Zinovy Rozhestvensky - Historical Viewpoint-Opposing Commanders

Historical Viewpoint-Opposing Commanders

The Russian navy had accrued several combat experienced admirals during the war; admirals Oskar Victorovich Stark, Stepan Makarov, and Wilgelm Vitgeft being amongst them. Makarov had been the most promising with his energy, tactics, and his ability to inspire confidence in his subordinates. But by a series of set-backs all of them had been lost to Russia, from one cause or another.

Although Makarov may have been Russia's greatest asset in the war, had he survived, he may not have been the right choice to lead the Baltic Squadron (later redesignated the 2nd Pacific Squadron) to the Far East. Even without fighting experience in the Orient, Admiral Rozhestvensky was the one man with the personality, skill, and determination to sail an untested battleship fleet on an unprecedented voyage to the other side of the world. An observation that Tsar Nicholas had immediately noticed before selecting the admiral.

Rozhestvensky's opponent however, Admiral Togo, had been the adversary of Russia's combat experienced admirals during the current war, but he, unlike his Russian naval counterparts, would be present on the battlefield, to exploit those lessons learned from previous engagements against Rozhestvensky; in the end, leaving him no choice but to fight or retreat.