the luftwaffe could not support the land assault and maintain pressure on soviet sea communications alone. with only kg 26 engaged in anti-shipping operations against soviet sea communications, the okw looked to the "kriegsmarine" to supply "schnellboot" (s-boat) motor torpedo boats to help eliminate soviet shipping supplying and evacuating the port. the time it took to dismantle and move the 92-ton boats by rail to romanian ports was going to be too long. in a rare appeal for help, the german forces turned to their italian allies, aware of their expertise with motor torpedo boat operations. the "regia marina" sent the 101st naval squadron, which brought nine torpedo boats and nine coastal submarines under the command of the highly competent capitano di fregata francesco mimbelli. the italian boats were only 24 tons and the submarines were 35 tons, which made them easier to transport by truck and barge. the squadron was based at feodosiya and yalta, which made it the only axis naval force to participate in the siege.