Postage Stamp Printed in 1972
At that moment, Rear-Admiral Uriu was receiving an officer from Talbot on board the Naniwa cruiser, who brought the papers from the officers’ meeting. Having received the news from Asama, the commander quickly wound up the conversation and ordered to rivet over the anchor chains since there was no time to weigh and put the anchor away. The ships hastily headed for the open water while forming combat columns in accordance with the earlier received disposition.
Asama and Chiyoda were the first to start moving followed shortly by the flagship Naniwa and cruiser Niytaka. Torpedo boats of one of the detachments sailed ahead of the non-firing board of Naniwa. Other torpedo boats went with cruisers Akashi and Takachiho and having reached high speed headed southwest. Advice boat Chihaya and torpedo boat Kasagi were on patrol at the exit from the 30 mile navigating channel. The Russian ships kept on moving.
The Japanese admiral raised a signal offering the Russians a chance to surrender but the Varyag commander did not even reply.
At 11.45 am on 27 January 1904, cruiser Asama fired its first salvo from the 8 m gun and the other Japanese warships followed suit. In its turn, Varyag cleared the neutral roadstead, fired a few shots for adjustment and opened fire using armour-piercing shells from a distance of 45 cables.
Seeing the cruiser ready to break through on its left board, Asama closed in while maintaining fire. Naniwa and Niktaka actively supported it. At the same time, Chiyoda attacked Koreets. The Russian warships fired back energetically from the right board guns. First the gunboat fired explosive shells from the right board 8 inch gun at the head cruiser and Takachiho. Soon they closed the distance and Koreets was able to use the aft 6 inch gun.
HMS Talbot
One of the first Japanese shells destroyed Varyag’s top bridge and range-finding post killing warrant office Count Alexei Nirod and killing or wounding all range-finding post No. 1 operators.
Next the Japanese destroyed the 6 inch gun and all the gunners were either killed or wounded. At the same time, Warrant Officer and Artillery Platoon Commander Gubonin was seriously wounded but refused to have his wounds bandaged and went on to command the platoon until he lost consciousness and fell on the deck.
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