Little aid from Germany could penetrate the British naval blockade to alleviate the enormous supply deficiencies facing Lettow-Vorbeck's men in the area, and only two ships succeeded in running the blockade and reaching the colony. On 14 April 1915, the freighter "Kronborg" arrived off Tanga at Manza Bay after a two month journey from Wilhelmshaven, and was promptly attacked by the British cruiser HMS "Hyacinth". Fortunately for the Germans, "Kronborg" was scuttled by her captain to avoid a coal fire after repeated hits were scored by the British cruiser, and the ship settled in shallow water. Nearly the entire cargo could then be salvaged. However when the steamer "Marie von Stettin" arrived south of Lindi on 17 March 1916, its cargo of 1,500 tons was of only very modest help to Lettow-Vorbeck's forces.