The historical voyage to East Asia gave the Russian reinforcement squadrons time to improve their organisation and gunnery. A war with Britain from the beginning could deny them that preparation. Ships leaving the Baltic would risk meeting British forces in the North Sea or North Atlantic while still poorly trained. Beresford's force is imagined as having a substantial advantage in accumulated practice. An earlier interception would therefore leave Russia facing an experienced opponent before its own crews had completed the training gained on the historical voyage.
Notable Point · 1:03:42-1:04:42
A Russian fleet forced to fight before its long voyage
A British interception near the Baltic would confront Russian ships before the training accumulated on their historical voyage to Tsushima.