Changes

* ''Japan (The Combined Fleet) Vs. [[Russia|Russian]] (Second and Third Pacific Squadrons)''  

* ''Japan (The Combined Fleet) Vs. [[Russia]] (Second and Third Pacific Squadrons)''  

** ''Date: 27 May [[1905]]''

** ''Date: 27 May [[1905]]''

:''"It is absurd to think of steaming victoriously into [[Vladivostok]], or of getting command of the sea! The only possible chance is a dash through, and having dashed through, after two, three, or at the most four sallies, we shall have burnt all our supplies of coal, and have shed our blossoms before we have bloomed. We shall have to prepare for a siege, take our guns on shore, teach the crew to use bayonets."''

:''"It is absurd to think of steaming victoriously into [[Vladivostok]], or of getting command of the sea! The only possible chance is a dash through, and having dashed through, after two, three, or at the most four sallies, we shall have burnt all our supplies of coal, and have shed our blossoms before we have bloomed. We shall have to prepare for a siege, take our guns on shore, teach the crew to use bayonets."''

''Navigating Flag Lieutenant [[Filippovsky]] aboard [[Kn. Suvorov]]''

''-Navigating Flag Lieutenant [[Filippovsky]] aboard [[Kn. Suvorov]]''

==Background==

==Background==

On 15 October 1904, the Second Pacific Squadron finally set sail from the Baltic and headed toward their comrades at Port Arthur, it would be May 1905 before they finally arrived.

On 15 October 1904, the Second Pacific Squadron finally set sail from the Baltic and headed toward their comrades at Port Arthur, it would be May 1905 before they finally arrived.

:'''"Kokoku no kohai kono issen ni ari; kakuin isso funrei doryoku seyo"'''

:''"Kokoku no kohai kono issen ni ari; kakuin isso funrei doryoku seyo"''

The fate of the Empire rests upon this one battle; let every man do his utmost.  

''(The fate of the Empire rests upon this one battle; let every man do his utmost.)''

''Admiral [[Togo]] to the [[Japanese Fleet]], 27 May 1905''

''-Admiral [[Togo]] to the [[Japanese Fleet]], 27 May 1905''

After nearly superhuman effort and an unprecedented voyage of 18,000 miles around the world from the Baltic, the now Vice Admiral Zinovi Petrovitch Rozhdestvenski, by May 1905 was steaming through the [[South China Sea]]. The [[Third Pacific Squadron]], under the command of Rear Admiral Nikolai [[Nebogatov]], had joined Rozhdestvenski's fleet that month. The reinforcement sent by [[St. Petersburg]] was actually more of a hindrance than help. Nebogatov's ships  

After nearly superhuman effort and an unprecedented voyage of 18,000 miles around the world from the Baltic, the now Vice Admiral Zinovi Petrovitch Rozhdestvenski, by May 1905 was steaming through the [[South China Sea]]. The [[Third Pacific Squadron]], under the command of Rear Admiral Nikolai [[Nebogatov]], had joined Rozhdestvenski's fleet that month. The reinforcement sent by [[St. Petersburg]] was actually more of a hindrance than help. Nebogatov's ships  

Admiral Togo may have been surprised by the Russian's position, but he quickly reacted. Togo ordered his ships to starboard and crossed the Russian's path as if to attack the port column, which his scouts had reported to be the weaker of the two, on an opposite course.

Admiral Togo may have been surprised by the Russian's position, but he quickly reacted. Togo ordered his ships to starboard and crossed the Russian's path as if to attack the port column, which his scouts had reported to be the weaker of the two, on an opposite course.

Then to the amazement of the Russian commanders and sailors alike, Togo led his fleet in a great U-turn, coming up on a parallel course with the Russians on their port side. The following account is by Vladimir [[Semenoff]], taken from his book "The Battle of Tsushima":  

Then to the amazement of the Russian commanders and sailors alike, Togo led his fleet in a great U-turn, coming up on a parallel course with the Russians on their port side.  

 

The following account is by Vladimir [[Semenoff]], taken from his book "The Battle of Tsushima":  

:"Now the fun will begin," thought I to myself, going up to the after-bridge, which seemed to be the most convenient place for carrying out my duty of seeing and noting down everything, as from there I could see both the enemy and our own fleet. Lieutenant Reydkin, commanding the after starboard 6-inch turret, was also there, having dashed up to see what was going on, as the fight was apparently to commence to port, and his turret would not be in action.

:"Now the fun will begin," thought I to myself, going up to the after-bridge, which seemed to be the most convenient place for carrying out my duty of seeing and noting down everything, as from there I could see both the enemy and our own fleet. Lieutenant Reydkin, commanding the after starboard 6-inch turret, was also there, having dashed up to see what was going on, as the fight was apparently to commence to port, and his turret would not be in action.

I had probably been unconscious for some time, as the fire had been extinguished, and, save for two or three dead bodies on which water was pouring from the torn hoses, no one was to be seen. Whatever had struck me had come from the direction of the deck house aft, which was hidden from me by a mantlet of hammocks. I looked in the direction where the flag-officers, with a party of poop signalmen, should have been. The shell had passed through the deck house, bursting inside. Of the ten or twelve signalmen, some seemed to be standing by the starboard 6-inch turret,  

I had probably been unconscious for some time, as the fire had been extinguished, and, save for two or three dead bodies on which water was pouring from the torn hoses, no one was to be seen. Whatever had struck me had come from the direction of the deck house aft, which was hidden from me by a mantlet of hammocks. I looked in the direction where the flag-officers, with a party of poop signalmen, should have been. The shell had passed through the deck house, bursting inside. Of the ten or twelve signalmen, some seemed to be standing by the starboard 6-inch turret,  

others seemed to be lying in a huddled group. Inside was a pile of something, and on the top lay an officers telescope.

others seemed to be lying in a huddled group. Inside was a pile of something, and on the top lay an officers [[telescope]].

:"Is this all that is left?" I wondered, but I was wrong, as by some miracle Novosiltseff and Kozakevitch were only wounded and, helped by Maximoff, had gone to the dressing station, while I was lying on the deck occupied with mending my watch.

:"Is this all that is left?" I wondered, but I was wrong, as by some miracle Novosiltseff and Kozakevitch were only wounded and, helped by Maximoff, had gone to the dressing station, while I was lying on the deck occupied with mending my watch.

Instead of two dead bodies, five or six were now lying in the conning tower. The man at the wheel having been incapacitated, Vladimirsky had taken his place. His face was covered with blood, but his moustache was smartly twisted upwards, and he wore the same self-confident look as he had in the wardroom when discussing "the future of gunnery."

Instead of two dead bodies, five or six were now lying in the conning tower. The man at the wheel having been incapacitated, Vladimirsky had taken his place. His face was covered with blood, but his moustache was smartly twisted upwards, and he wore the same self-confident look as he had in the wardroom when discussing "the future of gunnery."

Within the hour, the battle was decided. Four Russian battleships were put out of commission by the concentrated fire of Admirals Togo and Kamimura's divisions. The Russian ships scattered, and the battle quickly degenerated into a melee. The shelling continued till 1920 hrs, when Admiral Togo ordered his flotillas to finish off the rest.

Within the hour, the battle was decided. Four Russian battleships were put out of commission by the concentrated fire of Admirals Togo and Kamimura's divisions. The Russian ships scattered, and the battle quickly degenerated into a melee. The shelling continued till 1920 hrs, when Admiral Togo ordered his flotillas to finish off the rest.