The Russo-Japanese War supplied a vivid early example of torpedo warfare at Port Arthur. Japanese destroyers approached at night and hit the Pallada and Retvizan, exploiting stationary or slow-reacting targets. Yet the action also showed that torpedoes had practical counters: other weapons were caught in torpedo nets. Torpedoes could be dangerous and decisive in the right circumstances, but defenders who invested in protection could sharply reduce their effect.
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Port Arthur showed both torpedo surprise and torpedo nets
The Japanese opening attack at Port Arthur damaged ships caught without time to maneuver, but other torpedoes were stopped by extended nets.