 A shot from "Dingyuan" at a distance of from the Japanese was the first attack of the Chinese fleet, which destroyed its own flying bridge and injured the Admiral and his staff.Her signalling mast was also disabled, causing the Chinese fleet to operate purely in the preassigned pairs throughout the battle.During the course of the battle, the main part of the Japanese fleet concentrated fire on the two ironclads, but the two vessels remained afloat following the Japanese withdrawal as darkness approached.