Fujian Fleet
"Yangwu" led the Fujian Fleet protecting Foochow under the command of Captain Chang Cheng, which otherwise comprised three sloops in addition to a variety of gunboats, transports, launches and war junks. The Royal Navy and United States Navy vessels in the port made certain to anchor a distance away from where the engagement was expected to take place. The vessels faced off for several days before the French forces made their attack, as they were awaiting reinforcement by the ironclad . They planned to attack just before 2pm on August 23, with two torpedo boats tasked with engaging "Yangwu" and the gunboat "Fusheng" on the first signal.