Later in the course of the battle, the Russian IV Div TBD was joined by Razyashchi, which Admiral Bakhirev had dispatched forward to recover the package from the German floatplane. Razyashchi travelled a little ahead and to port of Grozyashchi and the Germans initially fired on all the Russian vessels before shifting to the gunboat and concentrating on her. Grozyashchi was now straddled. The range opened and the German torpedoboats repeated their dash forward, then again deployed on the broadside. Captain 2nd Rank Kosinski, commander of the destroyer Zabiyaka during the campaign, described the German firing as follows: ‘The range alternated from 40 – 45 cables to 60 – 65 cables. They shot with three gun salvoes and the shots fell in very small groups, which were wonderfully corrected for aim’.
Nevertheless, Grozyashchi remained untouched for a time, but then at 1717hrs, as the Germans performed their manoeuvre for the third time, she received her first hit. The German shell struck the port side below the upper deck level and started a fire among wooden panelling, but caused little other damage. The fire was extinguished by the deck division. Almost immediately afterwards a second hit struck beneath the bridge, below the waterline. The entire ship was vibrated heavily as the armoured belt was hit and later a small amount of water was found inboard, coming from a slight leak. A third shell cut through the boom and exploded on the starboard locker. Splinters penetrated part of the funnel casing and a fan, and brought down the gaffe and wireless antenna. The motor launch was damaged and the head of the shell holed the upper deck and outer hull above the waterline. Two men on the upper deck were killed, five were wounded, and two were dazed. At the conclusion of the action, at 1720hrs, the steering on Grozyashchi failed in the steering compartment and it was necessary to steer using the engines. This damage was quickly rectified. Admiral Bakhirev wrote: ‘In his report Captain 2nd Rank Ordovski-Tanaevski remarks on the extremely creditable behavior of the officers and crew and the excellence of individuals performing their duties’.
In the meantime, the chief of the torpedoboat divisions, Rear Admiral Stark, heard the cannon thunder from the Kassar Wiek and at 1625hrs received a wireless message from Captain 1st Rank Postelnikov that his unit was being pursued by German torpedoboats. Admiral Stark, who was near Schildau Buoy on his way to report, turned about and Desna took high speed towards the Kassar Wiek. Admiral Bakhirev also received this wireless message and therewith ordered the Chief of III Division Torpedoboat-Destroyers, Captain 1st Rank K. V. Shevelev, to take all the available boats on Kuiwast Roads, Izyaslav, Novik, Zabiyaka and Grom, and go to assist IV Division.
As Desna neared Seanina Buoy she met the retreating Russian unit and manoeuvred to open fire on the German 13 TBHF. The first salvo, ranged at 64 cable lengths, fell accurately and with this Kapitänleutnant Zander’s unit developed a smoke screen and turned to the west. Desna continued to fire until extreme range and in all fired fifty-seven high-explosive shells. Shortly after, the group from Kuiwast approached, but the approach of darkness meant that both sides were calling it a day. From the German point of view, Hauptmann von Winterfeld at Orrisar did not require immediate support and the I FdT had ordered that the German boats should return to the west with nightfall. Therefore, towards 1605hrs Fregattenkapitän von Rosenberg ordered his boats to return to Soelo Sound, whilst 13 TBHF followed just behind. The Germans safely negotiated the narrow channel and by nightfall were lying safely at anchor in Poka Bay, not far from Emden. The I FdT knew that the Russians would return in strength the following day and requested reinforcements in the form of the large boats of 4th Torpedoboat Half Flotilla. Rear Admiral Stark took the Russian units back to Kuiwast Roads and left the two destroyers Zabiyaka and Grom to patrol along the meridian of Raugen Buoy.
The troop landing in Tagga Bay had progressed quickly. An assault section had disembarked half on each side of the bay, at Terwassa and Cape Merris, to quickly neutralize the batteries at Cape Hundsort and Cape Ninnast. The 131st Infantry Regiment landed on the western shore and quickly advanced to the southwest. By noon they had occupied Kielkond and Papensholm and had forced the Russians to retire. They then continued to the southeast along the road towards Menust and Arensburg. The 255th Reserve Infantry Regiment also landed on the western shore and advanced to the southeast, reaching Irro by nightfall. The 17th and 138th Infantry Regiments were landed on the eastern shore and likewise advanced to the south and east. By nightfall the bridgehead had been extended and was secure.
Meanwhile the landing southwest of Pamerort had begun. The first report to be sent back to the flotilla was: ‘The inhabitants take us for Englishmen!’ Troops hurried to Cape Pamerort to take the supposed battery there, but to their surprise nothing was found. The cyclists of I Battalion mounted their bikes and set off in three directions: south towards Arensburg, southeast towards Tikka and towards Konnau (Kenno). Their baggage train followed. They met several cavalry units on outpost duty but these were quickly dealt with. Towards evening they encountered stronger opposition as they reached the main road running from Arensburg to Moon.
The II Cyclist Battalion was only disembarked towards 1000hrs and the companies immediately set off along the north coast towards the stone dam: towards dusk they had reached the area of Orrisar and the Kleinen Sound. The Russians only occupied single farm houses and were taken completely by surprise, so that between fifty and eighty men were taken captive. A small bridgehead was occupied at the entrance to the stone dam and patrols were dispatched over the dam towards Moon. They were forced to retreat under a lively fire.
Around midnight Hauptmann von Winterfeld arrived at Orrisar with his sturmkompanie (assault company) and took command of the cyclists. The troops were distributed as follows: three cyclist companies formed the line Saikla (1st Company) – Lewwal (3rd Company) – Neuenhof (2nd Company). The sturmkompanie was behind them as a reserve at Thomel and IV Company formed a bridgehead at the stone dam.
As day gave way to dusk on 12 October the following situation revealed itself: the surprise landings at Tagga Bay and Pamerort had been successful at comparatively low cost; the coastal batteries at Hundsort, Ninnast and Serro had been neutralized or captured; the transport fleet had entered Tagga Bay without loss and was engaged in disembarkation, whilst the anchorage was secure against submarines. The Soelo Sound had been reconnoitred and marked with buoys and good progress was being made with minesweeping in the Irben Straits. The air station at Papensholm had been captured intact. The 131st Infantry Regiment, reinforced by 17 Regt and 255R Regt, had captured the northwest corner of Ösel with a bridgehead that was deep enough to protect Tagga Bay against attack. Of the cyclist battalions that had been landed at Poka, I Battalion had advanced towards Arensburg and Tikka, whilst II Cyclist Battalion, together with Section Winterfeld and part of Sturmkompanie 18 had pushed eastwards along the coast and had only been halted in the Orrisar-Thomel area. Overall the Russian resistance had not been strong, except for that being encountered by Section Winterfeld, whose situation was becoming dangerous. It was very important for them to hold out as they had cut the Russian line of communication with Moon, but assistance for them would have to come from the sea. Therefore, the control of the Kassar Wiek was becoming increasingly important.