Despite orders to avoid provocation so soon after the Korean War armistice, Merriman steered a course to intercept. Cleaver went to the six-pounder gun on the forecastle, ready to jump into the mounting should action stations be sounded. With the distance between the two ships closing rapidly, Merriman had just taken photographs with a telescopic camera, when the Chinese warship hoisted an international flag "K", signalling him to stop his vessel, emphasising this with a burst of small arms fire.