As the commander of Leros, Mascherpa led the resistance of the Italian forces stationed in the island. Mascherpa had about 8,320 men at his orders, three-quarters of them belonging to the Regia Marina, but only about one thousand of them were first-line troops, while the others mainly belonged to technical and service units and to the anti-aircraft defence. There were three coastal batteries armed with 152 mm guns, two with 120 mm guns, four with 102 mm guns, one with 90 mm guns and 14 with 76 mm guns, while the anti-aircraft defense had fourteen 102 mm guns, six 90 mm guns, thirty-eight 76 mm guns, three 37 mm machine guns, fifteen 20 mm machine guns and thirty-one 13,2 mm machine guns. At Mascherpa's disposal were also the destroyer "Euro", two motor torpedo boats, six MAS, two minelayers and several auxiliary minesweepers and other smaller vessels; the only aircraft available were seven CANT Z. 501 which however were soon destroyed by the Luftwaffe or transferred to Leipsoi.