 50 Commando, assisted by a 24-man detachment of Royal Marines to establish a beachhead on the island, to be followed 24-hours later by an army unit to consolidate the British position.On 24 February the commandos, transported by the destroyers and and the marines, on the gunboat , sailed from Suda Bay.The second force, a company of Sherwood Foresters on board the armed yacht , escorted by the light cruisers and , awaited developments in Cyprus.