Bullethead
18 Feb 08, 02:23
Excerpts from the log of the Imperial Russian Gunboat Mandzhur:
9 Feb 1904
1630: Off Shanghai. Received cable from Adm. Stark re: unprovoked Japanese attack on Port Arthur, ordered to return to Port Arthur. Must leave Shanghai immediately, impossible to reply. Decide Japanese too strong in Yellow Sea to reach Port Arthur, will instead attempt to reach Vladivostok via east coast of Japan. Will have to stretch coal with canvas and no reserve for many chases, but it can be done. Will telegraph Adm. Stark upon arrival, assuming we make it.
11 Feb 1904
0651: 99km W of Kagoshima. Encountered Japanese torpedoboat at very long range, which ran towards land and no doubt nearest telegraph station. With surprise gone, set port and starboard watches with one half always at battle stations.
0823: 80km W of Kagoshima. Encountered another Japanese torpedoboat at long range, which also ran towards land. Continued cruising at economical speed but canvas of no avail due to headwinds.
0940: 69km W of Kagoshima. Spotted steamer far to leeward and attempted chase under full sail and steam. No appreciable distance gained in one hour so gave up chase to conserve fuel.
12 Feb 1904
1404: 139km ESE of Kochi. Spotted steamer far to windward, impossible to chase.
13 Feb 1904
0420: 115km SSE of Nagoya. Encountered Japanese gunboat at close range. Engaged with starboard battery as we both turned broadside on. Enemy ship exploded and sank after second salvo, no survivors. Wreckage picked up indicates enemy was Akagi. No damage sustained.
0621: 105km S of Nagoya. Encountered German steamer Eidelborn at close range and compelled her to stop without chase. Bound for Nagoya, cargo ammunition for Krupp guns. Steamer sunk by detonating cargo after her crew taken aboard.
1101: 131 SSE of Nagoya. Encountered apparent Japanese transport but too far off to chase.
1952: 92km SW of Yokosuka. Encountered British steamer Hong Kong at close range, compelled her to stop without chase. Bound for Nagoya, cargo ammunition for Elswick guns. Steamer sunk by detonating cargo after her crew taken aboard.
14 Feb 1904
0733: 103km SE of Tokyo. Steamer spotted to southwest but too far off to chase.
1050: 116km SSE of Onahama. Spotted two steamers far to windward, impossible to chase.
1833: 115km ENE of Onahama. Encountered Japanese auxiliary cruiser Kako Maru at short range and engaged. Enemy attempted to run and our speed not much better so was long stern chase to windward. Gunners experienced great difficulty due to spray and smoke interference but sank enemy after one hour battle. Rescued survivors. Too much coal consumed in chase. Sustained damage to funnel and rigging, further decreasing speed and range. Two light guns damaged, 6 men wounded by splinters, two seriously. Guns repaired by forenoon watch. 4.2" ammunition down to less than 100 rpg.
15 Feb 1904
0101: 50km ESE of Ishinomaki. Encountered Japanese auxiliary cruiser similar to last at close range. Decided to disengage due to low ammunition state. Enemy did not pursue but made off towards Ishinomaki.
0211: 63km ESE of Ishinomaki. Encountered another or the same Japanese auxiliary cruiser. Again turned away with no pursuit by enemy. This number of enemy patrols must indicate signifucant shipping in area.
0252: 67km ESE of Ishinomaki. Encountered British steamer Suez at close range and compelled to stop without chase. Bound for Tokyo, cargo naval stores. Steamer sunk by explosive charges after her crew taken aboard.
0411: 101km E of Ishinomaki. Encountered British steamer Edgar at close range, compelled her to stop without chase. Bound for Ishinomaki, cargo army boots. Steamer sunk by explosive charge after her crew taken aboard. Learned from prisoners of heavy Japanese patrols of Tsugaru Strait, set course La Perouse Strait giving Tsugaru widest possible berth given coal state.
16 Feb 1904
1033: Northeast of Hokkaido. Gale force winds and heavy head seas coming aboard up ram. Progress nil since 0400, burning coal just to maintain position. If weather turns soon, will have just enough coal to reach Vladivostok.
17 Feb 1904
1214: La Perouse Strait. Wind force 6, under double-reefed fore topsail and main trisail. Seas heavy and confused requiring steam to maintain heading but favorable wind for once. Boats and wardroom furniture being cut up to feed boilers.
19 Feb 1904
1105: Approximately 250km W of Vladivostok. Under all plain sail. Fair winds and following seas. Food running low due to needs of prisoners. Funeral services for enlisted man who succombed to wounds from battle of 14 Feb.
20 Feb 1904
2105: Dropped anchor in Vladivostok. Boilers fed by deck planking during approach to anchorage, wind dead foul to harbor entrance. Prisoners discharged to shore authorities. Telegraphed Port Arthur of our arrival. Crew given forty-eight hours leave while ship in dockyard hands. Intend to sortie on evening of 22 Feb for La Perouse Strait again.
9 Feb 1904
1630: Off Shanghai. Received cable from Adm. Stark re: unprovoked Japanese attack on Port Arthur, ordered to return to Port Arthur. Must leave Shanghai immediately, impossible to reply. Decide Japanese too strong in Yellow Sea to reach Port Arthur, will instead attempt to reach Vladivostok via east coast of Japan. Will have to stretch coal with canvas and no reserve for many chases, but it can be done. Will telegraph Adm. Stark upon arrival, assuming we make it.
11 Feb 1904
0651: 99km W of Kagoshima. Encountered Japanese torpedoboat at very long range, which ran towards land and no doubt nearest telegraph station. With surprise gone, set port and starboard watches with one half always at battle stations.
0823: 80km W of Kagoshima. Encountered another Japanese torpedoboat at long range, which also ran towards land. Continued cruising at economical speed but canvas of no avail due to headwinds.
0940: 69km W of Kagoshima. Spotted steamer far to leeward and attempted chase under full sail and steam. No appreciable distance gained in one hour so gave up chase to conserve fuel.
12 Feb 1904
1404: 139km ESE of Kochi. Spotted steamer far to windward, impossible to chase.
13 Feb 1904
0420: 115km SSE of Nagoya. Encountered Japanese gunboat at close range. Engaged with starboard battery as we both turned broadside on. Enemy ship exploded and sank after second salvo, no survivors. Wreckage picked up indicates enemy was Akagi. No damage sustained.
0621: 105km S of Nagoya. Encountered German steamer Eidelborn at close range and compelled her to stop without chase. Bound for Nagoya, cargo ammunition for Krupp guns. Steamer sunk by detonating cargo after her crew taken aboard.
1101: 131 SSE of Nagoya. Encountered apparent Japanese transport but too far off to chase.
1952: 92km SW of Yokosuka. Encountered British steamer Hong Kong at close range, compelled her to stop without chase. Bound for Nagoya, cargo ammunition for Elswick guns. Steamer sunk by detonating cargo after her crew taken aboard.
14 Feb 1904
0733: 103km SE of Tokyo. Steamer spotted to southwest but too far off to chase.
1050: 116km SSE of Onahama. Spotted two steamers far to windward, impossible to chase.
1833: 115km ENE of Onahama. Encountered Japanese auxiliary cruiser Kako Maru at short range and engaged. Enemy attempted to run and our speed not much better so was long stern chase to windward. Gunners experienced great difficulty due to spray and smoke interference but sank enemy after one hour battle. Rescued survivors. Too much coal consumed in chase. Sustained damage to funnel and rigging, further decreasing speed and range. Two light guns damaged, 6 men wounded by splinters, two seriously. Guns repaired by forenoon watch. 4.2" ammunition down to less than 100 rpg.
15 Feb 1904
0101: 50km ESE of Ishinomaki. Encountered Japanese auxiliary cruiser similar to last at close range. Decided to disengage due to low ammunition state. Enemy did not pursue but made off towards Ishinomaki.
0211: 63km ESE of Ishinomaki. Encountered another or the same Japanese auxiliary cruiser. Again turned away with no pursuit by enemy. This number of enemy patrols must indicate signifucant shipping in area.
0252: 67km ESE of Ishinomaki. Encountered British steamer Suez at close range and compelled to stop without chase. Bound for Tokyo, cargo naval stores. Steamer sunk by explosive charges after her crew taken aboard.
0411: 101km E of Ishinomaki. Encountered British steamer Edgar at close range, compelled her to stop without chase. Bound for Ishinomaki, cargo army boots. Steamer sunk by explosive charge after her crew taken aboard. Learned from prisoners of heavy Japanese patrols of Tsugaru Strait, set course La Perouse Strait giving Tsugaru widest possible berth given coal state.
16 Feb 1904
1033: Northeast of Hokkaido. Gale force winds and heavy head seas coming aboard up ram. Progress nil since 0400, burning coal just to maintain position. If weather turns soon, will have just enough coal to reach Vladivostok.
17 Feb 1904
1214: La Perouse Strait. Wind force 6, under double-reefed fore topsail and main trisail. Seas heavy and confused requiring steam to maintain heading but favorable wind for once. Boats and wardroom furniture being cut up to feed boilers.
19 Feb 1904
1105: Approximately 250km W of Vladivostok. Under all plain sail. Fair winds and following seas. Food running low due to needs of prisoners. Funeral services for enlisted man who succombed to wounds from battle of 14 Feb.
20 Feb 1904
2105: Dropped anchor in Vladivostok. Boilers fed by deck planking during approach to anchorage, wind dead foul to harbor entrance. Prisoners discharged to shore authorities. Telegraphed Port Arthur of our arrival. Crew given forty-eight hours leave while ship in dockyard hands. Intend to sortie on evening of 22 Feb for La Perouse Strait again.