Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
- Messages
- 8,995
The event I am reporting on today took place at sea, but close under land and in front of an international “audience”. That is why there are an unusually large number of photos of it that were taken by citizens of neutral countries and that could not be suppressed by Russian or Japanese military censors.
It is very unusual to find so many pictures about a single event in 1904, moreover "at the end of the world" - the chronicler, on the other hand, is very pleased that he can, so to speak, draw on the full potential today ...
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The naval battle of Chemulpo!
The day before, on February 8, 1904, Japan attacked Russia in the Far East and inflicted a severe defeat on the Russian Pacific Fleet. Now comes the next blow!
On February 9, 1904, two Russian warships lay peacefully at anchor in the Korean port of Tschemulpo (today: Incheon):
The modern, fast and well-armed cruiser of the 2nd rank (armored deck cruiser) "Varyag" built at a US shipyard ...
... and the outdated, poorly armed and slow gunboat "Korejets" (= "Korean")
The commandant of this wing is Captain 1st rank Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev ...:
Rudnev knows nothing about the outbreak of hostilities between Japan and Russia - they simply forgot to warn him!
On the morning of February 9th, a Japanese unit consisting of six heavy cruisers appeared under the command of Admiral Sotokichi Uriu...
... on its flagship, the already far superior armored cruiser "Asama" off Teschemulpo.
The Japanese admiral sends the following message to the Russian commander: Either the Russians should capitulate and hand over their ships to the Japanese, or they should leave and face the Japanese superior force to fight.
Otherwise - according to Urius' message further - one would enter the port and shoot the Russian ships together at their berths.
It is highly questionable whether the Japanese would actually have done this, because in Chemulpo there are, besides the Russian warships, some from England, America, France and Italy. The danger of accidentally hitting a neutral nation's ship would have been far too great for the Japanese!
Nevertheless: Captain Rudnew follows what the “honor” commands him!
"Varyag" and "Korejets" cast off, set combat pots and slowly leave the harbor. Many eyewitnesses describe this moment as downright solemn.
On the aft deck of “Varyag” the band has stepped up and plays their national anthems as the other warships pass - and the ships of the other powers respond by playing the tsar's anthem.
This photo of the two ships was taken when leaving ...:
In terms of combat tactics, Rudnew now faces a dilemma:
His ship is far inferior in terms of artillery, but fast, he could try to break through the overpowering Japanese force and flee - but then he would have to give up the old "Korejets", which can only run 12 knots.
The best solution would have been to take the crew of “Korejets” on board “Varyag”, sink the useless gunboat and dare to break through.
But captain 1st rank Rudnew again follows the "honor" and takes on the fight, trying as best as possible to cover "Korejets".
Contrary to expectations, this succeeds! “Korejets” gets quite a few hits and catches fire, but it remains buoyant.
In the fight the Russians are severely disadvantaged by their shooting method compared to the Japanese!
The Russian gun leader is trained to aim carefully and precisely and only then to fire - which reduces the rate of fire.
In addition, the Russians use cast steel tank grenades with delay fuses, which leave a relatively small penetration hole in the ship's sides or deck when they hit, and only explode inside the enemy ship - making it very difficult for the fire control officers to spot their own hits and be corrected!
So after a short time the Russians have what - unjustified! - Feeling of shooting really badly, an experience that will be repeated again and again in further disputes at sea ...
In contrast, the Japanese shoot rapid fire and use HE shells filled with an explosive invented in Japan and called "Shimose"!
The Japanese projectiles explode at the slightest contact with a solid object (a banister, for example) on board the Russian ships, blast huge holes in the side walls, smash everything lying around on deck into ruins and shreds (fire-extinguishing hoses laid out for example!) And loosen immediately Such devastating fires that even the paint on the ship's sides and superstructures are melting!
"Varyag" is so damaged after a short battle that the ship can no longer run at maximum speed and can no longer escape - despite this, the Russians continue to defend themselves...:
**continued next post**
It is very unusual to find so many pictures about a single event in 1904, moreover "at the end of the world" - the chronicler, on the other hand, is very pleased that he can, so to speak, draw on the full potential today ...
-------------------------------------------------------
The naval battle of Chemulpo!
The day before, on February 8, 1904, Japan attacked Russia in the Far East and inflicted a severe defeat on the Russian Pacific Fleet. Now comes the next blow!
On February 9, 1904, two Russian warships lay peacefully at anchor in the Korean port of Tschemulpo (today: Incheon):
The modern, fast and well-armed cruiser of the 2nd rank (armored deck cruiser) "Varyag" built at a US shipyard ...
... and the outdated, poorly armed and slow gunboat "Korejets" (= "Korean")
The commandant of this wing is Captain 1st rank Vsevolod Fedorovich Rudnev ...:
Rudnev knows nothing about the outbreak of hostilities between Japan and Russia - they simply forgot to warn him!
On the morning of February 9th, a Japanese unit consisting of six heavy cruisers appeared under the command of Admiral Sotokichi Uriu...
... on its flagship, the already far superior armored cruiser "Asama" off Teschemulpo.
The Japanese admiral sends the following message to the Russian commander: Either the Russians should capitulate and hand over their ships to the Japanese, or they should leave and face the Japanese superior force to fight.
Otherwise - according to Urius' message further - one would enter the port and shoot the Russian ships together at their berths.
It is highly questionable whether the Japanese would actually have done this, because in Chemulpo there are, besides the Russian warships, some from England, America, France and Italy. The danger of accidentally hitting a neutral nation's ship would have been far too great for the Japanese!
Nevertheless: Captain Rudnew follows what the “honor” commands him!
"Varyag" and "Korejets" cast off, set combat pots and slowly leave the harbor. Many eyewitnesses describe this moment as downright solemn.
On the aft deck of “Varyag” the band has stepped up and plays their national anthems as the other warships pass - and the ships of the other powers respond by playing the tsar's anthem.
This photo of the two ships was taken when leaving ...:
In terms of combat tactics, Rudnew now faces a dilemma:
His ship is far inferior in terms of artillery, but fast, he could try to break through the overpowering Japanese force and flee - but then he would have to give up the old "Korejets", which can only run 12 knots.
The best solution would have been to take the crew of “Korejets” on board “Varyag”, sink the useless gunboat and dare to break through.
But captain 1st rank Rudnew again follows the "honor" and takes on the fight, trying as best as possible to cover "Korejets".
Contrary to expectations, this succeeds! “Korejets” gets quite a few hits and catches fire, but it remains buoyant.
In the fight the Russians are severely disadvantaged by their shooting method compared to the Japanese!
The Russian gun leader is trained to aim carefully and precisely and only then to fire - which reduces the rate of fire.
In addition, the Russians use cast steel tank grenades with delay fuses, which leave a relatively small penetration hole in the ship's sides or deck when they hit, and only explode inside the enemy ship - making it very difficult for the fire control officers to spot their own hits and be corrected!
So after a short time the Russians have what - unjustified! - Feeling of shooting really badly, an experience that will be repeated again and again in further disputes at sea ...
In contrast, the Japanese shoot rapid fire and use HE shells filled with an explosive invented in Japan and called "Shimose"!
The Japanese projectiles explode at the slightest contact with a solid object (a banister, for example) on board the Russian ships, blast huge holes in the side walls, smash everything lying around on deck into ruins and shreds (fire-extinguishing hoses laid out for example!) And loosen immediately Such devastating fires that even the paint on the ship's sides and superstructures are melting!
"Varyag" is so damaged after a short battle that the ship can no longer run at maximum speed and can no longer escape - despite this, the Russians continue to defend themselves...:
**continued next post**
