The Second Pacific Squadron was an attempt by the Russians to reinforce their struggling Pacific Fleet against the Japanese by bringing part of the Baltic Fleet all the way around the old world to reach the battlefield and help their comrades. It was an absolute farce from start (where they failed to safely leave port) to finish (where they bungled their first attempt to surrender by using unclear signals) where almost everything that could have gone wrong did; I strongly recommend looking up their antics if you want some dark humour.
Their most serious incident was the Dogger Bank incident. While they were out on the North Sea, one of their ships claimed it had spotted a fleet of Japanese torpedo boats. Even though the Japanese Navy was physically incapable of reaching the North Sea, let alone in time to intercept the Second Pacific Squadron, AND the Japanese didn't even have enough torpedo boats to make a "fleet". This was not the first time they had an obviously false torpedo boat alarm, and it wouldn't be the last. The "Japanese torpedo boats" were actually a British fishing fleet. The Russians opened fire and, thanks to some atrocious gunnery and friendly fire, were fought to a draw by the slow, unarmed fishing boats that didn't attempt to fight back.
Needless to say, the British were not happy at their fishing fleet being attacked, especially once the tabloids went to town on it. The Times reported that "It is almost inconceivable that any men calling themselves seamen, however frightened they might be, could spend twenty minutes bombarding a fleet of fishing boats without discovering the nature of their target." It was made doubly awkward by the fact that Britain and Japan were allies (but, because this was a war of Japanese aggression, the alliance's terms didn't activate so Britain didn't enter the war).
The British prepared their navy for war, putting on alert a fleet 4 times the size of the entire Russian Navy. They also shadowed the cursed squadron with cruisers as they sailed around Western Europe.
After Russia agreed to an investigation into the incident, Britain opted not to declare war on Russia and instead signed an agreement to let the Hague sort it out, which they did.
So, what if this absolute disaster was even worse, and the British listened to the tabloids instead of using diplomacy to de-escalate? Does Germany smell blood in the water? How does France react to losing the Triple Entente? How badly does the Russian Navy get its arse handed to it? Finally, how would this affect the eventual peace?
Their most serious incident was the Dogger Bank incident. While they were out on the North Sea, one of their ships claimed it had spotted a fleet of Japanese torpedo boats. Even though the Japanese Navy was physically incapable of reaching the North Sea, let alone in time to intercept the Second Pacific Squadron, AND the Japanese didn't even have enough torpedo boats to make a "fleet". This was not the first time they had an obviously false torpedo boat alarm, and it wouldn't be the last. The "Japanese torpedo boats" were actually a British fishing fleet. The Russians opened fire and, thanks to some atrocious gunnery and friendly fire, were fought to a draw by the slow, unarmed fishing boats that didn't attempt to fight back.
Needless to say, the British were not happy at their fishing fleet being attacked, especially once the tabloids went to town on it. The Times reported that "It is almost inconceivable that any men calling themselves seamen, however frightened they might be, could spend twenty minutes bombarding a fleet of fishing boats without discovering the nature of their target." It was made doubly awkward by the fact that Britain and Japan were allies (but, because this was a war of Japanese aggression, the alliance's terms didn't activate so Britain didn't enter the war).
The British prepared their navy for war, putting on alert a fleet 4 times the size of the entire Russian Navy. They also shadowed the cursed squadron with cruisers as they sailed around Western Europe.
After Russia agreed to an investigation into the incident, Britain opted not to declare war on Russia and instead signed an agreement to let the Hague sort it out, which they did.
So, what if this absolute disaster was even worse, and the British listened to the tabloids instead of using diplomacy to de-escalate? Does Germany smell blood in the water? How does France react to losing the Triple Entente? How badly does the Russian Navy get its arse handed to it? Finally, how would this affect the eventual peace?
