Missing flag officers overloaded Russian command

Russian officer deaths and shortages left captains trying to train their own ships while coordinating wider formations. Togo could focus on his striking squadron and the combined fleet because subordinate admirals ran divisions and special-duty support. Even Japanese auxiliaries close to home had a rear admiral coordinating supply, scouting, and picket work. Rozhestvensky, by contrast, became his own division commander, squadron commander, fleet commander, and de facto coordinator for transports and scouts, placing an extraordinary burden on one headquarters.