in november it was assigned to the 51st army, and saw its first action at the very end of the year. on december 26, elements of the division made opposed amphibious landings from improvised landing craft at kamysh burun and at eltigen south of the town of kerch on the eastern tip of the crimea. in spite of heavy german fire, a foothold of 2,175 troops was established at the former port, although the latter attempt was repulsed. a second wave of soviet landings took place farther west on december 29, and the city of feodosiya was liberated by units of the 44th army. following this, the german corps commander ordered his 46th infantry division to retreat from the kerch peninsula without orders from above. as a result, the 302nd was able to liberate kerch on december 31.