The battle split into two main encounters. The Polish–Lithuanian flagship "Ritter Sankt Georg", supported by the "Meerweib", engaged the Swedish flagship "Tigern". More Polish–Lithuanian ships came alongside the "Tigern", and Polish–Lithuanian marines boarded, overwhelmed the Swedes, and captured the vessel. Meanwhile, the Polish–Lithuanian vice-admiral's ship, the galleon "Meerman", attacked the larger Swedish galleon "Solen". The captain of the "Solen", a Scotsman named Alexander Forath who was serving as Vice-admiral of the fleet, seeing that his ship was about to be captured detonated the powder magazine and blew his ship up rather than allowing it to be captured. The four surviving Swedish ships, realizing their situation, quickly headed towards the open sea and managed to escape pursuit. Both admirals were killed in the battle.