, ▁the ▁Japanese ▁Navy ▁launched ▁a ▁surprise ▁attack ▁on ▁the ▁Russian ▁fleet ▁at ▁Port ▁Arthur . ▁Se v ast opol ▁was ▁hit ▁by ▁one ▁shell , ▁either ▁six ▁or ▁eight ▁inches ▁in ▁diameter , ▁that ▁wounded ▁two ▁men ▁on ▁her ▁bridge . ▁She ▁soon ▁turned ▁in ▁purs uit ▁along ▁with ▁other ▁ships ▁of ▁the ▁Russian ▁fleet , ▁all ▁firing ▁their ▁forward ▁guns , ▁but ▁she ▁failed ▁to ▁score ▁any ▁hits . ▁On ▁ 2 6 ▁March ▁ 1 9 0 4 , ▁Se v ast opol ▁was ▁accident ally ▁ram med ▁by ▁, ▁dam aging ▁a ▁prop eller . ▁After ▁the ▁attack ▁on ▁Port ▁Arthur , ▁the ▁First ▁Pacific ▁Squadron ▁tried ▁to ▁break ▁out ▁several ▁times . ▁During ▁one ▁attempt ▁on ▁ 2 3 ▁June , ▁Admir al ▁Wil gel m ▁Vit ge ft , ▁command ing ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Fle et , ▁retre ated ▁after ▁encounter ing ▁the ▁Japanese ▁fleet . ▁Appro aching ▁the ▁har bor , ▁Se v ast opol ▁moved ▁slightly ▁out ▁of ▁formation ▁and ▁hit ▁a ▁mine ▁that ▁killed ▁ 1 1 ▁and ▁caused ▁severe ▁flo oding , ▁but ▁managed ▁to ▁get ▁inside ▁the ▁har bor ▁and ▁drop ▁anchor . ▁She ▁was ▁under ▁repair ▁for ▁six ▁weeks , ▁during ▁which ▁time ▁a ▁fire ▁broke ▁out ▁on ▁deck , ▁killing ▁two ▁and ▁w ounding ▁ 2 8 . ▁The ▁Russian ▁batt les hips ▁were ▁too ▁big ▁to ▁fit ▁into ▁the ▁dry ▁dock ▁at ▁Port ▁Arthur , ▁so ▁large ▁ca iss ons ▁were ▁built ▁to ▁provide ▁access ▁to ▁the ▁ships ' ▁h