From Libau to Tsushima

A naval engineer’s diary offers a rare, ground‑level look at the Russian fleet’s epic trek from the Baltic port of Libau to the far‑off waters of the Pacific. Written in spare, direct entries to his wife, the narrator records daily departures, weather, and the constant battle to keep ships operational while navigating neutral harbors and hostile coastlines. The account captures the tension of the Dogger Bank encounter, improvised repairs on torpedo‑boats, and the uneasy morale of crews far from home. It is a vivid portrait of a massive, logistically strained armada moving toward an uncertain destiny.

The writer’s technical background lets him describe the grinding reality of coal shortages, damaged rudders, and makeshift fixes performed amid rolling seas and even sharks circling the work. His observations are unsentimental, noting the outdated state of many vessels and the wavering spirit of officers, yet he remains dutiful and meticulous in his record‑keeping. Listeners will hear the mixture of professional pride and personal doubt that colors each entry, providing an intimate sense of what it meant to serve on a fleet that was both a marvel of ambition and a harbinger of looming conflict.