The attacking Nationalist forces underestimated the speed and size of the Communist response. Although the Nationalist order of battle included three divisions, none of them were full strength, and the elite paratrooper division comprised two brigades totaling only 2,000 men, which was the usual strength of a single brigade. Furthermore, due to the sinking of three landing ships at the port and the destruction of the port by enemy heavy mortar fire, most landing forces became light infantry without firepower superior to that of their opponents. This problem was further compounded by the incorrect use of the paratroopers by ordering them to attack the strongly fortified Communist positions at Eight Feet Gate Pier, resulting in more than 500 paratroopers killed, a staggering 25% of the total paratroop force devoted to the campaign. After losing their superiority in firepower with the destruction of their heavy weapons at the port, the Nationalists lost their superiority in numbers as the Communists reinforced their garrison from the mainland.