battlestar
14-10-2008, 13:36
G'Day All
Now before I start the story on this Thread, I know that Terry has an outstanding Thread on the Battle of Tsushima in Battles and Events.
But this is not about the Battle. It is about the Voyage to Annihilation via Damnation that the Tsar's fleet took to reach their fate off Japan on 27 May 1905. It is a story of insanity laces with desperation with a touch of hope that never existed in the first place.
I wrote this in 2005 as a 2 part article (Part 2 deals with the battle and aftermath) and a edited version was published in "The Navy'.
I hope you'll enjoy it :)
Ian
Voyage to Annihilation via Damnation
Prelude to the Battle of Tsushima
By Ian Johnson
One hundred years ago on 27 May 1905 the first fleet battle of the twentieth century took place. The Battle of Tsushima was one of the last acts of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). It would be the most dominating display of seamanship and firepower since the Royal Navy under Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, and the most telling strategic victory since Nelson’s at Trafalgar one hundred years before. Yet before this battle one of the most remarkable events in naval history took place. What began as the reinforcement of the Russian Pacific Fleet by the Baltic Fleet turned into the cruise of the dammed. Incompetence, apathy, poor training, combined with a tenuous supply situation and poor political & strategic planning would lead 60 warships over 18 000 miles to face total annihilation by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The war began after several years of tension between both countries on the night of 8 February 1904. On the orders of the Emperor a Japanese destroyer flotilla conducted a surprise attack on Port Arthur (Lu-Shun) in Korea. Three Russian battleships were hit while the use of torpedo nets saved several more from destruction. This attack represents a turning point in history, as it was the first time an Asian nation successfully engaged a European power. In the months that followed both land and sea attacks the Japanese military would gain the upper hand. By October 1904 the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army had effectively bottled the Russian forces in and around Port Arthur, which was the primary objective for the Japanese and one of two Russian ports in the Far East.
On 9 October after months of delay Tsar Nicholas II ordered the Baltic Fleet from Kronstadt to Reval Naval Base in St Petersburg to sail to the Far East to break through the Japanese lines. Commanding this fleet was Rear Admiral Zinovy Petrovich Rozhdestvensky. A rarity in the Tsarist Navy, Rozhdestvensky was both experienced as well as a favourite of Tsar Nicholas II. At 57 years of age Rozhdestvensky was at the time Chief of the Russian Naval General Staff when he was ordered to Reval to take command of the Baltic Fleet. Within Russia he was considered a brilliant commander and tactician as well as a perfectionist toward himself and his men and until assuming command at Reval had not put a foot wrong during his career.
Waiting for Rozhdestvensky was Admiral Togo Heihechiro. Admiral Togo was the mastermind of naval operations that had eliminated the Russian Pacific Fleet as a factor in the war.
On 9 October as ships of the fleet departed Kronstadt for Reval the battleship ORYOL ran aground on a sandbar whilst under the care of tugboats. For more than a day the ORYOL could be seen as dredgers dug around the battleship before she broke free of the bottom. The 13 300-ton battleship then headed for Reval where the rest of the fleet was waiting. With the news of defeats from the Pacific general knowledge, many of the Russian sailors saw this event as sign of things to come.
When the Baltic fleet arrived at Reval RADM Rozhdestvensky ordered battle drills against a torpedo attack. The drills ended in mass confusion and Rozhdestvensky began to realise the work in from of him. Before the fleet left Reval Tsar Nicholas II inspected the fleet and to every ship, exhorted vengeance on the insolent Japanese for the everlasting glory of Holy Russia. Many sailors who heard the Tsar wondered if this voyage would be as successful as the Tsar’s words.
15 October saw the departure of the Baltic Fleet from Reval. Renamed the Second Pacific Squadron the Tsar was sending the newly-completed battleship SUVOROFF (Fleet Flagship) along with her sister-ships, the ORYOL, BORODINO, and ALEXANDER III. These battleships were the backbone of a fleet of 42 vessels that the Russians regarded as invincible. As the fleet sailed through the Baltic the Russian crews were nervous about possible Japanese forces nearby. RADM Rozhdestvensky was informed of his promotion to Vice Admiral as the fleet approached Cape Skagen, Norway. On 20 October at Cape Skagen the business of coaling and resupply began before VADM Rozhdestvensky ordered the fleet to prepare for immediate departure. Many in the fleet believed that Rozhdestvensky had secret information on Japanese destroyers waiting ahead of the fleet, thus the decision to depart. The fleet was formed into six detachments and each detachment had it’s own command.
As the fleet sailed into the North Sea the nerves of the Russian sailors began to fray as seagulls were mistaken as enemy dirigibles. The destroyers and cruisers lead the fleet for a course to take them to the Straits of Dover. The rumours on Japanese ships nearby continued to grow. As they sailed deeper into the North Sea those frayed nerves would give way to hysteria.
On the night of 22 October the Russian fleet was passing through the southern reaches of the North Sea. At 2000hrs the repair ship KAMCHATKA reported to the Flagship SUVOROFF that they were being chased by torpedo boats. With repeated question KAMCHATKA convinced Rozhdestvensky and his staff that something was happening. Without confirming the reports from KAMCHATKA, at 2100hrs the rest of the fleet was signalled to prepare for torpedo boat attack from stern. The crews moved to their battle stations, the continuing dread of a Japanese attack demoralising everybody.
Just after midnight the fleet was passing Dodger Bank, a rich fishing ground. When lookouts on the SUVOROFF spotted tricoloured flares a short distance away, the battleship turned on its searchlights. The lights illuminated the British fishing fleet. To the Russians it was the final straw in a frenzy of rumours and the 12-inch guns of the SUVOROFF opened fire. The confusion spread to the other ships and they began to engage the trawlers.
Onboard the Russian ships chaos reined as the lack of information along with the lack of experience had most sailors believing that they were surrounded. Onboard the ORYOL they had what they believed was a Japanese cruiser in their sights and opened fire. When the BORODINO fired its 12-inch gun the crew of the ORYOL believed that there had been a torpedo hit, either to them or the BORODINO.
When it became apparent to Rozhdestvensky that the ships were not Japanese he ordered the fleet to cease-fire. Even then onboard his flagship he had to personally ensure that SUVOROFF guns fell silent.
After nearly 12 minutes the end result was one trawler sunk, many more with varying degrees of damage. For the ORYOL their joy turned to horror when they discovered their target was the First Class cruiser AURORA that had been damaged by 5 hits.
For the Russians it was an embarrassing moment and a major diplomatic incident that would have serious repercussions for the fleet.
While the diplomats sorted out the mess from the ‘Dogger Bank affair’ the fleet moved quickly through the Dover Straits and into the Bay of Biscay. Onboard SUVOROFF, VADM Rozhdestvensky was incensed with both the incident at Dogger Bank and the abysmal gunnery performance displayed by what he believed were first class ships.
After an uneventful few days the fleet sighted the Spanish shore on 27 October and headed for the port of Vigo. Waiting there were five German collier ships ready to resupply the fleet. As the fleet anchored Spanish Authorities boarded the SUVOROFF and informed Rozhdestvensky that due to Spain’s neutrality, and British diplomatic pressure after the Dogger Bank incident, the fleet could not resupply in Spanish waters. Rozhdestvensky countered by informing them that the fleet had not been refuelled fully at Norway and that the fleet could not go much further. After intense diplomatic manoeuvring the Spanish agreed to allow 400 tons of coal per battleship with other ships getting enough to steam on.
As the fleet refuelled, Rozhdestvensky and the rest of the fleet discovered heard more on the aftermath of the incident at Dogger Bank. While the political fallout continued the Royal Navy deployed a squadron of four cruisers to shadow the Russians as they sailed from Vigo to their next port of Tangiers. Rozhdestvensky, still furious with the fleets ordered drills, drills and more drills at all times of the day and night.
On 2 November saw the majority of the fleet anchor at Tangiers, Morocco, with the fleet destroyers and several transports detaching from the main fleet to arrive in Algiers. Later that day Rozhdestvensky detached 3 ironclads and 3 cruisers to head via the Suez Canal for the fleet rendezvous at Madagascar. Although the British put pressure on the Moroccan Government to refuse the Russians access the visit continued amidst the growing bad weather and coaling the fleet off Tangiers became a problem. After a successful port visit the fleet left on 4 November.
The fleet with the destroyers and transports back with them headed south towards the equator. For ships designed for colder climates the conditions below decks were unbearable, the engine rooms of the fleet had to content with 140F+ temperatures as coal was shovelled into the boilers.
The next port of call was Dakar, Senegal, on 12 November. Eleven German colliers were waiting as the fleet arrived. Rozhdestvensky ordered each ship to load additional coal. In the case of the Oryol and her sister ships their coal bunkers would hold 1100 tons, but were ordered to load an extra 600 tons. As this began the French authorities in Dakar informed Rozhdestvensky to stop resupply until they got permission from their government. The Admiral ignored them and continued the task at hand. Even at night the temperature was 77F and loading coal during the day saw many sailors drop from heat stress. By the time the French government sent word that the fleet was not to load supplies there it was too late. Coal was stacked in every spare space in the fleet and the ships crews had tried to clean up the mess.
By 15 November the fleet was underway again but the strain of the voyage, the tenuous supply situation and the tropical heat were taking their toll. Many of the crew were falling ill with the coal dust. The stokers especially were tired and haggard from the heat and noise of the engine rooms. Discipline within the fleet began to drop; with those crew arrested and put in the brig enjoying a few days off work.
The Russian fleet sailed towards the Gabon estuary on the equator. Rozhdestvensky tried to bring the fleet up to battle conditions with drills. The now daily drill of steering the ships with backup methods and on one occasion ORYOL nearly collided with SUVOROFF. By the time the fleet reached French Equatorial Africa (modern day Gabon) the crews, and many of the officers, were sick, tired, and fed up with the situation.
It did not improve when on 25 November the fleet arrived off the capital of French Equatorial Africa, Libreville. For two days the fleet waited for two German colliers while the French Governor tried to move the fleet on. But VADM Rozhdestvensky refused to move. While at Libreville the minor discipline problems grew into larger ones. Onboard the repair ship KAMCHATKA civilian workers and naval engineers came to blows. On several of the transports civilian stokers refused to go on duty. Then several officers of the cruiser DMITRI DONSKOY were arrested for smuggling nurses from a hospital ship to the cruiser. Three officers were sent back to Russia for court martial.
For Rozhdestvensky the strain was total, as even the slightest infraction by anybody would soon feel the Admiral’s wrath.
On 30 November the fleet was underway in the South Atlantic. On 5 December they arrived at Great Fish Bay south of Angola where more German colliers waited. As they loaded coal a Portuguese gunboat sailed towards them and challenged Rozhdestvensky’s right load stores there. After a short exchange the Captain of the gunboat sent a formal protest to the Russian Government.
After departing Great Fish Bay the fleet crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and arrived at the Bay of Angra Pequena in the German colony of South West Africa (modern day Namibia) on 10 December. This rocky harbour afforded little protection from the wind and waves. The destroyers and transports had to wait out to sea. For the ORYOL her starboard anchor broke away as they took up anchoring position. Unlike other ports the German officials welcomed the Russians with open arms. But rough weather for three days caused problems and delays before resupply could continue. With concerns over British embargos against the Russian, the use of Cape Town for resupply was ruled out. Rozhdestvensky again ordered extra coal to be loaded so the fleet could sail past South Africa and onto Madagascar. While at Angra Pequena several crewmen throughout the fleet cracked under the strain. While their shipmates did what they could to help these men stayed with the fleet until their next port of call.
On 16 December the fleet left South West Africa and rounded the Cape of Good Hope and headed northeast into a storm. On 28 December the fleet arrived at the north east coast of Madagascar. On arriving at the island of Sainte Marie it was plain to see that the rest of the Russian fleet that were sailing via the Suez Canal had not arrived. Only two German colliers were there for resupply. At 1600hrs the hospital ship OREL arrived from Cape Town and with it came the news that the Japanese destroyed the Russian First Pacific Squadron at Port Arthur. The reason for the voyage was now non-existent. A mood of depression began to overrun the fleet.
Rozhdestvensky ordered a ship to head for the port of Tamatave to get hard information on what was happening, as well as to find out where the rest of the Russian fleet was. While waiting for the ship to return the Admiral ordered the fleet to conduct repairs. The next day the ship returned with the information that the rest of the fleet was anchored off Nossi-Bé, on the other side of Madagascar. This was due to British pressure on the French authorities at the French port Diego Suarez, where the ships were to have resupplied, refusing to allow the Russian there.
Other reports arrived, including those of suspected Japanese naval movements in the Indian Ocean. The repairs were put on hold as the fleet began reconnaissance sweeps for the enemy. A storm arrived and the resupply was halted as the fleet headed for the Bay of Tang Tang, which was a better place to continue resupply.
On the 5 January 1905 Rozhdestvensky was informed that Port Arthur had fallen to the Japanese on the 2nd. This piece of news destroyed all the crew’s, and most of the officer’s, confidence in the mission. Their faith in the invincibility of Holy Russia was now gone, and slowly sailors throughout the fleet began to talk about defeat at the hands of the Japanese navy. On the same day the fleet left Tang Tang and headed north where they met the cruisers of the fleet that had sailed via the Suez Canal.
On 6 January the Fleet celebrated Christmas (Russian calendar) off Diego Suarez. For many of the crew this was to be the last happy moment in the Russian Navy.
On 7 January the fleet arrived at Nossi-Bé and the appropriately named town of Hellville. The French authorities came out to the SUVOROFF and they warmly greeted Rozhdestvensky and the Russian fleet. Limited shore leave was granted. Resupply continued as all ships were overloaded with coal.
Shortly after Rozhdestvensky learned that another Russian fleet were heading his way. Unlike his, the fleet, known as the Third Pacific Squadron, was full of old, slow ships. As time in Nossi-Bé dragged on, moral dropped lower as the crew was forced to breath coal dust, disease began to take hold, and to top off the misery ill-fitting boots were distributed, much to the sailor’s disgust. But they were kept busy with repairs, maintenance, and more drills. The death toll began to climb from accidents, disease, and suicide. On 23 January onboard the cruiser ADMIRAL NAKHIMOFF the crew revolted after enduring poor food for weeks. Rozhdestvensky boarded the cruiser and called those involved Japanese sympathisers and proceeded to hand out punishment to those involved.
Rozhdestvensky’s problems did not end there. After much negotiation the German colliers agreed to sail with the fleet as far as the Dutch East Indies (modern day Indonesia). To top off Rozhdestvensky’s problems he was still waiting for the Third Pacific Squadron to arrive.
On 26 January in a preview of things to come, a fleet gunnery exercise was a total failure with little to no hits on either a stationary or moving target. This was a massive disappointment to the Admiral as it told him that four months of drills were wasted. The fleet conducted more gunnery drills with the same result.
On 13 February six Russian warships arrived at Nossi-Bé as reinforcements. The news from home that these warships brought shocked every sailor. On 22 January three hundred thousand men marched on the Tsar’s winter palace in St Petersburg and without warning were fired on with over two thousand people dead. This event shattered the faith in the Tsar, and would slowly begin the Russian Navy’s fall into revolution.
With morale non-existent, the sick parades got longer, drunkenness became a major problem. Liberty in Hellville turned into a depressing mix of drinking and gambling, with increasing civil disorder. Arrests amongst the fleet grew as the officers tried in vain to revive morale. Even Rozhdestvensky was affected, his temper at boiling point as the wait for the Third Pacific Squadron. Realising he either stayed and watched the problems of the fleet continue or left without the Third Pacific Squadron, the Admiral ordered the fleet to prepare for departure. Supply ships arrived with much needed food and spare parts, and again the fleet took on more supplies than they could carry.
On 15 March the fleet left Madagascar with the French authorities wishing them well. The crews were despondent with the news of events both in Russia and Port Arthur weighing on their minds. Men threw themselves overboard rather than continue the deployment. Engines were breaking down with the heat and the fleet had to slow as repairs took place. Resupply, which was hard enough in harbour, took on an added element with the continuing hot weather as the fleet conducted resupply operations at sea.
After a twenty day voyage the fleet arrived 3 April at Sumatra and sail through the Straits of Malacca. As the fleet advance the crews began to see every ship as a Japanese warship and paranoia throughout the fleet skyrocketed.
Off Singapore the Russian Consul boarded the SUVOROFF and informed Rozhdestvensky that the Japanese fleet was operating nearby. In fact that was not the case and this report increased the tension. The Consul also informed the Admiral that the Third Pacific Squadron had just left Djibouti and would meet them off Vietnam.
From Singapore the destroyers of the Russian fleet patrolled ahead for the Japanese fleet but found nothing. By 12 April the fleet had been underway for 28 days, steamed nearly 5200 miles (8360 kilometres), with the fleet stopping 112 times for repairs, when they arrived in Cam Ranh Bay in the French colony of Vietnam.
The fleet spent more than a week at Cam Ranh Bay resupplying and waiting for the Third Pacific Squadron. On the 20 April the French Government ordered the fleet to leave Cam Ranh Bay after Japanese diplomatic pressure. The fleet left the next day but only to sail to the Bay of Van Fong further up the coast to continue with the resupply and repairs to the fleet.
On 28 April while at Van Fong the crew of the ORYOL revolted after poor quality meat was served. The next day was Russian Easter Sunday. On 30 April Rozhdestvensky boarded the ORYOL and arrested what he believed were the ringleaders of the revolt two days prior. They were not, and the ringleader remained onboard. But events like the revolt were springing up through the fleet. With no morale and no hope of making it back to Russia alive the sailors of the fleet were beyond caring.
On 7 May the Third Pacific Squadron contacted Rozhdestvensky and informed him that they were near. On the 8th the fleet got underway from Van Fong Bay and assumed battle formation. At 1400hrs the Third Pacific Squadron finally rendezvous with the Second Pacific Squadron. Rozhdestvensky went over to the NICHOLAS I and met with Rear Admiral Nebogatoff, commander of the Third Squadron briefly before returning to his flagship. It would be the only time both Admirals would meet face to face.
On 9 May the Third Pacific Squadron arrived at the Gulf of Kua-Bé for resupply and repairs as Rozhdestvensky conducted battle drills nearby.
On May 13 the entire fleet, now numbering 60 ships ranging from battleships to transports, departed the coastline of Vietnam.
17 May saw an ocean resupply for the fleet. Coal dust layered the ocean as the fleet took on more coal stores. By now the sailors of the fleet knew that Rozhdestvensky was to get the fleet to Vladivostock. To do so the fleet would sail through the Sea of Japan. There were three routes. Korea Strait, Tsugaru Strait, or La Perouse. With the coal supply only the Sea of Japan was considered, as sailing far to the east coast of Japan would see the fleet run out of fuel.
Rozhdestvensky’s fleet had its last supply of coal on May 23 north of Formosa (Taiwan). At this time the Admiral gave his fleet instructions for the upcoming battle. As the fleet sailed on the temperature began to drop. The crews of the fleet realised that imminent death could be moments away. This lead crews forgetting previous bad behaviour and doing their duties in a professional manner. Even relations between officers and crew improved.
On 25 May the day was rainy as the colliers departed the fleet for China. It was on this day that officers on the flagship SUVOROFF realised that the Admiral was leading the fleet to Tsugaru Strait, near the island of Tsushima. This was the worst of the options that Rozhdestvensky had but it was the one he took.
The fleet sailed towards Tsushima with crews feeling that they were nothing but cannon fodder as they continued to conduct battle drills.
The morning of the 26 May saw bright sunshine and calm seas. A manoeuvring exercise conducted that day was as bad as those conducted off Madagascar and they delayed the fleet’s arrival at Tsugaru Strait. Onboard every ship in the fleet the crews knew they were five days away from Vladivostock. They also wondered why Rozhdestvensky was taking the most dangerous route their, when the La Perouse Strait was the safer option. Low crew morale as well as the events during the cruise played on Rozhdestvensky’s mind and it may have led to the decision to sail through Tsugaru Strait to get to Vladivostock as fast as possible.
A dark and foggy night fell on the fleet. It was quiet until 0500hrs the next morning. Lookouts onboard ORYOL spotted a ship shadowing them. It was the Japanese cruiser SHINANO MARU and it was the 27 of May, the battle of Tsushima had begun.
The cruise of the Russian Baltic Fleet was on most respects a disaster from day one. Only the strong will of Vice Admiral Zinovy Petrovich Rozhdestvensky ensured the fleet got there in the first place. They had steamed over 18 000 miles (nearly 29 000 kilometres) and little diplomatic support from St Petersburg. VADM Rozhdestvensky was forced to deal with revolts, a stable supply line, and a growing frustration in the ability of the fleet to fight. The fall of Port Arthur also had major consequences, changing his mission from one of reinforcement to one of survival of the fleet for use later in the future.
But at 0500hrs on 27 May none of that mattered as the Russian Fleet entered Tsugaru Strait. The Imperial Japanese Navy were waiting for them.
Now before I start the story on this Thread, I know that Terry has an outstanding Thread on the Battle of Tsushima in Battles and Events.
But this is not about the Battle. It is about the Voyage to Annihilation via Damnation that the Tsar's fleet took to reach their fate off Japan on 27 May 1905. It is a story of insanity laces with desperation with a touch of hope that never existed in the first place.
I wrote this in 2005 as a 2 part article (Part 2 deals with the battle and aftermath) and a edited version was published in "The Navy'.
I hope you'll enjoy it :)
Ian
Voyage to Annihilation via Damnation
Prelude to the Battle of Tsushima
By Ian Johnson
One hundred years ago on 27 May 1905 the first fleet battle of the twentieth century took place. The Battle of Tsushima was one of the last acts of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). It would be the most dominating display of seamanship and firepower since the Royal Navy under Nelson at the Battle of the Nile, and the most telling strategic victory since Nelson’s at Trafalgar one hundred years before. Yet before this battle one of the most remarkable events in naval history took place. What began as the reinforcement of the Russian Pacific Fleet by the Baltic Fleet turned into the cruise of the dammed. Incompetence, apathy, poor training, combined with a tenuous supply situation and poor political & strategic planning would lead 60 warships over 18 000 miles to face total annihilation by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
The war began after several years of tension between both countries on the night of 8 February 1904. On the orders of the Emperor a Japanese destroyer flotilla conducted a surprise attack on Port Arthur (Lu-Shun) in Korea. Three Russian battleships were hit while the use of torpedo nets saved several more from destruction. This attack represents a turning point in history, as it was the first time an Asian nation successfully engaged a European power. In the months that followed both land and sea attacks the Japanese military would gain the upper hand. By October 1904 the Imperial Japanese Navy and Army had effectively bottled the Russian forces in and around Port Arthur, which was the primary objective for the Japanese and one of two Russian ports in the Far East.
On 9 October after months of delay Tsar Nicholas II ordered the Baltic Fleet from Kronstadt to Reval Naval Base in St Petersburg to sail to the Far East to break through the Japanese lines. Commanding this fleet was Rear Admiral Zinovy Petrovich Rozhdestvensky. A rarity in the Tsarist Navy, Rozhdestvensky was both experienced as well as a favourite of Tsar Nicholas II. At 57 years of age Rozhdestvensky was at the time Chief of the Russian Naval General Staff when he was ordered to Reval to take command of the Baltic Fleet. Within Russia he was considered a brilliant commander and tactician as well as a perfectionist toward himself and his men and until assuming command at Reval had not put a foot wrong during his career.
Waiting for Rozhdestvensky was Admiral Togo Heihechiro. Admiral Togo was the mastermind of naval operations that had eliminated the Russian Pacific Fleet as a factor in the war.
On 9 October as ships of the fleet departed Kronstadt for Reval the battleship ORYOL ran aground on a sandbar whilst under the care of tugboats. For more than a day the ORYOL could be seen as dredgers dug around the battleship before she broke free of the bottom. The 13 300-ton battleship then headed for Reval where the rest of the fleet was waiting. With the news of defeats from the Pacific general knowledge, many of the Russian sailors saw this event as sign of things to come.
When the Baltic fleet arrived at Reval RADM Rozhdestvensky ordered battle drills against a torpedo attack. The drills ended in mass confusion and Rozhdestvensky began to realise the work in from of him. Before the fleet left Reval Tsar Nicholas II inspected the fleet and to every ship, exhorted vengeance on the insolent Japanese for the everlasting glory of Holy Russia. Many sailors who heard the Tsar wondered if this voyage would be as successful as the Tsar’s words.
15 October saw the departure of the Baltic Fleet from Reval. Renamed the Second Pacific Squadron the Tsar was sending the newly-completed battleship SUVOROFF (Fleet Flagship) along with her sister-ships, the ORYOL, BORODINO, and ALEXANDER III. These battleships were the backbone of a fleet of 42 vessels that the Russians regarded as invincible. As the fleet sailed through the Baltic the Russian crews were nervous about possible Japanese forces nearby. RADM Rozhdestvensky was informed of his promotion to Vice Admiral as the fleet approached Cape Skagen, Norway. On 20 October at Cape Skagen the business of coaling and resupply began before VADM Rozhdestvensky ordered the fleet to prepare for immediate departure. Many in the fleet believed that Rozhdestvensky had secret information on Japanese destroyers waiting ahead of the fleet, thus the decision to depart. The fleet was formed into six detachments and each detachment had it’s own command.
As the fleet sailed into the North Sea the nerves of the Russian sailors began to fray as seagulls were mistaken as enemy dirigibles. The destroyers and cruisers lead the fleet for a course to take them to the Straits of Dover. The rumours on Japanese ships nearby continued to grow. As they sailed deeper into the North Sea those frayed nerves would give way to hysteria.
On the night of 22 October the Russian fleet was passing through the southern reaches of the North Sea. At 2000hrs the repair ship KAMCHATKA reported to the Flagship SUVOROFF that they were being chased by torpedo boats. With repeated question KAMCHATKA convinced Rozhdestvensky and his staff that something was happening. Without confirming the reports from KAMCHATKA, at 2100hrs the rest of the fleet was signalled to prepare for torpedo boat attack from stern. The crews moved to their battle stations, the continuing dread of a Japanese attack demoralising everybody.
Just after midnight the fleet was passing Dodger Bank, a rich fishing ground. When lookouts on the SUVOROFF spotted tricoloured flares a short distance away, the battleship turned on its searchlights. The lights illuminated the British fishing fleet. To the Russians it was the final straw in a frenzy of rumours and the 12-inch guns of the SUVOROFF opened fire. The confusion spread to the other ships and they began to engage the trawlers.
Onboard the Russian ships chaos reined as the lack of information along with the lack of experience had most sailors believing that they were surrounded. Onboard the ORYOL they had what they believed was a Japanese cruiser in their sights and opened fire. When the BORODINO fired its 12-inch gun the crew of the ORYOL believed that there had been a torpedo hit, either to them or the BORODINO.
When it became apparent to Rozhdestvensky that the ships were not Japanese he ordered the fleet to cease-fire. Even then onboard his flagship he had to personally ensure that SUVOROFF guns fell silent.
After nearly 12 minutes the end result was one trawler sunk, many more with varying degrees of damage. For the ORYOL their joy turned to horror when they discovered their target was the First Class cruiser AURORA that had been damaged by 5 hits.
For the Russians it was an embarrassing moment and a major diplomatic incident that would have serious repercussions for the fleet.
While the diplomats sorted out the mess from the ‘Dogger Bank affair’ the fleet moved quickly through the Dover Straits and into the Bay of Biscay. Onboard SUVOROFF, VADM Rozhdestvensky was incensed with both the incident at Dogger Bank and the abysmal gunnery performance displayed by what he believed were first class ships.
After an uneventful few days the fleet sighted the Spanish shore on 27 October and headed for the port of Vigo. Waiting there were five German collier ships ready to resupply the fleet. As the fleet anchored Spanish Authorities boarded the SUVOROFF and informed Rozhdestvensky that due to Spain’s neutrality, and British diplomatic pressure after the Dogger Bank incident, the fleet could not resupply in Spanish waters. Rozhdestvensky countered by informing them that the fleet had not been refuelled fully at Norway and that the fleet could not go much further. After intense diplomatic manoeuvring the Spanish agreed to allow 400 tons of coal per battleship with other ships getting enough to steam on.
As the fleet refuelled, Rozhdestvensky and the rest of the fleet discovered heard more on the aftermath of the incident at Dogger Bank. While the political fallout continued the Royal Navy deployed a squadron of four cruisers to shadow the Russians as they sailed from Vigo to their next port of Tangiers. Rozhdestvensky, still furious with the fleets ordered drills, drills and more drills at all times of the day and night.
On 2 November saw the majority of the fleet anchor at Tangiers, Morocco, with the fleet destroyers and several transports detaching from the main fleet to arrive in Algiers. Later that day Rozhdestvensky detached 3 ironclads and 3 cruisers to head via the Suez Canal for the fleet rendezvous at Madagascar. Although the British put pressure on the Moroccan Government to refuse the Russians access the visit continued amidst the growing bad weather and coaling the fleet off Tangiers became a problem. After a successful port visit the fleet left on 4 November.
The fleet with the destroyers and transports back with them headed south towards the equator. For ships designed for colder climates the conditions below decks were unbearable, the engine rooms of the fleet had to content with 140F+ temperatures as coal was shovelled into the boilers.
The next port of call was Dakar, Senegal, on 12 November. Eleven German colliers were waiting as the fleet arrived. Rozhdestvensky ordered each ship to load additional coal. In the case of the Oryol and her sister ships their coal bunkers would hold 1100 tons, but were ordered to load an extra 600 tons. As this began the French authorities in Dakar informed Rozhdestvensky to stop resupply until they got permission from their government. The Admiral ignored them and continued the task at hand. Even at night the temperature was 77F and loading coal during the day saw many sailors drop from heat stress. By the time the French government sent word that the fleet was not to load supplies there it was too late. Coal was stacked in every spare space in the fleet and the ships crews had tried to clean up the mess.
By 15 November the fleet was underway again but the strain of the voyage, the tenuous supply situation and the tropical heat were taking their toll. Many of the crew were falling ill with the coal dust. The stokers especially were tired and haggard from the heat and noise of the engine rooms. Discipline within the fleet began to drop; with those crew arrested and put in the brig enjoying a few days off work.
The Russian fleet sailed towards the Gabon estuary on the equator. Rozhdestvensky tried to bring the fleet up to battle conditions with drills. The now daily drill of steering the ships with backup methods and on one occasion ORYOL nearly collided with SUVOROFF. By the time the fleet reached French Equatorial Africa (modern day Gabon) the crews, and many of the officers, were sick, tired, and fed up with the situation.
It did not improve when on 25 November the fleet arrived off the capital of French Equatorial Africa, Libreville. For two days the fleet waited for two German colliers while the French Governor tried to move the fleet on. But VADM Rozhdestvensky refused to move. While at Libreville the minor discipline problems grew into larger ones. Onboard the repair ship KAMCHATKA civilian workers and naval engineers came to blows. On several of the transports civilian stokers refused to go on duty. Then several officers of the cruiser DMITRI DONSKOY were arrested for smuggling nurses from a hospital ship to the cruiser. Three officers were sent back to Russia for court martial.
For Rozhdestvensky the strain was total, as even the slightest infraction by anybody would soon feel the Admiral’s wrath.
On 30 November the fleet was underway in the South Atlantic. On 5 December they arrived at Great Fish Bay south of Angola where more German colliers waited. As they loaded coal a Portuguese gunboat sailed towards them and challenged Rozhdestvensky’s right load stores there. After a short exchange the Captain of the gunboat sent a formal protest to the Russian Government.
After departing Great Fish Bay the fleet crossed the Tropic of Capricorn and arrived at the Bay of Angra Pequena in the German colony of South West Africa (modern day Namibia) on 10 December. This rocky harbour afforded little protection from the wind and waves. The destroyers and transports had to wait out to sea. For the ORYOL her starboard anchor broke away as they took up anchoring position. Unlike other ports the German officials welcomed the Russians with open arms. But rough weather for three days caused problems and delays before resupply could continue. With concerns over British embargos against the Russian, the use of Cape Town for resupply was ruled out. Rozhdestvensky again ordered extra coal to be loaded so the fleet could sail past South Africa and onto Madagascar. While at Angra Pequena several crewmen throughout the fleet cracked under the strain. While their shipmates did what they could to help these men stayed with the fleet until their next port of call.
On 16 December the fleet left South West Africa and rounded the Cape of Good Hope and headed northeast into a storm. On 28 December the fleet arrived at the north east coast of Madagascar. On arriving at the island of Sainte Marie it was plain to see that the rest of the Russian fleet that were sailing via the Suez Canal had not arrived. Only two German colliers were there for resupply. At 1600hrs the hospital ship OREL arrived from Cape Town and with it came the news that the Japanese destroyed the Russian First Pacific Squadron at Port Arthur. The reason for the voyage was now non-existent. A mood of depression began to overrun the fleet.
Rozhdestvensky ordered a ship to head for the port of Tamatave to get hard information on what was happening, as well as to find out where the rest of the Russian fleet was. While waiting for the ship to return the Admiral ordered the fleet to conduct repairs. The next day the ship returned with the information that the rest of the fleet was anchored off Nossi-Bé, on the other side of Madagascar. This was due to British pressure on the French authorities at the French port Diego Suarez, where the ships were to have resupplied, refusing to allow the Russian there.
Other reports arrived, including those of suspected Japanese naval movements in the Indian Ocean. The repairs were put on hold as the fleet began reconnaissance sweeps for the enemy. A storm arrived and the resupply was halted as the fleet headed for the Bay of Tang Tang, which was a better place to continue resupply.
On the 5 January 1905 Rozhdestvensky was informed that Port Arthur had fallen to the Japanese on the 2nd. This piece of news destroyed all the crew’s, and most of the officer’s, confidence in the mission. Their faith in the invincibility of Holy Russia was now gone, and slowly sailors throughout the fleet began to talk about defeat at the hands of the Japanese navy. On the same day the fleet left Tang Tang and headed north where they met the cruisers of the fleet that had sailed via the Suez Canal.
On 6 January the Fleet celebrated Christmas (Russian calendar) off Diego Suarez. For many of the crew this was to be the last happy moment in the Russian Navy.
On 7 January the fleet arrived at Nossi-Bé and the appropriately named town of Hellville. The French authorities came out to the SUVOROFF and they warmly greeted Rozhdestvensky and the Russian fleet. Limited shore leave was granted. Resupply continued as all ships were overloaded with coal.
Shortly after Rozhdestvensky learned that another Russian fleet were heading his way. Unlike his, the fleet, known as the Third Pacific Squadron, was full of old, slow ships. As time in Nossi-Bé dragged on, moral dropped lower as the crew was forced to breath coal dust, disease began to take hold, and to top off the misery ill-fitting boots were distributed, much to the sailor’s disgust. But they were kept busy with repairs, maintenance, and more drills. The death toll began to climb from accidents, disease, and suicide. On 23 January onboard the cruiser ADMIRAL NAKHIMOFF the crew revolted after enduring poor food for weeks. Rozhdestvensky boarded the cruiser and called those involved Japanese sympathisers and proceeded to hand out punishment to those involved.
Rozhdestvensky’s problems did not end there. After much negotiation the German colliers agreed to sail with the fleet as far as the Dutch East Indies (modern day Indonesia). To top off Rozhdestvensky’s problems he was still waiting for the Third Pacific Squadron to arrive.
On 26 January in a preview of things to come, a fleet gunnery exercise was a total failure with little to no hits on either a stationary or moving target. This was a massive disappointment to the Admiral as it told him that four months of drills were wasted. The fleet conducted more gunnery drills with the same result.
On 13 February six Russian warships arrived at Nossi-Bé as reinforcements. The news from home that these warships brought shocked every sailor. On 22 January three hundred thousand men marched on the Tsar’s winter palace in St Petersburg and without warning were fired on with over two thousand people dead. This event shattered the faith in the Tsar, and would slowly begin the Russian Navy’s fall into revolution.
With morale non-existent, the sick parades got longer, drunkenness became a major problem. Liberty in Hellville turned into a depressing mix of drinking and gambling, with increasing civil disorder. Arrests amongst the fleet grew as the officers tried in vain to revive morale. Even Rozhdestvensky was affected, his temper at boiling point as the wait for the Third Pacific Squadron. Realising he either stayed and watched the problems of the fleet continue or left without the Third Pacific Squadron, the Admiral ordered the fleet to prepare for departure. Supply ships arrived with much needed food and spare parts, and again the fleet took on more supplies than they could carry.
On 15 March the fleet left Madagascar with the French authorities wishing them well. The crews were despondent with the news of events both in Russia and Port Arthur weighing on their minds. Men threw themselves overboard rather than continue the deployment. Engines were breaking down with the heat and the fleet had to slow as repairs took place. Resupply, which was hard enough in harbour, took on an added element with the continuing hot weather as the fleet conducted resupply operations at sea.
After a twenty day voyage the fleet arrived 3 April at Sumatra and sail through the Straits of Malacca. As the fleet advance the crews began to see every ship as a Japanese warship and paranoia throughout the fleet skyrocketed.
Off Singapore the Russian Consul boarded the SUVOROFF and informed Rozhdestvensky that the Japanese fleet was operating nearby. In fact that was not the case and this report increased the tension. The Consul also informed the Admiral that the Third Pacific Squadron had just left Djibouti and would meet them off Vietnam.
From Singapore the destroyers of the Russian fleet patrolled ahead for the Japanese fleet but found nothing. By 12 April the fleet had been underway for 28 days, steamed nearly 5200 miles (8360 kilometres), with the fleet stopping 112 times for repairs, when they arrived in Cam Ranh Bay in the French colony of Vietnam.
The fleet spent more than a week at Cam Ranh Bay resupplying and waiting for the Third Pacific Squadron. On the 20 April the French Government ordered the fleet to leave Cam Ranh Bay after Japanese diplomatic pressure. The fleet left the next day but only to sail to the Bay of Van Fong further up the coast to continue with the resupply and repairs to the fleet.
On 28 April while at Van Fong the crew of the ORYOL revolted after poor quality meat was served. The next day was Russian Easter Sunday. On 30 April Rozhdestvensky boarded the ORYOL and arrested what he believed were the ringleaders of the revolt two days prior. They were not, and the ringleader remained onboard. But events like the revolt were springing up through the fleet. With no morale and no hope of making it back to Russia alive the sailors of the fleet were beyond caring.
On 7 May the Third Pacific Squadron contacted Rozhdestvensky and informed him that they were near. On the 8th the fleet got underway from Van Fong Bay and assumed battle formation. At 1400hrs the Third Pacific Squadron finally rendezvous with the Second Pacific Squadron. Rozhdestvensky went over to the NICHOLAS I and met with Rear Admiral Nebogatoff, commander of the Third Squadron briefly before returning to his flagship. It would be the only time both Admirals would meet face to face.
On 9 May the Third Pacific Squadron arrived at the Gulf of Kua-Bé for resupply and repairs as Rozhdestvensky conducted battle drills nearby.
On May 13 the entire fleet, now numbering 60 ships ranging from battleships to transports, departed the coastline of Vietnam.
17 May saw an ocean resupply for the fleet. Coal dust layered the ocean as the fleet took on more coal stores. By now the sailors of the fleet knew that Rozhdestvensky was to get the fleet to Vladivostock. To do so the fleet would sail through the Sea of Japan. There were three routes. Korea Strait, Tsugaru Strait, or La Perouse. With the coal supply only the Sea of Japan was considered, as sailing far to the east coast of Japan would see the fleet run out of fuel.
Rozhdestvensky’s fleet had its last supply of coal on May 23 north of Formosa (Taiwan). At this time the Admiral gave his fleet instructions for the upcoming battle. As the fleet sailed on the temperature began to drop. The crews of the fleet realised that imminent death could be moments away. This lead crews forgetting previous bad behaviour and doing their duties in a professional manner. Even relations between officers and crew improved.
On 25 May the day was rainy as the colliers departed the fleet for China. It was on this day that officers on the flagship SUVOROFF realised that the Admiral was leading the fleet to Tsugaru Strait, near the island of Tsushima. This was the worst of the options that Rozhdestvensky had but it was the one he took.
The fleet sailed towards Tsushima with crews feeling that they were nothing but cannon fodder as they continued to conduct battle drills.
The morning of the 26 May saw bright sunshine and calm seas. A manoeuvring exercise conducted that day was as bad as those conducted off Madagascar and they delayed the fleet’s arrival at Tsugaru Strait. Onboard every ship in the fleet the crews knew they were five days away from Vladivostock. They also wondered why Rozhdestvensky was taking the most dangerous route their, when the La Perouse Strait was the safer option. Low crew morale as well as the events during the cruise played on Rozhdestvensky’s mind and it may have led to the decision to sail through Tsugaru Strait to get to Vladivostock as fast as possible.
A dark and foggy night fell on the fleet. It was quiet until 0500hrs the next morning. Lookouts onboard ORYOL spotted a ship shadowing them. It was the Japanese cruiser SHINANO MARU and it was the 27 of May, the battle of Tsushima had begun.
The cruise of the Russian Baltic Fleet was on most respects a disaster from day one. Only the strong will of Vice Admiral Zinovy Petrovich Rozhdestvensky ensured the fleet got there in the first place. They had steamed over 18 000 miles (nearly 29 000 kilometres) and little diplomatic support from St Petersburg. VADM Rozhdestvensky was forced to deal with revolts, a stable supply line, and a growing frustration in the ability of the fleet to fight. The fall of Port Arthur also had major consequences, changing his mission from one of reinforcement to one of survival of the fleet for use later in the future.
But at 0500hrs on 27 May none of that mattered as the Russian Fleet entered Tsugaru Strait. The Imperial Japanese Navy were waiting for them.