 This perception has become known to posterity as "the Russian war scare of 1878".In order to enhance the forces available to the Royal Navy, four ships were quickly purchased for a total cost of £2 million; "Belleisle", "Orion" and from Turkey and from Brazil.It would have been necessary in any case to detain the Turkish ships in British ports for the duration of hostilities to observe neutrality agreements, and in this situation compensation by purchase was essentially obligatory.