 Returning to Port Arthur on 11 August , the Russian squadron found the city still under siege by the Japanese Third Army led by Baron Nogi Maresuke . The new commander , Rear Admiral Robert N. Viren , decided to use the men and guns of the Pacific Squadron to reinforce the defenses of Port Arthur and even more guns were stripped from the squadron 's ships . On 20 – 22 September Japanese troops attacked 203 Hill , which overlooked the harbor ; Peresvet , Retvizan , the battleship Poltava and the gunboat Bobr bombarded the Japanese positions to support the successful defense of the hill . The Japanese began firing blindly into the harbor on 30 September and hit Peresvet with at least six 5 @.@ 9 @-@ inch ( 150 mm ) and 4 @.@ 7 @-@ inch shells . She was struck once more the following day . On 2 October she was hit by nine 11 @-@ inch ( 280 mm ) shells that failed to penetrate her deck armor , but did considerable damage to the unprotected portions of the ship . The Japanese troops were able to seize Hill 203 on 5 December . This allowed the Imperial Japanese Army 's siege guns to fire directly at the Russian ships and they hit Peresvet many times . The Russians scuttled her in shallow water on 7 December 1904 without , however , seriously damaging her , possibly in the hope of fooling the Japanese into switching targets . 
