Battles of the Russo-Japanese War
1904–1905 · 6 battles covered, in date order. Click a battle on the map for its summary.
Battle (size: ships engaged)
Japanese movement
Russian movement
Routes are approximate.
1904
8–9 February 1904 · Off Port Arthur, Liaodong Peninsula
Battle of Port ArthurIndecisive; Russian squadron kept in harbour
The war opened with a Japanese destroyer attack on the Russian squadron at anchor, which damaged two battleships and a cruiser. Togo followed up with a daylight bombardment the next morning, but broke off under fire from the shore batteries. The Russians were left on the defensive for the rest of the campaign.
15
vs
13
9 February 1904 · Chemulpo (Incheon), Korea
Battle of Chemulpo BayJapanese victory
Admiral Uryu's squadron, covering the Japanese army's landing in Korea, trapped two Russian ships in a neutral harbour. Varyag and Koreets fought their way out, took heavy damage, and returned to port, where their crews destroyed them rather than let them be taken.
7
vs
3 (3 lost)
10 August 1904 · Yellow Sea, off Shandong
Battle of the Yellow SeaJapanese victory; Russian breakout fails
Ordered to break out of Port Arthur for Vladivostok, the Russian squadron fought Togo's fleet for most of the day. Late in the action a shell struck Tsesarevich's bridge, killing Admiral Vitgeft and jamming her helm; the Russian line fell apart. Most ships turned back to Port Arthur, and several others ran for neutral ports and were interned.
33
vs
15 (1 lost)
14 August 1904 · Korea Strait, off Ulsan
Battle off UlsanJapanese victory
The Vladivostok cruisers sailed south to meet the Port Arthur squadron, not knowing it had already been turned back. Kamimura's armoured cruisers caught them at dawn. Rurik fell behind and was sunk; Rossia and Gromoboi escaped to Vladivostok badly damaged.
6
vs
3 (1 lost)
20 August 1904 · Korsakov, Sakhalin
Battle of KorsakovJapanese victory
After escaping the Yellow Sea, Novik ran north around Japan and stopped at Korsakov to take on coal. The Japanese cruiser Tsushima found her there. Novik was holed below the waterline and her crew scuttled her in the shallows.
2
vs
1 (1 lost)
1905
27–28 May 1905 · Tsushima Strait
Battle of TsushimaDecisive Japanese victory
The Russian Second and Third Pacific Squadrons, after sailing halfway round the world, met Togo's Combined Fleet in the Tsushima Strait. Togo crossed the Russian line and the Japanese gunnery wrecked the Russian battleships in the first hours. Destroyer and torpedo-boat attacks continued through the night, and Nebogatov surrendered the remnant on the 28th. Of the Russian ships listed here, only Almaz reached Vladivostok.
94 (3 lost)
vs
39 (26 lost)