Nakhimov took his ships—six ships of the line, two frigates, and three steam ships—to Sinop in late November to attack an Ottoman squadron of seven frigates, two corvettes, and two transports. Nakhimov initially steamed into the harbor on 30 November (N.S.; 18 November O.S.) with his ships in two columns to demand the Ottomans surrender, but the Ottomans rejected the ultimatum. The Russians then anchored some away and began bombarding the Ottoman ships in the harbor in the Battle of Sinop. The Ottomans returned fire, initially inflicting significant damage on the Russian vessels, but the devastating power of the Paixhans guns quickly destroyed the Ottoman fleet. "Imperatritsa Maria" was heavily engaged in the action, firing 2,128 rounds during the battle and sustaining 60 hits. Her crew suffered 16 killed and 39 wounded. The Ottoman fleet was completely destroyed, in large part due to the destructive power of the Russian shell-firing guns; only one Ottoman vessel escaped destruction: the steam frigate , which had fled at high speed early in the action.