Hitachi Maru Incident

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Hitachi Maru Incident

During the Russo-Japanese War, on June 15, 1904, a small Russian cruiser squadron based in Vladivostok hunted Japanese transport ships in the Tsushima Strait. The aim was to raid Japanese supply lines and to threaten the blockade of Port Arthur.

The Russians, under Rear Admiral Petr Bezobrazov, spotted three Japanese transports: Hitachi Maru, Sado Maru, and Izumi Maru (an unmarked hospital ship). The only protective ship for the transports was the protected cruiser Tsushima, which could not warn in time due to fog and poor wireless range.

Izumi Maru was intercepted first. Gromoboi opened fire, forcing the hospital ship to surrender; about 100 sick and wounded were taken off before Izumi Maru was sunk.

Next, the Russians attacked Sado Maru. Rurik fired torpedoes and damaged the ship, which did not sink immediately but drifted and eventually ran aground near Okinoshima. Hundreds of passengers and crew were killed in the resulting losses.

Finally, Gromoboi engaged Hitachi Maru. Hitachi Maru offered stubborn resistance but was sunk, with many crew members killed, including its British captain. Only a small number of survivors were rescued from Hitachi Maru.

By mid-morning, the Russian squadron had inflicted heavy damage on Japanese transports and continued raiding nearby shipping. The operation caused a sharp blow to Japanese morale.

In the following weeks, Kamimura’s forces pursued Bezobrazov, and the Russians were finally defeated at the Battle off Ulsan on August 14, 1904. Memorials were later raised in Tokyo to honor those who lost their lives in the incident.