Senyavin races up the Ottoman column and puts its leading frigate out of action. The disabled vessel becomes a physical obstruction to the ships following in line. They have to heave to, lose speed, and maneuver instead of preserving the formation's forward motion. That traffic problem compounds the earlier pressure on Ottoman command and makes an orderly withdrawal harder. After about 10 a.m. the fleet breaks away with the Russians in pursuit, showing how damage to one ship can affect the movement of an entire formation.
Notable Point · 54:34-55:15
A disabled frigate jams the Ottoman battle line
Senyavin disables the leading Ottoman frigate, forcing following ships to slow and maneuver around an obstruction before the fleet breaks away.