CASUALTY RECORD // February 8, 1904
Battle of Port Arthur
Estimated casualties — killed, wounded, captured, and missing — by side, with confidence labels per surviving record.
Casualties by side
2 sides catalogued · combined 282 estimated
Empire russe
150
Medium-confidence figure
Empire du Japon
132
Medium-confidence figure
Battle context
The Battle of Port Arthur on 8–9 February 1904 opened the Russo-Japanese War. A surprise night attack by Japanese destroyers struck the Russian fleet at anchor in Port Arthur, Manchuria, before a follow-on engagement the following morning. Although the attack ended inconclusively, it set the operational tempo for the conflict, establishing Japan as the initiating aggressor and placing the Russian Pacific fleet on the defensive from the outset. Skirmishing off Port Arthur continued until May 1904, prolonging pressure on the Russian naval position in the region.
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