During the Russo-Japanese War Russia needed a big win to pull things out. They transferred a bulk of their fleet to the Pacific to meet the Japanese in an all out battle. After a journey of some 16000 miles they met the Japanese in battle.

The Japanese fleet was waiting the Russian fleet to approach. When it was sighted on May 27, 1095 the Japanese fleet readied for battle. At 6:43 am Admiral Togo wired Japan with this message, “I have just received news that that the enemy fleet has been sighted. Our fleet will proceed forthwith to sea to attack the enemy and destroy him.”

The Russian fleet was being shadowed by Japanese ships and their location was continuously sent to Admiral Togo. At 1:04 he had the Z flag hoisted. This sent a message which almost echoed Nelson at Trafalgar, “The Empire's fate depends on the result of this battle, let every man do his utmost duty.” For the record Trafalgar took part in October, 1805. Nelson’s message was “ENGLAND CONFIDES THAT EVERY MAN WILL DO HIS DUTY.”

A time line for the battle follows:
• 04:45 Shinanomaru (Japan) finds The Russian Baltic Fleet, and sends a telegram.
• 05:05 The Japanese Combined Fleet leaves port, and sends a telegram to Imperial Headquarters: "Today's weather is fine but waves are high."
• 13:39 The Japanese Combined Fleet finds The Russian Baltic Fleet by the eye, and puts up the battle flag.
• 13:55 Distance: 12,000 meters. The Mikasa puts up Z flag. (Z flag's meaning: The Empire's fate depends on the result of this battle, let every man do his utmost duty.).
• 14:05 Distance: 8,000 meters. The Japanese Combined Fleet starts to helm aport (i.e. start U-turn).
• 14:07 Distance: 7,000 meters. The Mikasa completes its turn. The Russian Baltic Fleet begins firing their guns.
• 14:10 Distance: 6,400 meters. All Japanese ships finish their turns.
• 14:12 Distance: 5,500 meters. The Mikasa is hit first.
• 14:16 Distance: 4,600 meters. The Japanese Combined Fleet begins focus firing their guns at the Knyaz Suvorov
• 14:43 The Oslyabya and Knyaz Suvorov are set ablaze and break off the battle line.
• 14:50 The Emperor Alexander III starts turning to the north and attempts to leave the battle line.
• 15:10 The Oslyabya is sunk, and the Knyaz Suvorov attempts to flee.
• 18:00 The two fleets re-approach (distance: 6,300 m), and begin exchanging fire again.
• 19:03 The Emperor Alexander III is sunk.
• 19:20 The Knyaz Suvorov, Borodino, and Sisoy Veliki are sunk.
28 May 1905 (JST)
• 09:30 The Japanese Combined Fleet locates the Russian Baltic Fleet again.
• 10:34 The Russian commander signals "XGE", which is "I surrender" in the International Code of Signals used at the time.
• 10:53 The Japanese side agrees to surrender.

Japan had won one of the greatest naval battles in history. Some historians rank it right behind the victory of Nelson at Trafalgar. Some claim it is just as important of a victory. It proved to the world, Japan was a world power. It ended Russian dreams f world dominance. It allowed Japan to keep it Asian territory. It also tipped the balance of power in Europe back into the hands of the Central Powers, Germany and Austria-Hungry. President Theodore Roosevelt helped to broken a peace treaty between the two warring neighbors.
Today all that remains of the battle is the Japanese battleship, Mikasa. The Japanese people would use this victory over a European foe to embolden themselves. They began a program of Naval expansion which would eventually lead to their beloved naives virtual annihilation.



Time line and images from Wikipedia.