Shift to new web domain

Dear Bloggers,
Mr. Subramanya Hegde, a young budding engineer,subscribed to get the NPS a new web domain.
The domain npsindia.com will be open to bloggers on our Independence Day.It has a smaller name so that bloggers could remember the same easily.
To begin with I shall transfer all the posts of this blog and, as I learn the tricks of the web designing trade, shall add new information for the benefit of the NPS members and other bloggers.
Wishing you all a happy Indian Independence Day.
WATCH OUT FOR npsindia.com
Cdr. (Retd) U.N Acharya
Secretary
Naval Philatelic Society

Dear Bloggers,
This is the extracts from Press Information Bureau news of 4 July,2010.
Sunday,4 July 2010 MUMBAI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM KOLKATA HYDERABAD CHENNAI BANGALORE AIZAWL

Sunday, July 04, 2010
Ministry of Defence

INAS 300 ‘WHITE TIGERS’ OF INDIAN NAVY COMPLETE FIFTY YEARS OF GLORIOUS SERVICE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

15:34 IST




Golden Jubilee celebrations of the front line Sea Harrier squadron of the Indian Navy, Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 300, will be ‘launched’ tomorrow 05th July 2010 at Goa with over a hundred White Tigers in attendance.

The events scheduled include a two day professional seminar on carrier borne fighter operations, a get together of the veterans of the Squadron and the release of a commemorative first day cover and postage stamp.

The seminar will see discussions on esoteric subjects of topical interest to a navy poised for growth in air craft carrier based power. Included are an aero medical paper that discusses the effects of ‘high G’ catapult launches and challenges of spatial orientation particularly in night operations over the sea, a paper that explores operating concepts for future indigenous aircraft carriers considering the various options viz Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL), Short Take-off but Arrested Landing (STOBAR) and Catapult Take-off but Arrested Landing (CATOBAR) these discussions are of particular interest as the Indian Navy today stands at a vital cross road regarding operating concept for its future indigenous carriers. One paper also discusses latest developments in fighter direction and control in an environment of Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.

Later, on 07 July 2010 the Department of Post will release a Commemorative Postage Stamp and a First Day Cover in a special ceremony with Dr SS Sidhu, the Governor of Goa, as the Chief Guest. Admiral Nirmal Verma, PVSM, AVSM, ADC, the Chief of the Naval Staff, along with a number of senior dignitaries and notable veterans such as Admiral RH Tahiliani and Admiral Arun Prakash will be present during the ceremonies.

The White Tigers have an illustrious history with many significant contributions over the past fifty years. On 18 May 1961 Lt Cdr RH Tahilhiani (later Admiral and Chief of Naval Staff) landed the first Seahawk, piloted by an Indian, onboard the INS Vikrant. Ever since, the Squadron has been at the fore front of naval operations as the premier front line fighter squadron of the Indian Navy. The 1971 India-Pakistan conflict saw the squadron’s Seahawk aircraft in action from INS Vikrant. When the conflict ended, INAS 300 had not suffered a single loss and won one Maha Vir Chakra, five Vir Chakras, one Naosena medal and four Mentions in Despatches.

In December 1983 the Sea Hawks were bid adieu and the squadron inducted the Sea Harrier FRS Mk 51 aircraft. Over the years these aircraft have proven themselves after having been eye-to-eye with the best in the business viz the magnificent carriers and the flying machines of the American, French and British navies. Recently, the ageing Sea Harriers were given a weapon and avionics upgrade to keep abreast with evolving technology. The upgraded Sea Harrier christened LUSH (Limited Upgrade Sea Harrier) is a shot in the arm for the Indian Naval aviation. The Sea Harriers, in their ‘new avatar’, are now a formidable force to reckon with. LUSH aircrafts, fitted with Beyond Visual Range missiles, are now operating in a highly dynamic BVR environment and can hold their own in combat.

The White Tigers have built an enviable reputation for themselves and continue to remain at the forefront of Indian Naval Aviation.



PVS

Information from NPS Members-continued from last post

Dear Bloggers,
Sorry, in my last post, I missed out publishing Cmde (Retd) Anil K Dhir's e-mails. They are reproduced now.

Information from NPS Members

Dear Bloggers,
The third NPS Life member to send in information on maritime news is Cmde (Retd) Anil K Dhir (LFM 009), residing in Gurgoan, near New Delhi. A founder member of the NPS, he was instrumental in providing all philatelic material for NAVPHILEX 79, entirely his and Cmde (Retd) S Shekar’s (LFM 016) , Founder Member and Chairman NPS from 1985 TO 1990) show. Anil Dhir was also instrumental in providing assistance to Sudarshan Dhir, the artist who designed the 1984 “President’s Review of the Fleet” four stamp se-tenant. Whilst I am in agreement with him that he had a great part to play in the design and the ultimate release of the se-tenant, which was adjudged the “Most Appropriately Designed” stamp, by an all India popularity poll conducted by the Philatelic Congress of India, I beg to disagree with him that he was the sole individual who conceptualised the se-tenant. In actual fact, three of us from the NPS, then Cdr Shekhar, Capt A.K Dhir and my self, a Cdr met Mr. Sudarshan Dhir in Mumbai, then Bombay, to design a stamp for the “President’s Review of the Indian Fleet. Mr. Sudarshan Dhir, the architect of the Hindustan Petroleum Logo, put forward a design of a stamp, quite similar to the bottom right stamp in the released se-tenant. It was I who, upon seeing the individual stamp, suggested that the oval be completed and four instead of one stamp be utilised to portray the three arms of the Navy (Surface, Air and Submarine) and an Indian Navy Air arm aircraft to make a four stamp se-tenant. This was accepted unanimously and I , being from the Visakhapatnam , on temporary duty, had to return with the job of finalising the design under the responsibility of Cdr Shekhar and Capt A.K Dhir, who wee stationed in Mumbai. So much for publicity stealing, as, since 1984, this misinformation has been published in many publications of the Navy as well as those outside. The latest e-mail from Cmde (Retd) A.K Dhir, further, emphasises the point I have just made. Anil Dhir, however, has been singularly instrumental in the design/release of the Naval Dockyard stamp in 1986 and the Maritime Heritage stamps in 1998.
I have reproduced two photographs taken by him. His e-mails give a detailed account of the significance of the photographs and the sentiments that Anil Dhir attaches to the submarines depicted there in. A Naval air- electrical engineer and a submariner, Anil Dhir is an ardent Maritime Historian and philatelist.

Information from NPS Members

Dear Bloggers,
In my last post, owing to lack of full knowledge on how the scams or photos get adjusted in a post, referred the scans as if two images are placed next to each other rather than top to bottom. Bloggers can discern the placement of scans as top to bottom .Accordingly the news paper cutting is the top scan and 4 pages of the Pakistani Publicity folder as the next 4 scans from top to bottom. I apologise for this error.

Mr. D Hemchandra Rao has sent in four souvenir cards, shown above, commemorating the four stamps issued on Indian Coast Guard on 12 August 2008. Whilst I admire his tenacity in getting valid photographs for his cards, I regret it can not meet the FIP Criterion on Maximum cards as the size he has chosen does not conform to FIP Specifications.
Discussion on Maxim Cards (Courtesy RAINBOW STAMPNEWS JULY 2010)
DH Rao, Chennai
Dear Ms Jyoti,
Regarding the nice article in your Rainbow News on "MAXCARDS".I would like to share few thoughts on the subject. I and Cdr Acharya are SHIP buffs, and so create our own max cards with ship theme. However, there are lot of grey patches on this subject .Every body agrees on One Thing - namely the maximum concordance between stamp, picture card and cancellation. It is clear that picture shall not be a replica of the stamp itself -eg GB PHQ cards.Now what is left is the cancellation. Let us analyse this with the three or four senior philatelists who provided good ,basic information on your news letter.emember, the Earliest Max Card created [by default] was with a pyramid picture card posted in Egypt with a Def stamp showing the famous pyramid and affixed on the picture side and posted at that Tourist spot.Remember the date was Not the First Day of Issue of stamp.The Tourist Spot Date cancellation beautifully tied the picture card with the Pyramid and the stamp also showing pyramid.
In my opinion there is no sanctity of First day Cancellation at least in India.
Most of the time we do not get stamps on the day of issue. To site an example, we are yet to get Udagamandalam Post Office Stamp. Then how to get First Day Cancellation from that PO., Further, Boucher issued along with the stamp are not very clear about many things. They are mostly silent on the exact post office for the Stamp Issued. So here comes the real research. One has to depend on external sources for the correct Picture and Pace for the stamp issued. Most often, no commercial picture cards are available in India. So, Philatelists like me, who want 100% correct Place Cancellation as well as Good Pictures Cards, create them ourselves.
During International Fleet Review at Mumbai and Fleet Review at Visakhapattinam ,Cdr Acharya and myself created beautiful cards with ships and got them cancelled at respective places. One caution -always it is not easy to convince the postmaster of the post office concerned, who will insist on Rs6/-, as he interprets a Picture Card to a "Printed Card",which attracts Rs6/- as postage. Most of the respected postmasters in India Post post offices simply do not know what is a maxim card. Why, even some officers don’t know this.
The main reason for this rejoinder is about proper PLACE Cancellation vis a vis Any Post Office First Day Cancellation. Let me explain this with some of the recent stamps - to have the maximum concordance of cancellation one must have :- FOR
Horses - Kathiavari at Kuvada bo,Marwari at Marwar JnHO,,Zanskari at Leh HO,Manipuri at Imphal GPO,
Textiles- Kalamkari at Sri Kalahasti, Banaras Brocade at Varanasi,Conjeevaram silk at Kancheepuram and Apa Tani at Ziro MDG in Arunachal Pradesh.
Jain Temples - Ranakpur at Ranakpur, Dilwara at Abu,
North East Animals - Shillong GPO,
Silent Valley at Mukhaly BO, Holy Cross Church at Madayikonam,Sacred Heart Church at Pondicherry.
The list goes on and on. Please let me know, how many seniors has these and other cancelled cards.
I would be most happy to interact with them, so I can enrich myself on the subject.
I am based at Chennai & Specializes on ships, lighthouses and explorers.
I Wish you all the best.
D H Rao
e-mail - dhrao1939@yahoo.com, mob - 0 9840870172

Information from NPS Members

Dear bloggers,
At the outset, I would like to apologise to all of use for my silence on the blog for over 10 weeks. My dear friend, and NPS life member No LFM 016, Mr Sekhar Chakrabarthi, from Kolkota, has on more than one occasion ,reminded me to update the blog, but, some how I was unable to heed his request. I have ,absolutely,no excuse for not updating the blog but for some personal reasons which kept me preoccupied with other work. I would like to re-irerate that the blog to which I, as incumbent Secretary of the Naval Philatelic Society (NPS), contribute my time, knowledge, enthusiasm and effort is ,primary, meant for NPS members, who ,by subscribing for membership, deserve some thing in return from the NPS. Whilst other bloggers are welcome to access the information as a bonus, I would appreciate if they sought membership of NPS too. Presently, the blog is being run by me only,but very energetic members like Sekhar Chakrabathi (LFM 16), Cmde (Retd) Anil Dhir (LFM 9) and our present Chairman NPS, Mr.D Hemchandra Rao have sent me material for the benefit of all ship stamp lovers so that the blog is updated with maritime information. I owe my sincere gratitiude to these members and I hope that, by my updating at the first instance, the blog with their contribution would encourage them to continue with their efforts to further popularise this blog of ours.
I shall begin with the information sent by Mr. Sekhar Chakrabarthi.
When Mr. Chakrabarthi received this piece of news (Scan on top row left), he searched through his large philatelic collection to unearth the above shown Publicity folder (Scan top row right, middle row left and right, bottom row left and right).
Both, Chakrabarthi and I agree that the contents of the publicity folder,in so far as the achievements of the Pakistani armed forces in the Indo –Pak War 1965 is concerned, it is all hogwash. INS BRAHMAPUTRA was never touched and continued to serve the Indian Navy well beyond 1965, when the Pakistani postal authorities, through their publicity folder claimed it was sunk by PNS Ghazi. PNS Ghazi , was sunk, only history will tell by whom, on 3rd Dec, 1971 and is still lying below the sea surface off Waltair beach on the eastern coast of India.

philatelic tribute to hermes/viraat 1

PHILATELIC TRIBUTE TO HERMES/VIRAAT

MORE ON VIRAAT

INS VIRAAT R 22

R 22 Viraat Class
HMS Centaur Class (UK)
Aircraft Carrier
In 1985, the second hand, 1953 vintage, British aircraft carrier HMS HERMES, became available for acquisition. It had already been operating Sea Harriers. After Government approved its acquisition and refit, it was commissioned as INS VIRAAT on 12 May 1987. After Vikrant, the second aircraft carrier INS Viraat was commissioned in the Indian Navy with great hopes.
The ship is all set to meet future challenges in the Indian Ocean zone with her operational prowess matching her name. Viraat is fitted with a ‘ski jump’ enabling the Sea Harrier VSTOL jump jets to take off from the flight deck with greater payload. The carrier would also have Sea King helicopters embarked for providing anti-submarine cover. The standard displacement of INS Viraat is 28, 500 tons and she is propelled by steam turbines with 76,000 shaft horsepower.
This ship was originally as a Royal Navy light fleet carrier named the HMS Hermes. It is currently India's only aircraft carrier. While in the Royal Navy the ship served in a variety of functions including service as a light fleet carrier, an ASW carrier and as a commando carrier. The ship was converted to a VSTOL carrier in 1980 and still has a ski-jump at the bow.
The Indian carrier Viraat has a somewhat convoluted design and service history. Originally HMS Hermes, she was laid down in 1944 as one of the Royal Navy's 'Centaur' class of light fleet carriers. Incomplete at the end of World War II, the vessel remained on the stocks for a decade. New developments in carrier design meant that the vessel which entered service in the late 1950s was equipped with an angled flight deck. In 1971 the Hermes was recommissioned as a commando carrier, and then in the late 1970s as an interim V/STOL carrier. After serving as the flagship of the Royal Navy's task force during the Falklands war, the Hermes was sold to India in May 1986.
The ship was purchased by India in 1986, the carrier, now renamed Viraat, was commissioned-into the Indian Navy in 1987. The current air group includes 12 or 18 Sea Harrier V/STOL fighters and seven or a eight Sea King or Kamov 'Hormone' ASW helicopters. In emergencies, the Viraat can operate up to 30 Harriers. At present, the INS Viraat carries a complement of Sea Harrier aircraft, which are wired for Sea Eagle Anti-Ship Missiles (ASMs) and Matra 550 Magic missiles and various choppers like the Sea King for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Search-And-Rescue (SAR) and transport. It is fitted by the "Barak" missile point defense system made by Israel.
The Viraat would need to be replaced by 2010 due to the vessel's extreme age. It completed a major refit at Cochin Shipyards from 1999 through April 2001. This refit extended the ship's service life until 2010 and included upgrades to the ship's propulsion systems, its radar suite, communications systems, elevator upgrades, and new weapon systems.
Flagship of the Indian Navy, INS Viraat (R-22) put into major refit in late 2003 and took more than a year to become fighting fit again. The 45-year-old carrier was in dry-dock at Kochi for most of the year. Elaborate repairs and refitting had to be carried out on India's lone aircraft carrier in dry dock to keep it going. The consolation is that the Barak missile defence system was installed and validated on Viraat as it now returns to service. The 23,900-ton vessel had to be tugged back to dry dock for a rehab barely two years after an extensive life-extension, which was intended to give it a 10-year lease of life. The Viraat was unavailable to the Navy for two years during this period. In November 2004 INS Viraat returned to operational service after a year-long repairs. Although sea-trials and flying operations had been carried out between the end of 2004 and early 2005, the carriers first full scale naval exercise was however only conducted on March 27, 2005, off the coast of Mumbai.
As of 2005 it was reported that the INS Viraat would be retired in the next four years, before 2010. In November 2007, with indications of delay in the delivery of aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia, a top official said the Indian Navy will carry out a "normal" refurbishment of INS Viraat to extend its life. "There is a slippage of around one to one-and-half years in the delivery of Gorshkov due to various reasons. Virat has life in it and we will be carrying out a year-long refit starting early next year so that the ship is healthy till Gorshkov comes," Flag Officer, Commanding-in-chief Western Naval command J S Bedi said. On 05 January 2007, Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta was reported to have said that INS Viraat would steam on for another seven years, until 2013.
Viraat moved into Cochin Shipyard's dry dock late in 2008 to undergo the mandatory maintenance refit and repair and it was planned to stay there until the end of June 2009. On 12 May 2009, INS Viraat would complete 23 years of its service with the Indian Navy. Taking into account its British Royal Navy service in its earlier avatar as HMS Hermes, the warship will complete 50 years on 18 November 2009.
In 2009 there were reports that, after the current round of repairs was concluded, India might keep the aircraft carrier in service until 2015. By then, thewarship would have completed 55 years of service, over twice its initially estimated sailing life of 25 years. At that time the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) seemed likely to be fully operational sometime in 2015, which was reason to keep INS Viraat operational untill then, according to un-named Navy officers.

HMS HERMES INS VIRAAT

HMS Hermes (R12)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Career (United Kingdom)
Builder: Vickers-Armstrong

Laid down: 21 June 1944
Launched: 16 February 1953
Commissioned: 25 November 1959
Decommissioned: N/A
Struck: 1985
Homeport: HMNB Portsmouth

Fate: Sold to India in 1986. Active in service as INS Viraat

Notes: Pennant = R12,




General characteristics
Displacement: 23,000 tonnes standard 2; 28,000 tonnes Full Load
Length: 236.14 m
Beam: 45.10 m
Draught: 27.8 ft (8.5 m)
Propulsion: 2 Parson turbines, 76,000 shp (57 MW)
Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)
Range: 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (13,000 km at 33 km/h)
Complement: 2,100
Armament: 10 × 40 mm Bofors
Aircraft carried: Up to 1970:12 Sea Vixens, 7 Buccaneers, 5 Gannets and 6 Wessex
After 1980: up to 28 Sea Harriers

HMS Hermes (R12) was a Centaur-class British aircraft carrier, the last of the postwar conventional aircraft carriers commissioned into the Royal Navy.
• 1 Construction and modifications
• 2 Operations
o 2.1 Proposed transfer to Australia
o 2.2 Proposed International Fleet
o 2.3 Falklands War
o 2.4 Viraat
• 3 Complement
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Construction and modifications
She was laid down by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness during WW II as HMS Elephant. Construction was suspended in 1945 but work was resumed in 1952 to clear the slipway and the hull was launched on 16 February 1953. The vessel remained unfinished until 1957, when she entered service on 18 November 1959 as HMS Hermes after extensive modifications which included installation of a massive Type 984 'searchlight' 3D radar.
Operations
Proposed transfer to Australia
A 1966 review indicating that Hermes was surplus to operational requirements and was offered to the Royal Australian Navy as a replacement for HMAS Melbourne. In 1968, Hermes took part in a combined exercise with the RAN, during which the carrier was visited by senior RAN officers and Australian government officials, while RAN Skyhawks and Trackers practiced landings on the larger carrier.[1] The offer was turned down due to operating and manpower costs.
Proposed International Fleet
Hermes served as one of four Royal Navy strike carriers mainly in the Indian Ocean area until 1970. She could have seen action against the Egyptians when Egypt closed off the Strait of Tiran to Israeli shipping in May 1967. The UK and US contemplated forming an international fleet to open the strait with force if necessary,[2] but the idea never materialised.
Final CATOBAR air wing 1968-1970[3]
• 801 sqn. 7 Buccaneer S2 Strike
• 893 sqn. 12 Sea Vixen FAW2 All-Weather Fighter
• 849 sqn. A flt. 4 Gannet AEW3 Airborne Early Warning
• 849 sqn. 1 Gannet COD4 Carrier Onboard Delivery
• 814 sqn. 5 Wessex HAS3 Anti-Submarine Warfare
• Ships Flight 1 Wessex HAS1 Search and Rescue
Refitted at Portsmouth 1980 to June 1981, 12-degree ski-jump and facilities for operating Sea Harriers were added.
• 800 sqn. 8 Sea Harrier FRS1 Fighter
• 826 sqn. 9 Sea King HAS5 ASW
Falklands War
Hermes was due to be decommissioned in 1982 after a defence review by the British government, but when the Falklands War broke out, she was made the flagship of the British forces, setting sail for the South Atlantic just three days after the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands. Hermes carried as many as 26 BAe Sea Harrier FRS.Mk.1 jets of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, Harrier GR.Mk.3 4 jets of the Royal Air Force, and 10 Sea King MK4s and MK5s as well as a troop of Special Air Service (SAS) and Royal Marines. As she was the RN's largest carrier, she was considered too valuable to risk close into the Falklands, due to the possibility of Argentinian AF attacks. Her Harriers therefore operated at the limit of their endurance radius, but were very successful in keeping the enemy aircraft at bay. After her return home from the Falklands conflict Hermes entered into a much needed 4 month refit until November 1982. She then took part in NATO exercises in the North Atlantic, and the Med Sea as a Commando Carrier. In the autumn of 1983 she took part in her last exercise, Ocean Safari, where she reverted back to a strike carrier role, embarking 12 Sea Harriers, 10 RAF Harrier GR3s and 10 Sea King MK5s. After this exercise she returned to the UK for a minor refit and into maintain reserve in February 1984.
In 1983, when the proposed sale of HMS Invincible to the Royal Australian Navy was cancelled following the Falklands War, an offer was made to sell Hermes and a squadron of Sea Harriers to Australia. However the new Hawke government decided against purchasing a replacement for HMAS Melbourne.[4]
Viraat
She served with the Royal Navy until 12 April 1984. She was paid off in 1985 and in April 1986 she was refitted and sold to India and recommissioned as the INS Viraat in 1989.

HMS Hermes in 1982
Complement
Her typical aircraft complement in the late 1960s consisted of 12 Sea Vixen FAW2s, 7 Buccaneer S2s, 4 Gannet AEW3s, 1 Gannet COD4, 5 Wessex HAS3s and 1 Wessex HAS1. She was recommissioned as a commando carrier in 1973, as an ASW carrier in 1976 (carrying around 20 or so Sea King and Wessex helicopters), and then as a V/STOL carrier in 1981. Hermes initial complement of aircraft as a V/STOL carrier was 5 Harriers and 12 Sea King helicopters, though she had the capacity for up to a total of 37 aircraft.
References
1. Hobbs, Commander David (October 2007). "HMAS Melbourne (II) - 25 Years On". The Navy 69 (4): 5–9. ISSN 1332-6231.
2. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/johnsonlb/xix/28055.htm The international naval task force proposal in May 1967
3. http://www.btinternet.com/~a.c.walton/navy/rn-cv3.html
4. http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-27.

• Maritimequest HMS Hermes photo gallery

[hide]
v • d • e
Centaur-class aircraft carrier


Royal Navy
Albion • Bulwark • Centaur • Hermes


Indian Navy
Viraat (ex-HMS Hermes)


List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

HMS HERMES

A special cover is being sposored by me on the occasion of NATIONAL MARITME DAY, on 5th April 2010. The INDIA POST will issue a special cancellation featuring a line sketch of s.s. Loyalty, the first ship of Scindia Steam Navigation Company Ltd. which sailed from Mumbai (then Bombay) for Europe and U.K., on 5th April, 1919 carrying passengers,there by reviving the Indian Maritime Heritage, destroyed by the british who ruled India for two centuries.
Soft launch. Covers for NPS LIFE MEMBERS- 1 cover free, additional covers Rs 15/- inclusive of ordinary postage and handling. Covers to public- Rs. 25/- inclusive of ordinary postage and handling.
Covers can be obtained through mail order from Cdr (retd) U.N Acharya, Flat B, Deep Apartments, 5th cross, Atmananda Colony, Bangalore 560032.

Above : Collossal Class Aircraft Carriers. The Brazil stamp depicts Minas Gerais (A11) ex HMS VENGEANCE.

This is the last in the series on VIKRANT for ther time being. Watch out for a series on INS VIRAAT.

Colossus class aircraft carrier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HMS Triumph, Colossus class carrier. Planes on her deck include Supermarine Seafires, forward, and Fairey Fireflys aft.

Class overview
Builders:
Vickers ArmstrongSwan HunterCammell LairdHarland & WolffAlexander Stephens and SonsHawthorn LeslieFairfield
Operators:
Argentine Navy
Royal Australian Navy
Brazilian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
French Navy
Royal Netherlands Navy
Royal Navy
In commission:
16 December 1944 – 16 October 2001
Completed:
10
General characteristics
Displacement:
13,400 tons (13,600 t)
Length:
695 ft (211.8 m)
Beam:
80 ft (24.4 m)
Draught:
23.5 ft (7.2 m)
Propulsion:
Steam Turbines (4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared turbines); 40,000 shp
Speed:
25 knots (46 km/h)
Range:
12,000 nmi at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:
1,300 (including air group)
Armament:
30 x Bofors 40 mm guns
Aircraft carried:
48 aircraft
Aviation facilities:
Axial flight deckSingle main hangar
The Colossus class aircraft carriers were a class of Royal Navy light aircraft carriers. A total of sixteen ships were foreseen.
Two ships of the Colossus class (HMS Perseus and Pioneer) were tailored for aircraft maintenance rather than combat duty. Another five were suspended, to be completed later as Majestic class carriers. A sixth converted Majestic, the Leviathan, was not completed at all. All five Majestics were sold to Commonwealth or friendly navies.
Contents
1 Design
2 List of ships
Design
The sinking, in December 1941, of the HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse by land-based aircraft made clear the vulnerability of unsupported capital ships to air attack, and demonstrated the urgent need for a larger naval air arm.
At the start of the war, the Royal Navy operated both escort aircraft carriers and fleet aircraft carriers. However, escort carriers were designed solely for defensive convoy work and were of little use for in an offensive role. Their slow speed and small size ruled them out as platforms for high-performance fighter aircraft. On the other hand, the expensive fleet carriers were in short supply and would take too long to build. The conversion of merchant ships was considered for a time, but it was rejected because of the need for transport vessels.

The Colossus class emerged as an expedient solution to this critical shortage of combat aircraft carriers. These ships were based on the Illustrious class design, but reduced in size, and intended to be available within two years. To expedite construction, the hull of theColossus class was built to commercial scantlings up to the hangar deck.
The first four Colossus carriers were completed in December 1944 and were immediately dispatched to the Far East. None of the ships saw action. The Colossus class ships did not possess the armoured flight decks that had effectively protected the Illustrious class fleet carriers against kamikaze attacks during Operation Iceberg. After the Second World War, the class provided a cheap way of projecting the Royal Navy's presence. Some of the ships saw service in the Korean Conflict. Less costly to operate than fleet carriers, they carried almost as many aircraft. Many ships were sold to foreign navies and continued to serve into the 1990s.
List of ships
Colossus—first loaned, then sold, to France. Renamed Arromanches. Broken up in 1978.
Glory—broken up in 1961.
Ocean—broken up in 1962.
Perseus—originally designated Edgar, but rechristened Perseus upon commission in 1945. Broken up in 1958.
Pioneer—originally the Ethalion; later, the Mars. Finally renamed Pioneer. Broken up in 1954.
Theseus—broken up in 1962.
Triumph—broken up in 1981.
Venerable—sold to the Netherlands in 1948 and renamed Karel Doorman II. Resold to Argentina and renamed Vienticinco de Mayo. Towed to India as of 2006 and believed to have been scrapped.
Vengeance—served with the Royal Australian Navy from 1953–1955. Sold to Brazil in 1956 and renamed Minas Gerais. Decommissioned in 2001. Broken up in 2004.
Warrior—loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy, returned to the UK in 1956 and sold to Argentina to be renamed Independencia in 1958. Broken up in the 1970s.
Royal Navy
Colossus · Glory · Ocean · Perseus · Pioneer · Theseus · Triumph · Venerable · Vengeance · Warrior
Argentine Navy
Independencia (ex-Warrior) · Veinticinco de Mayo (ex-Venerable)
Royal Australian Navy
Vengeance
Brazilian Navy
Minas Gerais (ex-Vengeance)
Royal Canadian Navy
Warrior
French Navy
Arromanches (ex-Colossus)
Royal Netherlands Navy
Karel Doorman (ex-Venerable)
List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy

Majestic class aircraft carrier
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Class overview
Builders:
Harland and WolffHM Dockyard DevonportSwan HunterVickers-Armstrongs
Operators:
Royal Australian NavyRoyal Canadian NavyIndian Navy
Preceded by:
Colossus class
Succeeded by:
Centaur class
Built:
1942–1961
Planned:
6
Completed:
5
Cancelled:
1 (scrapped prior to completion)
Preserved:
1 (museum ship)
General characteristics (original design)
Type:
Light fleet carrier
Displacement:
14,224 tons standard, 18,085 tons at full load
Length:
695 ft (212 m)
Beam:
80 ft (24 m)
Draught:
23.5 ft (7.2 m)
Propulsion:
4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines; 40,000 shp
Speed:
25 knots (46 km/h)
Range:
12,000 nmiles at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement:
1,200 (including air group)
Armament:
25 × Bofors 40 mm guns
Aircraft carried:
37 aircraft of various types
Notes:
Individual ships' characteristics vary greatly depending on the time major construction resumed, the operating navy, and the intended role of the ship
The Majestic class was a ship class of six light fleet aircraft carriers constructed for the Royal Navy, but serving in the Royal Australian Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, and Indian Navy.
Contents
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1 Design
2 Construction and acquisition
3 Ships
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links
Design
The Majestic class was conceived as a modified version of the Colossus class carrier, incorporating improvements in flight deck design and habitability.[1] Majestic and Colossus carriers were almost identical in hull design and both were considered subclasses of the "1942 design" light aircraft carrier program.[2] These carriers were intended to be "disposable warships": they were to be operated during World War II and scrapped at the end of hostilities or within three years of entering service.[3]
Six ships were ordered: Hercules, Leviathan, Magnificent, Majestic, Powerful, and Terrible. These six ships replaced the cancelled final six Colossus class carriers.
Construction and acquisition
The six carriers were built by four shipyards: Harland and Wolff, HM Dockyard Devonport, Swan Hunter, and Vickers-Armstrongs. Construction of the ships began in 1942 or 1943, and they were launched during 1944 and 1945, but following the end of World War II, the Admiralty ordered the suspension of many British shipbuilding projects, including the fitting out of the six Majestics.[1]
Majestic and Terrible were purchased by the Royal Australian Navy in June 1947 for the combined cost of AU£2.75 million, plus stores, fuel, and ammunition.[1][4] As Terrible was the closer of the two ships to completion, construction was finished without modification, and she was commissioned into the RAN on December 16, 1948 as HMAS Sydney.[1] Work progressed on Majestic at a slower rate, as she was to be upgraded with the latest technology and equipment, including an angled flight deck, steam catapult, and mirror landing aid.[5] Majestic was completed and commissioned into the RAN as HMAS Melbourne on 28 October 1955.[6]
The Royal Canadian Navy acquired Magnificent (which was the only ship to retain her original name) after the war, and commissioned her April 7 1948. In 1952, the RCN purchased Powerful, which was upgraded along similar lines to Majestic/Melbourne. Powerful was renamed HMCS Bonaventure and commissioned into the RCN in January 17, 1957, replacing her near-sister ship.
Hercules was also upgraded along the lines of Majestic/Melbourne. She was sold to the Indian Navy in 1957, who commissioned her as INS Vikrant in 1961.
Leviathan was the only ship of the class not to be completed. In 1968, her boilers were removed and used to repair those destroyed in a fire aboard ARA Veinticinco de Mayo, a Colossus class carrier acquired by the Armada of the Argentine Republic, and she was scrapped without ever being commissioned later in the year.

Ships
Hercules
She was launched in 1945, but was neglected for 10 years until bought by India. She was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1961, being named INS Vikrant. Decommissioned in 1997 and converted into a museum ship, Vikrant is the only World War II-era British-built carrier to be preserved after decommissioning.
Leviathan
She was launched in 1945, though never completed or commissioned. Her boilers were removed to repair ARA Veinticinco de Mayo in 1968, and she was scrapped later that year.
Magnificent
She was launched in November 1944 and commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy in 1948. She was returned to the Royal Navy June 14, 1957, who held her in reserve until 1965, when she was struck from records and broken up for scrap in Faslane, Scotland.
Majestic
She was launched in 1945, and sold to Australia in 1947. Majestic was heavily upgraded, and became the third ship in the world to be constructed with an angled flight deck and steam catapult.[7] The ship was renamed HMAS Melbourne and commissioned into service in 1955. During her career, Melbourne had minimal, non-combat roles in the major conflicts of the era, but was involved in two major peacetime accidents: colliding with and sinking HMAS Voyager in 1964 and USS Frank E. Evans in 1969. She was decommissioned in 1982, and sold to China for scrap in 1985. Instead of scrapping Melbourne, the People's Liberation Army Navy studied the carrier and used her to train pilots.
Powerful
She was launched in 1945, and was purchased by Canada in 1952 to be upgraded to a similar standard to Majestic. She was renamed HMCS Bonaventure and commissioned into RCN service in January 1957, to replace sister ship HMCS Magnificent that was exchanged for the Colossus class carrier HMCS Warrior in 1948. She was decommissioned in 1970, and was scrapped in Taiwan in 1971.
Terrible
She was launched in 1944, and was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy, under the name of HMAS Sydney in 1948. She was decommissioned in 1958, recommissioned as a fast troop transport in 1962. Sydney participated in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. She was decommissioned for the second time in 1973, sold to a South Korean steel mill in 1975, and broken up for scrap.

On the top is the franking meter of the Intergrated Defence Head-Quarters- Ministry of Defence NAVY.

It reads thus:

"FOR THE PHYSICALLY FIT

MENTALLY TOUGH"

Indian male Philatelists (age 19 1/2 to 25 years-born between 2nd Jan 1986 and 1st July 1991) who can stand up to this requirement, and want to make a career as an officer in the Indian navy , can access:-

http://www.nausena-bharti.nic.in/

for further details.

This is how we blow our trumpet.
A TRIBUTE TO INDIAN NAVY BAND
You have to search really hard to find better and more spirited musicians, than the men of the Indian Navy Band. Here they are performing in front of INDIA GATE New Delhi.

The NAVAL ENSIGN flies high as always, from the quarter deck of I.N.S VIKRANT, when in commission.

INIAN HOCKEY TEAM WOULD HAVE PERFORMED BETTER IF:
They had practiced on the deck of an aircraft carrier, whilst the carrier was sailing on high seas, as the brave sailors on board INS VIKRANT did whilst the ship was in commission.