 Papanikolis volunteered for the first attempt, which was carried out successfully on in the harbour of Eressos in Lesbos, where the fireship destroyed an Ottoman two-deck frigate which lay in anchor there.This led to the generalized use of fireships by the Greeks, who were thus able to even the balance with the far more powerful Ottoman Navy.Papanikolis remained active for the remainder of the war, distinguishing himself again in the Battle of Gerontas in August 1824.