This lack of training was the direct result of a serious lack of ammunition. Japanese engineers determined that ten bridges 1,630 yards (1490.5m) would be required to span the river. As the flying squadron again turned south, the Beiyang Fleet was caught between the two Japanese squadrons. The Russian commander in the Far East, General Alexei Kuropatkin's strategy was to only engage the Japanese in defense stalling actions, while waiting for enough reinforcements to be brought up to the front via the single-track Trans-Siberian Railway to take the offensive. The Battle of the Yalu River (Amnok River) (simplified Chinese: 黄海海战; traditional Chinese: 黃海海戰; pinyin: Huáng Hǎi Hǎizhàn; Japanese: Kōkai-kaisen (黄海海戦, "Naval Battle of the Yellow Sea") was the largest naval engagement of the First Sino-Japanese War, and took place on 17 September 1894, the day after the Japanese victory at the land Battle of Pyongyang. The Flying Squadron meanwhile re-engaged, sinking the cruiser By sunset the Beiyang Fleet was near the point of total collapse, most of the fleet had fled or had been sunk and the two largest ships Several different explanations have been put forward as to why the Beiyang Fleet did not change their formation to react to the Japanese tactics more effectively. The defeat of the Russian Eastern Detachment removed the perception that the Japanese would be an easy enemy, that the war would be short, and that Russia would be the overwhelming victor.This article is about the first battle of the Russo-Japanese War. The Battle of the Yalu River lasted from 30 April to 1 May 1904, and was the first major land battle during the Russo-Japanese War. The battle is also known by a variety of names: Battle of Haiyang Island, Battle of Dadonggou, Battle of the Yellow Sea and Battle of Yalu, after the geographic location of the battle, which was in the Japan's initial strategy was to gain command of the sea, which was critical to its operations in Korea.With tensions with Japan increasing over the situation on the Peninsula, the Chinese government chartered three At the beginning of September, Li Hongzhang decided to reinforce the Chinese forces at Pyongyang, by employing the Beiyang Fleet to escort transports to the mouth of the The Japanese Combined Fleet consisted of two formations. The Battle of the Yalu River ended in victory for Japan. General Zasulich was ordered to retreat. By 0300, the balance of the 12th Division had crossed the river and was advancing in three columns. The first was that the Due to the Chinese Navy's weak preparations for the battle, faulty ammunition, and a lack of communication and discipline, which was the cause of at least one account of The defeat of the Beiyang Fleet at the Battle of Yalu River was a major propaganda victory for Japan,The Chinese government, after initially denying that its fleet had been defeated, put the blame for the Chinese defeat on Viceroy This article is about the naval battle of the First Sino-Japanese War. After reinforcement at 0400 on 26 April by units from the Guards Division and a brief firefight, the forward Russian observation post withdrew to the main Russian lines on the north shore. They failed to score any significantly damaging hits on the Japanese with their 12-inch (305 mm) and 8.2-inch (208 mm) guns. The Russians observed these movements with trepidation, and General Kashtalinsky informed General Zasulich that the Japanese were about to assault the position in force and his position was in danger of being flanked. A flying squadron, composed of the four fast cruisers Admiral Ding Ruchang attempted to form his fleet into a southward-facing line abreast with the strongest ships (The Beiyang Fleet had completed escorting a convoy to the mouth of the Yalu River, and was returning to its base at However, examination reveals the truth about China's seemingly advantageous position, as most of their warships were over-age and obsolescent;Tactically, Chinese naval vessels entered the war with only the crudest set of instructions — ships that were assigned to designated pairs were to keep together and all ships were to fight end-on, as far forward from the Though well drilled, the Chinese had not engaged in sufficient gunnery practice beforehand.