Battle of Chemulpo

The battles of Chemulpo is a naval Bataille delivered the February 9th 1904 in Korea, during the Guerre Russo-Japanese woman (1904 - 1905).

The February 8th, a Japanese fleet is presented in front of the port of Chemulpo (Incheon) and unloads troops. In the port, two Russian ships are, the Croiseur Varyag and the Canonnière Korietz , which attend the unloading without intervening. It is true that war is not officially declared (it will be only 10), and if that hardly embarrasses Japanese who tackles the same day Port-Arthur, that gene the Russians, more formal.

The following day, the Rear-admiral Uriu addresses an ultimatum to the Rudneff captain, ordering Varyag , it to put in residence to leave the port, however neutral zone, under penalty of destruction. After a debate with the captains of four foreign warships (Italian, British, American and French) present in the port and which are indignant at the non-observance of the neutrality of the places, Rudneff indicates that he refuses to subject himself to this diktat and fact share of his determination to gain international water, to respect the regulation, in order to start the combat against the Japanese, notwithstanding crushing the disproportion of the forces, and that for the honor of the Russian navy.

The Varyag thus installs, followed Korietz , to try to gain the broad one; the Japanese squadron does not leave them a chance and overpowers them its salvos. Touched hard, the Varyag is scuttled by its crew. Though unscathed, the Korietz undergoes a similar fate, the Russian sailors including/understanding the inanity of their efforts and not wishing that their ship falls between the hands from their enemies. The Russians deplore 222 killed and wounded during engagement whereas the Japanese do not have any victim.

The Varyag is reinflated by the Japaneses, who re-use it under the name of Soya , before selling it, twelve years later… in Russia!

Committed ships

  • Russia
    • Varyag , cruiser, captain Rudneff
    • Korietz , drain-hole

  • Japan

    • Naniwa , cruiser, rear-admiral Uriu
    • Asama , cruiser
    • Takachino , cruiser
    • Niitaka , cruiser
    • Akashi , cruiser
    • Chiyoda , cruiser
    • Chidori , Destroyer
    • Hayabusa , destroyer
    • Kasasagi , destroyer

Sources

  • Stephan Morhain, the War Russo-Japanese woman , re-examined Battle fields 10 (February, March, April 2006).

External bonds

  • Russo-Japanese War research society (in English)

Random links:Vineyard of Bonnezeaux | Loan | Bernard Birsinger | Weissenborn | Museum of the Land, Mainz | Tyree_Washington