seven o'clock
The ports were entirely clear of shipping , but ranged along facing the forts lay the eight British ironclads . Four of them faced the forts at Ras-el-tin and the mouth of the harbour , three lay off the Mex Batteries , and one off a fort commanding what was known as the Boghaz Channel , while the little group of gun-boats lay out beyond the line of battleships . Further away to the east could be seen a great number of sailing-boats and steamers . Just at seven o'clock a great puff of white smoke broke out from the black side of the _ Invincible _ , which was carrying the admiral 's flag , and even before the sound reached the ears of the little party on the hill similar bursts of smoke spurted out from the other vessels . Then came the deep roar of heavy artillery , mingled with the rushing sound of their huge missiles through the air . Almost immediately an answering fire broke out from all the batteries fringing the sea . In a minute or two the hulls and lower masts of the men-of-war were entirely hidden in clouds of white smoke .