Tsushima, Battle

Tsushima, Battle of

(May 27–29, 1905) Naval engagement in the Russo-Japanese War. As part of an assault on the Japanese navy, the Russian Baltic fleet was sent to join the Russian Pacific squadron at the besieged Port Arthur (Lüshun, China). Learning en route of the surrender of Port Arthur, the Russian admiral considered returning to Russia but sailed on to reach the China Sea seven months later. As the Russian fleet sailed for Vladivostok through the Tsushima Strait off southern Japan, the Japanese navy attacked. Its better-armed and speedier ships succeeded in sinking two-thirds of the Russian fleet. The decisive defeat crushed Russia's hope of regaining mastery of the sea and ended the war.