manstein wanted to launch an attack as soon as possible, but his logistical lines were poor. wanting to avoid strong soviet forces protecting the north of the port, including the 95th rifle division, manstein chose to press the center and southern soviet defences. he ordered the german 50th infantry division to probe the center of the soviet line east of the chernaya river. the 132nd infantry division supported the probe and was able to push to within 4 kilometres of severnaya bay. the 72nd rifle division, with the support of the coastal batteries, moved in to stop the attack. the 72nd infantry division continued towards balaklava, and the 22nd infantry division joined the assault. assisted by shelling from two light cruisers and the battleship "parizhskaya kommuna", the red army halted this attack, and manstein called off the offensive on 21 november, having lost 2,000 men.