The Tsar's last armada - C. Pleshakov

[Hitman]

I just finished reading this book, and I must say I have liked it a LOT from beginning to end. It is one of those books that would probably go unnoticed to the public but has a history worth reading. It tells about the voyage from the russian fleet from Sant Petersburg to Tsushima, and the battle that happened there. Told in a very accesible writing, the book has enyclopedic knowledge -Much like the acclaimed "Silent Victory" in US submarine matters, though with less appendexes- of the background of this odyssey and paints a vivid portrait of the society and monarchy of that era, right after the turn of the century. By no means is it a neutral portrait, but it is made with a strong personality by the author, highlighting the misseries and anonymous heroism of many people involved, as well as being able to help the reader understand why Russia suffered some time later the bolschevist revolution. I must say that even though I have been always interested in Russian history and culture, the book has given me a different perspective about some parts of it, and has enrichened my knowledge.

Although considered by many historians and military tacticians as a battle where the japanese armada had more modern ships that helped her win the battle, the book shows this not being exactly the case. In a world of pre-dreadnought battleships, the main disadvantage of the russian fleet laid in their incompetent captains, undertrained sailors and desperating lack of resolution by the Tsar -always influenced by the people around him-, who kept the fleet rusting at anchor in Madagascar while Togo's own ships had the chance to go to their bases for repair and rearm, being reday for the battle as opposed to the russian ships, tired from a painful voyage, underequipped with little ammunition, and victim of incompetent commanders.

Among all this disaster, the powerful figure of Admiral Zinovi Petrovitch Rozhentsvesnky (The russian commander of the squadron) emerges as a tragic character, the only competent and energic one in command, conscious of the massacre that is going to happen and determinated to sacrifice his life for his Tsar, even if only to prove he was right in his warnings.

A very recommendable reading about a mostly forgotten part of naval history, obscured by the latter engagements of WW1 and WW2, but of decisive importance to understand the evolution of the politics in Europe at the beginning of the century, as well as the direction that the naval construction took thereafter.

A link to the book in amazon (Remember to purchase through subsim if you are interested on it): http://www.amazon.com/Tsars-Last-Arm.../dp/0465057926

[Torplexed]

Sounds like an interesting book. I seem to recall reading somewhere that Rojestvensky's squadron shot up some English fishing fleets while still in the North Sea, thinking they were Japanese torpedo boats. Talk about trigger-happy.

Surely to sail so far through the tropics in deteriorating ships with sinking morale was an exploit worthy of a better reward.......

[Sailor Steve]

Yes indeed, the nasty Japanese North Sea fleet nearly got them!:rotfl:

I'll put this one on my list. Some time ago I read an excellent short version: Richard Hough's The Fleet That Had To Die. Also a very good book, but I'm sure this one has more of the kind of detail I love. I'm looking forward to it.

[Hitman]

I seem to recall reading somewhere that Rojestvensky's squadron shot up some English fishing fleets while still in the North Sea, thinking they were Japanese torpedo boats

Yeah, that's also extensively covered in the book

[Brag]

It was an epic voyage for the time. I don't think any previous major fleet had covered the distance that Rozhdesvinsky did.

[Jimbuna]

I'll get this one....I've read many an article on Tsushima over the years, and especially if it's written in a similar fashion to the Clay Blair Silent Victory book

[Jacky Fisher]

an epic voyage....and an utter defeat.

question...has thier been any underwater archelogy (looking for wrecks etc.) in regards to Tsushima?