Mukden

Jan. 26-Mar 10, 1905

Strategic Context
The Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895 brings the Russian and Japanese spheres of influence in
Manchuria and Korea in conflict. In 1898, Russia’s lease on Port Arthur, its gateway port to the

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Far East, expires, intensifying Japan’s grievances. In 1904, the Japanese launch a surprise
attack on Port Arthur, besieging it, and pushing into Manchuria. Aleksey Kuropatkin’s Russian
armies seek to delay Iwao Oyama’s steadily advancing Japanese armies, leading to bloody,

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inconclusive stalemates. Nonetheless, the Japanese still hold the initiative in January 1905
when Port Arthur surrenders, freeing up Japanese 3. Army for the upcoming battle at Mukden.

Stakes
+ A Russian victory would halt Japanese
advances and provide bargaining power
against the dwarfed Japanese economy.
+ A Japanese victory would confirm the
possibility that Europeans are not
invincible and remove Russian threats to
newly-acquired lands in Manchuria.

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

 Mukden, 1905
Strength

 Russian Army  Japanese Army

 Aleksey  Oyama Iwao

Kuropatkin
 276,000  270,000
 Well  Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2009

Northeast Asia c. 1904
The battlefield consists of austere, snowy plans in the west, and rugged hills to the east. A few major rivers run through the battlefield, generally running
toward the southwest. The two major urban features are Mukden to the north and Liaoyang to the south, both of which sit astride the major railroad running
north-south. This railroad and its adjacent road comprise the major supply route for any army in this terrain, making it the key terrain.

0 10 20 30 km Russian Army
(Kuropatkin)
N Ka-ma-lin
Mountains

Liao Ho
River

Mukden

Ta-lin
Mountains

Sha Ho River
Hun Ho River

Tai-tzu River

Japanese Army Liaoyang

(Oyama)
Kuropatkin
Oyama pinsdivides
Kuropatkin
Kuropatkin opens
1. his
his force
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Army
realizes three
with
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and 4. south
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Manchu Manchu
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attacks
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aggressively
halts is facing
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leftfour
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flank:
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Kuroki’s
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scale 1.
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slyly
Army deploys
arrived another force, 5. Army, in the eastern mountainous region, unknown to Kuropatkin. Oyama anticipates a partial Russian offensive, but one not
2. andpins
Russian
4. Linevich’s
Armies reinforcements.
whileattention
Nogi’swhile
Meanwhile,
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begins its
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asidethem
the Russian
desperately fleeing
screens to
cavalry.
the right
his main
Heavy
line.combat
flank Kuropatkin
rages begins
on his
with insufficient
large enough to disrupt his aspirations of a double envelopment; Oyama plans wide flanking attacks against both Russian flanks by Kawamura’s 5. Army, and
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forces process
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recalled attack
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right
a minor
to meet
left tothreat,
this new
return.sending
threatonly
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his extreme
support.left.
then Nogi’s 3. Army, while his center pins Russian reserves.
0 10 20 30 km Russian Army
3. Manchurian Army 1. Manchurian Army (Kuropatkin)
(Bil’derling) (Linevich)
Landmarks 2. Manchurian Army Ka-ma-lin
Symbol guide
(Kaul’bars) Mountains
N

Liao Ho
River
3. Manchurian Army
2. Manchurian Army
(Bil’derling)
(Kaul’bars)

1. Manchurian Army
(Linevich)

Russian Army Japanese Army

Mukden

Infantry Infantry Ta-lin

Mountains

Cavalry Cavalry
Sha Ho River
Hun Ho River

3. Army
(Nogi)
Russian
Japanese Army Army
Tai-tzu River

2. Army 4. Army 1. Army (Aleksey

5. Army (Oyama
Kuropatkin)
Iwao)
5. Army
Japanese Army (Oku) (Nodzu) (Kuroki) (Kawamura)

(Oyama)
Liaoyang
276,000
270,000(Kawamura)
Kuropatkin
Kuropatkincounterattacks
Kaul’bars attacks
suddenly
Nogi’son left
his right
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Kaul’baurs’ meets
confusion. 3.Communications
Army
attention head-on rather
by assaulting than scale
inagain
full in its when
fail flank.
with
Casualties mount in the fierce struggle but fresh Japanese reserves restore the front to its prior position. Consequently, Kuropatkin withdraws 1. and 3. Manchu
2. and 4. Armies
Kuropatkin’s reinforcements
while Nogi’sto3.his Army
rightcontinues
are deployed
its menacing
incorrectly,
advance.
both assigned
Kuropatkin to guard
desperately
the same
screens
place.
hisOyama
right flank
reactswith
by sending
insufficienthis
Armies behind the Hun Ho River to shorten and strengthen his line against the expected Japanese onslaught.
forces totogain
reserve his left
timeand
forexecuting
recalled units
a sharp
from
advance
his extreme
that displaces
left to return.
the Russian line.
0 10 20 30 km Russian Army
3. Manchurian Army 1. Manchurian Army (Kuropatkin)
(Bil’derling) (Linevich)
Landmarks 2. Manchurian Army Ka-ma-lin
Symbol guide
(Kaul’bars) Mountains
N

Liao Ho
River

Russian Army Japanese Army

Mukden

Infantry Infantry Ta-lin

Mountains

Cavalry Cavalry
Sha Ho River
Hun Ho River

3. Army
(Nogi)
Russian
JapaneseArmy
Army
Tai-tzu River

2. Army 4. Army 1. Army (Aleksey

5. Army (Oyama
Kuropatkin)
Iwao)
Japanese Army (Oku) (Nodzu) (Kuroki) (Kawamura)

(Oyama)
Liaoyang
276,000
270,000
Kuropatkin
1. Manchu counterattacks
mistakenly
Army escapesbelieves
on histhe
right
river
butto
relatively Oyama’s
beunscathed
a secure
dispositions
barrier
whileand
have2.
siphons
since
andchanged:
even more
andunits
3. Manchu so Armies
thefrom
Russian
hisfight
left
attack
and
a meets
center3.toof
series Army
save head
his crumbling
costly on rather than
rearguard right.inHowever,
its flank.
actions to
Casualties
Kuroki detects
mount theincritical
the fierce
weakness
strugglebetween
but fresh1.Japanese
and 3. Manchu
reservesArmies
restore the
andfront
quickly
to itsexploits
prior position.
it, tearing
Consequently,
a hole in theKuropatkin
Russian center;
withdraws
this 1.
is and
followed
3. Manchu
by a
avoid
Armies complete
concentrated
behind
thrust
the Hunencirclement.
by Nogi
Ho River A Kaul’bars
that shatters few
to shorten andRussian
strengthenunits
lead units. surrender
hisKuropatkin
line thebut
againstassigns mosttoJapanese
expected
units battered remnants
try to contain
onslaught. arebut
these thrusts able to flee isnorth.
his position clearlyThe Japanese
perilous.
force is so thoroughly exhausted that Oyama can only undertake a lazy, token pursuit.
0 10 20 30 km Russian Army
3. Manchurian Army 1. Manchurian Army (Kuropatkin)
(Bil’derling) (Linevich)
Landmarks 2. Manchurian Army Ka-ma-lin
Symbol guide
(Kaul’bars) Mountains
N

Liao Ho
River

Russian Army Japanese Army

Mukden

Infantry Infantry Ta-lin

Mountains

Cavalry Cavalry
Sha Ho River
Hun Ho River

3. Army
(Nogi)
Russian
JapaneseArmy
Army
Tai-tzu River

2. Army 4. Army 1. Army (Aleksey

5. Army (Oyama
Kuropatkin)
Iwao)
Japanese Army (Oku) (Nodzu) (Kuroki) (Kawamura)

(Oyama)
Liaoyang
276,000
270,000
 Mukden, 1905
Casualties & Aftermath
Russian Army: Japanese Army:

90,000 70,000
or or
33% 26%
Although the Japanese scored a respectable victory, the effect on the Russians was largely
psychological. The Japanese were at the limit of their supply lines and their economy was struggling
while the Russians had an effective railway and vast, untapped industry. In May 1905, the Russian
Baltic Fleet finally arrives in the Pacific, but is promptly and decisively defeated at the Battle of
Tshushima. The Russian government, command, and public were shocked that a small Asian nation
could defeat them and each sector wished for mediation to end the war. The Battle of Mukden was
the final land battle in the war. The war ended in September 1905 with the Treaty of Portsmouth,
confirming Japan’s influence in Korea and Manchuria.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009
 The Art of Battle:
Animated Battle Maps
http://www.theartofbattle.com

By Jonathan Webb, 2009