Battle of Lahasusu

The Soviet riverine flotilla enjoyed superiority over the Chinese opponents thanks to its Czarist-era Tayfyun-class riverine monitors, possessing large armored turrets with 120mm guns, while Chinese vessels had weaker armor and weapons.[1]

The battle begun when the Soviet Amur Flotilla attacked the garrisoned city of Lahasusu from the river. Soviet monitors Lenin, Sverdlov, Sun Yat-sen and Krasnyi Vostok and other minor units faced a Chinese flotilla of 11 units. Chinese steamer Kiang Tai suffered a direct hit, while monitor Lenin set aflame the gunboat Kiang Ping. The gunboat Lee Ju managed to score hit on the Soviet gunboat Proletarii and the monitor Sun Yat-sen but was eventually hit by Krasnyi Vostok and grounded by its crew.[2]

Older sources report different transliteration of the Chinese ships, stating gunboats Chantai and Chanan sunk, followed by Chianping, while the ex-German gunboat Lichi was abandoned and took in tow by Soviets. Were also seized the army transport steamer n°18 and seven barges. While Soviet sides suffered human casualties (17 men), they lost no ship. [3]

With the river battle still ongoing, other Soviet ships successfully landed troops close Lahasusu and defeated the local garrison. As common practice for the Soviets during this conflict, Soviet troops opened the grain stores of the city to distribute grain to the population to win their support. It was a heavy defeat for the Chinese, that were forced to gather their defense at Fushin: there it was destroyed the rest of the Chinese fleet.