Robert Forczyk’s ‘Port Arthur 1904-05’

By Christopher Miskimon

The Russo-Japanese War began with a surprise naval attack by the Japanese Navy on the Russian Pacific Fleet at Port Arthur. The Japanese followed this successful attack with a troop landing on the Liaodong Peninsula in May 1904. Their soldiers quickly laid siege to Port Arthur, which was heavily defended, and severed the rail ink to the rest of Russia. Naval fighting continued, including mine warfare which cost the Russian several ships. A Russian ground campaign to relive the port failed but fighting continued as the Japanese brought in heavy siege guns and slowly wrought destruction within the port and town. Eventually the Japanese captured important pieces of high ground and defensive forts from the Russians, finally capturing Port Arthur in January 1905.

This new addition to the publisher’s Campaign series provides a detailed look at the Port Arthur action. It uses high-quality original artwork, excellent maps and diagrams, and period photographs to accompany the detailed narrative. The siege was a gradual progression from landing to victory and the book documents the events of this progression wells.

Port Arthur 1904-05: The First Modern Siege (Robert Forczyk, Osprey Books, Oxford UK, 2024, 96 pp., maps, illustrations, bibliography, index, $25, SC)

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