The Fleet That Sailed Into a Trap

Added: 2026-05-27

[00:00:00]They sailed 18,000 miles to be destroyed in an hour. In the year 1905, a Russian naval fleet completed an 8-month voyage from the Baltic Sea to the waters off Japan, arriving exhausted and undermanned. Russian and Japanese forces had been at war for over a year. The Japanese fleet was waiting. Admiral Togo positioned his warships to cross directly in front of the incoming Russian column, bringing every gun to bear simultaneously. The Russian ships had no room to maneuver [music] and no time to form a defensive line.

[00:00:29]Within an hour, the lead vessels were sinking. By nightfall, the fleet had ceased to exist. Russia lost 38 ships, Japan lost three torpedo boats. What do you think doomed the Russian fleet before the first shot was fired? Comment your answer below.