On 21 and 22 October 1904, the Russian Baltic Fleet encountered an unarmed trawler fleet from Kingston upon Hull while sailing to reinforce the First Pacific Squadron during the Russo-Japanese War. Its crews mistook fishing vessels for Japanese torpedo boats, killed fishermen, and sank the trawler Crane. Russian battleships also fired into their own formation, killing members of their own force. The incident is an extreme example of fear overwhelming target identification, discipline, and command control.
Chapter · 0:10-3:13
The 1904 Dogger Bank incident
While sailing to reinforce Port Arthur during the Russo-Japanese War, the Russian Baltic Fleet mistakes Hull trawlers for Japanese attackers in the North Sea.