 The Japanese bombardment , coupled with a direct order from Tsar Nicholas II , forced Vitgeft to make an attempt to reach Vladivostok . The squadron sortied in an attempt to escape to Vladivostok in the morning of 10 August . At 12 : 25 , it was spotted by Japanese cruisers and intercepted by the Combined Fleet in what became the Battle of the Yellow Sea . Peresvet was fourth in line during the battle , and was not seriously damaged during the early long @-@ range stage of the action . Around 18 : 00 her topmasts were destroyed and two 12 @-@ inch shells from the battleship Asahi penetrated the conning tower of the Russian flagship Tsesarevich , killing Vitgeft and the helmsman , severely wounding the captain , and causing the ship to come to a dead stop after executing a sharp turn . Thinking that this was a maneuver planned by Vitgeft , the Russian battleline started to execute the same turn , causing all of the ships directly behind Tsesarevich , including Peresvet , to maneuver wildly to avoid hitting the stationary flagship . 
