At about 11 a.m. of a change of wind allowed Codrington to order the move into the harbor.Andrienko, p. 129. It was agreed that the English and Russian squadrons enter the harbor in parallel lines, followed by the French. At about 1 p.m. Codrington, cautious about the narrow entrance into the harbor, changed the plan and signaled orders to take formation in a single line.Andrienko, p. 130. The allied fleet took position in an arc side by side with the Turkish fleet. Azov headed to its planned position at the very center of the allied arc, with the rest of the Russian fleet to its port, the English and French battleships to its starboard, and the English frigates in the rear.Andrienko, p. 130. Soon the Turks fired at a British cutter, killing lieutenant Fitzroy and igniting an all-out naval battle.Andrienko, p. 131. Sources disagree on exact timing of events owing to different timekeeping practices and the confusion of the battle; the first shots were marked at either 2:00, 2:20 or even 2:45 p.m.; ship log of Azov recorded them at 2:30.Andrienko, p. 134. At this moment Azov was still on the move to its planned station and had just escaped the firing range of Turkish coastal artillery.Andrienko, p. 136. The smoke of English-Turkish shootout obstructed their view to starboard; Azov fired its first shots to port at 2:45.Andrienko, p. 137.
