The Russo-Japanese War evoked a lively response in the minds and hearts of the officers of the Russian Imperial Navy. One of them was Prince Alexander Alexandrovich Shcherbatov (1881-1915), who, being a midshipman of the cruiser 'Rossiya', participated in the operations of the Vladivostok detachment of cruisers, including the famous Battle of Ulsan, or Battle of the Korean Strait (August 1904). The modern Russian reader knows about the prince from the correspondence with his bride, Princess Sophia Vasilchikova, published by the publishing house of the Saint Tikhon's Orthodox University. Shcherbatov saw many of the shortcomings of the Russian fleet and deeply experienced the unfolding events. Therefore, even during the war, the prince began to write down his thoughts and ideas for improving the situation in the fleet. Alexander Alexandrovich was so captured by these thoughts that he shared them even in correspondence with his fiancee. In addition to the abovementioned letters, the fund of the princes Shcherbatovs in the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts contains documents related to the naval service of Prince Alexander, and various manuscripts in which the officer comprehends the experience of the Russo-Japanese War, expounds his thoughts and ideas. Since these materials have great potential for further research and have not yet been adequately involved in scientific circulation, this article will review the maritime heritage of the prince and highlight his key ideas about the revival of the Russian Imperial Navy.
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