Codrington ordered his ships to fire only if attacked and kept parts of their batteries visibly unprepared to support the claim of peaceful intent. Ottoman forts nevertheless allowed the two Allied columns through the narrow entrance. Codrington rejected a demand to withdraw and anchored inside the defensive line, where the French column sat between British and Russian supervision. The arrangement turned restrictive rules of engagement into a dangerous test of whether either side could control thousands of armed men at point-blank range.
Chapter · 2:44:14-2:48:29
The Allies entered under restrictive rules of engagement
Codrington orders his ships to fire only if attacked, leads two columns into the bay, and brackets the uncertain French command between stronger partners.