 Tsesarevich and Pobeda both suffered mechanical problems within an hour of departure that forced the fleet to slow down to a speed of 13 knots ( 24 km / h ; 15 mph ) . Togo failed in his attempt to cross the Russian 's T after spotting them around 12 : 25 and a general engagement began around 13 : 25 with the Japanese ships concentrating their fire on Tsesarevich and Retvizan , but the effective Russian fire forced Togo to disengage around 15 : 20 . He closed with the Russians about two hours later and opened fire at 17 : 35 . Neither side was able to mortally damage any ships while the Russians were still in the lead with about a half @-@ hour of daylight left when two 12 @-@ inch shells fired by Asahi struck near Tsesarevich 's conning tower at 18 : 40 . Shell fragments bounced off the conning tower 's overhanging roof into the conning tower , killing Vitgeft , two staff officers and the helmsman . The ship turned to port with the steering wheel jammed and was followed by several other battleships . Tsesarevich became the focus of attention from every Japanese ship so the captain of Retvizan decided to charge the Japanese battleline to buy time for Tsesarevich to fix her steering problem . He succeeded in doing so and the squadron 's second @-@ in @-@ command , Rear Admiral Prince Pavel Ukhtomsky gradually asserted command over the scattered Russian ships and ordered them back to Port Arthur in the darkness . Tsesarevich attempted to head north to Vladivostok in the dark , but her damaged funnels greatly increased her coal consumption and reduced her speed to only 6 knots ( 11 km / h ; 6 @.@ 9 mph ) so that she was forced to head for the German treaty port of Tsingtau instead with three destroyers for escort . Upon arrival the following day , Tsesarevich and her companions were interned and disarmed . The ship had been hit by thirteen 12 @-@ inch and two 8 @-@ inch ( 200 mm ) shells that killed 12 and wounded 47 members of her crew . 
