Vladivostok fortress during Russo-Japanese war

Vladivostok Fortress during Russo-Japanese war

A gun embeded to a loop hole of the conter scarp caponier (coffer)

Fort Pospelov. A barrel of 9-pound field gun M 1867 embeded to a loop hole of the head coffer (counter scarp caponier) in 1904

January, 26, 1904 Vladivostok Fortress was proclaimed on the war position. February, 22, 1904 Vladivostok was bombed by Japanese squadron under commandship of Admiral Kamimura from Ussuriisky Gulf. The damage from bombardment was a minimal. At this day the fortress was proclaimed on the blockade position. During the war there was continuation of construction of strong fortification designed in 1899, where barrels of old guns were embedded in embrasures of coffers (caunter scarp caponiers) because of absence of 57-mm rapid fairing guns and construction of new coastal artillery batteries on Ussuriisky gulf shore and on a perimeter of the Russian Island.

In 1904 - 1905 Vladivostok was the base of operations of Vladivostok group of cruisers which included armored cruisers “Rossija”, “Rjurik”, “Gromoboy” and light cruiser “Bogatyr” and auxiliary cruiser “Lena” and Siberian military flotilla included destroyers and auxiliary ships. During 1904 the cruisers carried out the operations on Japanese marine communications and sunk a series of transport ships with significant military materials. One of the sunk transport contains 280-mm mortars for Port-Arthur siege. The lost of these guns delayed the Port-Arthur fall about month. In August, 1, 1904 during battle with Japanese cruiser squadron under commandership of Admiral Kamimura in Tsusihma strait, the group have got significant loss - cruiser “Rjurik” was sunk and “Rossija” and “Gromoboy” were damaged. Cruiser “Bogatyr” was not a participant of actions because she was damaged at contact with rocks of Bruce Cape near Slavjanka. Later “Gromoboy” was exploded by mine and she was under repair during waste of time. In the Winter of 1904-1905 cruiser “Rossija” was used as a floated fort frozen in the ice near gate of Novik Bay for flanked the shore of Amursky bay against possible enemy infantry attack by ice During 1905 campaign the cruisers were not in actions. In May, 1905 after Tsushima battle the second range cruiser “Almaz” and destroyers “Grozny” and “Bravy” were arrived in Vladivostok. At the end of the war the group of cruisers was subordinated to commandant of Vladivostok Fortress.

A cave shelter

Fort Suvorov. A cave shelter cutted in the rock counter scarp in 1905

In August, 1904 the main defense line was transferred to Sedanka mountains, occupyed old noncompleted Forts "Northern" and "North-Eastern". It was prolonged to the shore of Amursky gulf in 1905 and the vanguard position on mountains to South from Lyanchikhe river was equipped. The territory of the fortress region was significantly increased. There were equipped underground shelters under the main fortifications against protection from 11" bombs. The amount of troops was sharply increased. 8-th East-Siberian infantry brigade was rearrange to division, 10-th E. S. infantry division and Vladivostok Fortress infantry brigade were formed, the amount of fortress artillery battalions were increased from 3 upto 12. Japanese didn't rescued to attack Vladivostok and occupy South-Ussurian District.

A reenforced concrete machine gun pavilion