May 27 1905 Battle of Tsu-Shima Strait

[Valin]

Military History Online

Turning Point: The Battle of Tsushima
by Chris Alper

The Battle of Tsushima marked the change of the balance of power in the Pacific in the early 20th century.

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." Admiral Togo to the Japanese Fleet, 27 May 1905.


As dawn broke on 27 May 1905, few outside the inner circle of the Japanese Naval high command had any inkling as to the magnitude of naval and strategic victory the Imperial Japanese Navy were about to win. The Russo-Japanese War had broken out as a result of old Russian and new Japanese efforts to wrest a "sphere of influence" out of the crumbling remains of the Chinese Empire. The Sino-Japanese War of 1895-96, won in ruthless fashion by a swiftly created and modernized Japanese Army, left the Japanese with a foothold on the Asian Mainland, with the strategic Port Arthur in Manchuria, along with Formosa (Taiwan) and a hefty indemnity.


Russia, using its diplomatic power among western nations, forced China to sign a lease giving Port Arthur back to Russia. The Boxer Rebellion of 1900 had left Russian "peace-keeping" troops in China, and Russia seized on a pretext to use them to occupy and fortify Port Arthur. Tensions remained high from 1901 on, and although negotiations were in progress, and Japan arranged a treaty with Britain securing British aid if a power other than Russia became involved, the Russian Naval Ministry seriously underestimated Japan's will and capability to make modern war. But the path to victory had been laid down long before, just after Japan opened its doors to the West for the first time in centuries.

 

(Snip)

 

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[Draggingtree]

Also on this day

 

Brick Muppet Blog

May 27, 2016

It Took Three Days

...but on May 27th, 1941 the Bismarck was found by the Battleships King George the 5th and Rodney, two cruisers and six destroyers.

The ship was hit by around 400 shells and several torpedoes before sinking.

 

Of her 2200 man crew, there were only 110 survivors.

Posted by: The Brickmuppet at 10:13 AM

 

http://brickmuppet.mee.nu/