Russian fleet.
As the battle unfolded, the Japanese forces inflicted severe losses on the Russians, sinking multiple battleships and achieving tactical superiority with minimal casualties on their side. By the morning of May 15, the Russian admiral recognized the futility of continuing the fight and ordered his fleet to surrender. The aftermath of the battle saw the near-total destruction or capture of the Russian Baltic Fleet, with only a few vessels managing to return home. The significant loss of life and resources for Russia, contrasted with Japan's successful maneuvering, underscored the shifting dynamics of naval power in the early 20th century and had lasting implications for international relations in the region.
Battle of Tsushima
Type of action: Naval battle in the Russo-Japanese War
Date: May 27-29, 1905
Location: Straits of Tsushima
Combatants: Russians vs. Japanese
Principal commanders: Russian, Zinovy P. Rozhdestvensky; Japanese, Heihachirō Tōgō (1848–1934)
Result: Japanese victory; encouraged peace negotiations that led to the Treaty of Portsmouth, ending the Russo-Japanese War
The Battle of Tsushima was the decisive naval battle of the Russo-Japanese War. Because of earlier naval actions near Port Arthur, the Russian Pacific Fleet had suffered considerable losses, and the government decided to form second and third Pacific squadrons from older ships of the Baltic Fleet. On the way to the Far East, one squadron mistakenly fired on a group of British cruisers, causing a minor diplomatic incident that required Russian monetary compensation. The two squadrons finally met up off the coast of Indochina on April 26, 1905.
The Japanese sighted the enemy on the morning of May 14, and Vice Admiral Heihachirō Tōgō moved to intercept the Russian ships at the Straits of Tsushima. In the course of the battle, the Russians lost four battleships, and Vice Admiral Zinovy P. Rozhdestvensky was gravely wounded. At nightfall, the Japanese knocked four more Russian ships out of the battle with torpedo attacks. By 10 a.m. on May 15, it was clear to the Russian rear admiral that victory was impossible and he ordered his captains to surrender.
Significance
During the battle, Japanese casualties were light and no heavy ships were lost. The Russians suffered more than 800 wounded and 5,000 dead. The ships of the Russian Baltic Fleet were almost all destroyed or captured by the Japanese. In the end, only two destroyers and one armed yacht returned to the Baltic.
Resources
The Battle of Tsushima. Documentary. Ambrose Video, 1995.
The Battle of Tsushima: 1905 Japan Enters the World Scene. Documentary. Films for Humanities, 1990.
Busch, Noel F. The Emperor’s Sword: Japan vs. Russia in the Battle of Tsushima. New York: Funk & Wagnalls, 1969.
Corbett, Jullian Stafford, Sir. Maritime Operations in the Russo-Japanese War, 1904–1905. Annapolis, Md.: Naval Institute Press, 1994.
Novikov-Priboi, Aleksei S. Tsushima: Grave of a Floating City. 2d ed. Westport, Conn.: Hyperion Press, 1978.
Osburn, D. R. Naval Tactics Based on a Study of the Battle of Tsushima. Newport, R.I.: U.S. Naval War College, 1932.
Westwood, J. N. Witnesses of Tsushima. Tokyo: Sophia University Press, 1970.