 Nekuvamba kweHondo yeRusso-Japanese muna February 1904, Shinano Maru yakanga iri imwe yengarava dzokutanga dzakakumbirwa neImperial Japanese Army kuti ishandiswe sechikepe chevarwi uye kutakura mauto kuendesa mauto nezvinopiwa kuKorea neManchuria. Muna March 1905, Shinano Maru yakashongedzerwa uye yakashandurwa ikava cruiser inobatsira paKure Naval Arsenal, ichiisa pfuti mbiri imwe mberi uye imwe kumashure, uye yakatumirwa muImperial Japanese Navy pasi pekutungamirirwa naKaputeni Morikawa. Nguva pfupi hondo yeTsushima isati yatanga, yakatumirwa kuAuxiliary Squadron yeCombined Fleet pamwe chete nedzimwe ngarava nhanhatu dzinotengesa zvombo uye zvikepe zvitatu zvinotengesa zvikepe zvakagoverwa kuongorora Tsushima Strait kutsvaga Russian Baltic Fleet, iyo yakanga yatumirwa pasi rose kuti ibvise chibvumirano cheJapan chePort Arthur.. 