[1] HMS Condor was under the command Lord Charles Beresford and had the war correspondent Frederic Villiers, and Moberly Bell of The Times, on board as a guests.

After rioting in Alexandria, during which Europeans were killed, Admiral Seymour aboard HMS Invincible in company with a fleet of 15 ironclads under his command, was ordered to go to the area in June 1882.

He arrived at Alexandria in order to protect the lives and property of British subjects, and safeguard access to the Suez Canal.

The offshore squadron at first conducted the attack while underway, but this proved difficult, and by 9:40, Sultan, Superb and Alexandra had anchored off the Lighthouse Fort and concentrated their fire on the heavily armed Ras-el-Tin battery.

[7][8] [A] steady cannonade was maintained by the attacking and defending forces, and for the next few hours the roar of the guns and the shrieks of passing shot and shell were alone audible.

However, Fort Marabout to the west, had a raking view across the approaches to the harbour and was equipped with heavy guns capable of jeopardising the entire attack.