the army was assigned to northwestern front and was responsible for the front's left flank north of lake ilmen. it also had under command the ilmen detachment of ships. on 12 august the army, along with the 11th, 27th and 34th armies, began a series of assaults against the german x army corps near staraya russa. these attacks failed to regain much territory but delayed the german advance on leningrad by a further week.