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75the bridge. We were heading west, fast and on a direct course, asopposed to the usual anti-submarine zigzag. When questioned, themaster replied that he was following the one in front. All was revealedwhen a passing frigate fired a line with a message revealing that H-hourhad been declared some seven hours previously. Later conversation withthe master of the Europic Ferry revealed that they never received anorder. Final preparations began for the Paras who, very kindly andgenerously, agreed to six rounds of pistol ammunition for me and each ofmy officers. We never received any more during the whole campaign!.On 21 May, we rounded Fanning Head aboard the lead vessel andanchored in San Carlos Water. 2PARA disembarked. Our option to dolikewise was seriously compromised, in that we had no combat supplies,no ammunition, no equipment, no communications and, above all, nofunction. Thus we remained aboard the Norland to witness, at closehand, waves of bombing each day. We broke the monotony by mountingour aircraft GPMGs on oil drums in the anti-aircraft role, although thesewere of limited value, given that we had no tracer.To be honest, it was a little hot in San Carlos Water and the Norlandwas ordered back out to sea and relative safety. However, having just gotthere, we turned round to sail back in, just as the first attack wave of theday flew in.Reassured that someone was thinking of us and our safety %u2013 we had adefinite probability of four Chinook and no crews %u2013 we were crossdecked to one of the assault ships. Established back in the sound, Iutilised an army Scout helicopter to carry out a reconnaissance of apossible operating base for our Chinook. The small hamlet of Port SanCarlos was really the only option close to the proposed Harrier strip andfuel. I also visited Commander 3 Brigade to seek to sort out lines ofcommand and tasking. However, we were understandably of littleinterest at this stage of the campaign. Back on the assault ship we weredefinitely in the way. I thus negotiated for us to be helicoptered ashoreafter breakfast to the relative security of the hillside where we idled awaythe day watching the bombing until sunset when we returned to the shipfor dinner. Imagine the excitement when I was advised of the plans tobring the Atlantic Conveyor into San Carlos Water. At last, time forsome detailed planning to get people and equipment in the right numbersin the right place to give us the earliest possible operating capability. Wewere really buoyant.