The Russians tried to use fog, but the hospital ship Orel kept legally required lights illuminated and was approached by the Japanese auxiliary Shinano Maru. A mistaken Russian identification then prompted Orel to reveal that other Russian ships were nearby. Japanese wireless reports identified the enemy in square 203, and Russian intercepts soon confirmed that the fleet was being shadowed. Togo received the report within about ten minutes and sortied a rested force already positioned in Korea. Scouting, communications, staff readiness, and basing converted a chance sighting into immediate operational action.
Chapter · 1:54:40-1:58:28
Wireless scouting turned discovery into a rapid sortie
A lit hospital ship helped reveal the Russians, and Japan's scouts, wireless network, staff, and prepared fleet converted the sighting into action within minutes.