NomadBard

The Japanese had a newer, more modern, faster navy than the Russians had in the Pacific or the Baltic, both of which were lost to the Japanese, but what other issues played to the Japanese victory in the turn of the century?

Dr Realism

One of the biggest factors was that the Transiberian RR was not completed at the beginning of the war, so space and time were on Japan's side. Japan was playing on their homefield, Russia's encroachment into Northern Korea was their only security concern, while Russia had to deal with the Austrians, Germans on their borders and British hostility.

Also, the Japanese people were very much in favor of the war. Russia had humiliated Japan by denying them the spoils of war from the Sino-Japanese War. And a few years afterwards, the Russians took the spoils (The Liaotung Peninsula), for themselves. That really pissed the Japanese off.
The US and UK helped Japan out financially because they both saw Russia as the biggest threat to their interests in China.

Towards the end of the war, the TS RR was completed and Russia was able to make full use of their numerical advantage. But a revolution was breaking out in Russia at the time and Japan's money and military were being depleted, so both sides decided to go to the peace table. Had the war continued, it's likely Russia may have prevailed.

NomadBard

At least Sir Hiram Maxim got richer due to the war.

tksensei

The weakness of the Czar.

gregorian

The History according to Bob podcast covered this war fairly thoroughly only recently.

The Russians had the numerical advantage on the land, but the Russian commanders were an indecisive, uncooperative, and parnoid lot. There were many battles they could have won, if only they pushed their advantages better.

diddyriddick

I would amend that to say the weakness of the entire Russian system. Because of the cult of personality of the Russians, the Czar had loyal but incapable men running both the civil and military government. Obviously, it came back to haunt him in the end.

tksensei

True that. The (eventual) consequence? The USSR, Cold War, etc.

gaius valerius

As has already been said: the Russians were unable to mobilise their full potential and they only did so by the end of the war, at that time however other problems at home (rrrrevoltuiooon) were hindering the war effort. The naval victories of Japan are not to be minimalised but don't forget that they suffered heavy losses in the war on land. Had Russia been able to mobilise their forces directly the Japanese effort could have turned out quite differently.

larkin

If it wasn't so tragic for the Russians it would be laughable.

Everyone and their mother knew that the Russian fleet was in St Petersburg.
Agents of any number of nations kept the Japanese informed.
The fleet in in the North Sea...We're coming to kick Japan's ass!!
The fleet is in the North Atlantic...We're coming!
Someone correct me if i am wrong but i don't think they went through Suez. i think they went all round Africa. One way or another it was a long journey.

By this time the Japanese were so ready!

Is there a parallel between this and the Spanish Armada?

diddyriddick

They indeed had to go around the South Africa. There were enormous difficulties attached to sailing from St. Petersburg to Tsushima. The ships were probably 2-3 mph slower by the time they got there...They couldn't get coal...They weren't allowed to regularly practice gunnery...It was a disaster waiting to happen for the Russians.