Tsushima 1905: Death of a Russian Fleet (Campaign Book 330)

Japan was closed to the world until 1854 and its technology then was literally medieval. Great Britain, France and Russia divided the globe in the nineteenth century, but Japan was catching up. Its army and navy were retrained by Western powers and equipped with the latest weapons and ships. Japan wanted to further emulate its European mentors and establish a protectorate over Korea, yet Japanese efforts were blocked by Imperial Russia who had their own designs on the peninsula. The Russo-Japanese War started with a surprise Japanese naval attack against an anchored enemy fleet still believing itself at peace. It ended with the Battle of Tsushima, the most decisive surface naval battle of the 20th century. This gripping study describes this pivotal battle, and shows how the Japanese victory over Russia led to the development of the dreadnought battleship, and gave rise to an almost mythical belief in Japanese naval invincibility. A highly illustrated study of the naval campaign of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904–05, focusing on the decisive battle of Tsushima.Japan was closed to the world until 1854 and its technology then was literally medieval. Great Britain, France and Russia divided the globe in the nineteenth century, but Japan was catching up. Its army and navy were retrained by Western powers and equipped with the latest weapons and ships. Japan wanted to further emulate its European mentors and establish a protectorate over Korea, yet Japanese efforts were blocked by Imperial Russia who had their own designs on the peninsula.The Russo-Japanese War started with a surprise Japanese naval attack against an anchored enemy fleet still believing itself at peace. It ended with the Battle of Tsushima, the most decisive surface naval battle of the 20th century. This gripping study describes this pivotal battle, and shows how the Japanese victory over Russia led to the development of the dreadnought battleship, and gave rise to an almost mythical belief in Japanese naval invincibility. Japan Was Closed To The World Until 1854 And Its Technology Then Was Literally Medieval. Great Britain, France, And Russia Divided The Globe In The Nineteenth Century, But Japan Was Catching Up. Its Army And Navy Were Retrained By Western Powers And Equipped With The Latest Weapons And Ships. Japan Wanted To Further Emulate Its European Mentors And Establish A Protectorate Over Korea, Yet Japanese Efforts Were Blocked By Imperial Russia Who Had Their Own Designs On The Peninsula. The Russo-japanese War Started With A Japanese Surprise Naval Attack Against An Anchored Enemy Fleet Still Believing Itself At Peace. It Ended With The Battle Of Tsushima, The Most Decisive Surface Naval Battle Of The 20th Century. This Gripping Study Describes This Pivotal Battle, And Shows How The Japanese Victory Over Russia Led To The Development Of The Dreadnought Battleship, And Gave Rise To An Almost Mythical Belief In Japanese Naval Invincibility. The Russo-Japanese War began with a surprise Japanese naval attack against an anchored Russian fleet in Port Arthur, which still believed itself at peace. It ended, to all intents and purposes, with the Battle of Tsushima, the most decisive surface naval battle of the 20th century, in which some two-thirds of the Imperial Russian Fleet was destroyed. This superbly illustrated volume explores the background to the war, records the opening naval encounters, and documents the strategy, tactics, and movements of both sides as the crucial naval campaign came to a head in the Tsushima Strait between Korea and Japan. It also explores the lasting impact on military maritime technology of the decisive Japanese victory at Tsushima, which was the first major fleet action between steel warships, the first in which wireless telegraphy played a key role, and the last battle to see the surrender of an enemy battle line at sea. Intro; Title; Table of Contents; Origins of the Campaign; Chronology; Opposing Commanders; Opposing Forces; Opposing Plans; The Campaign; Aftermath; The Battle Sites Today; Further Reading; eCopyright