tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54722999959304388542023-11-15T22:40:57.594-08:00Naval Philatelic Society (India)Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-82084281022528616562010-08-12T05:55:00.000-07:002010-08-12T06:04:24.900-07:00Shift to new web domainDear Bloggers,<br />Mr. Subramanya Hegde, a young budding engineer,subscribed to get the NPS a new web domain.<br />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.<br />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.<br />Wishing you all a happy Indian Independence Day.<br />WATCH OUT FOR npsindia.com<br />Cdr. (Retd) U.N Acharya<br />Secretary<br />Naval Philatelic SocietyNaval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-20875326587942536992010-07-04T09:56:00.000-07:002010-07-04T09:57:55.914-07:00Dear Bloggers,<br />This is the extracts from Press Information Bureau news of 4 July,2010.<br />Sunday,4 July 2010 MUMBAI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM KOLKATA HYDERABAD CHENNAI BANGALORE AIZAWL <br /> <br />Sunday, July 04, 2010 <br /> Ministry of Defence <br /> <br />INAS 300 ‘WHITE TIGERS’ OF INDIAN NAVY COMPLETE FIFTY YEARS OF GLORIOUS SERVICE <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /> <br /> 15:34 IST <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br /> 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.<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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.<br /><br />The White Tigers have built an enviable reputation for themselves and continue to remain at the forefront of Indian Naval Aviation.<br /><br /> <br /><br />PVSNaval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-58818645089554322402010-07-03T23:42:00.000-07:002010-07-03T23:46:13.836-07:00Information from NPS Members-continued from last post<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdVtdhztFJAGLRoVuIdSksNSuTTV5K5Yua3Vy2QIWpm-OFcYNAtnEH9Sk7AZ9R3hDvHTcA4j8quc6nznUVxA56kU1Ed7AWUTePXg2xnm1zSXjtnNxzP7ZbVLSPLUYbHNLUNwzm324GIw/s1600/scan0006.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 250px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489938373147216706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdVtdhztFJAGLRoVuIdSksNSuTTV5K5Yua3Vy2QIWpm-OFcYNAtnEH9Sk7AZ9R3hDvHTcA4j8quc6nznUVxA56kU1Ed7AWUTePXg2xnm1zSXjtnNxzP7ZbVLSPLUYbHNLUNwzm324GIw/s320/scan0006.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSaL2gMMlRhh8SLvQ_tEDLWcuOQUXAbznmsI_9nIrHNuvxnasML_xnm8_dMIGOeuR5JWIx7GQy3iHuocNVoMJrNSvONZCiIai1kTrVn7rfNx0piebEC_gCPKqcMO61p9XOHHXxF5HYY8/s1600/scan0007.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 308px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489938166234417842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSaL2gMMlRhh8SLvQ_tEDLWcuOQUXAbznmsI_9nIrHNuvxnasML_xnm8_dMIGOeuR5JWIx7GQy3iHuocNVoMJrNSvONZCiIai1kTrVn7rfNx0piebEC_gCPKqcMO61p9XOHHXxF5HYY8/s320/scan0007.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Dear Bloggers,<br />Sorry, in my last post, I missed out publishing Cmde (Retd) Anil K Dhir's e-mails. They are reproduced now.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-42180083223369708312010-07-03T22:51:00.000-07:002010-07-03T23:35:20.088-07:00Information from NPS Members<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM65rhF-dnzcfVB44-1vwKkL4qL7NGc4-Qtp3u0UA7YiTZu7u_5vArFhmXzk-Xke7aMvgdF5B4yV_Zome54DHfte-i5XjB4sek45n-6K_GWrxBnytPWD0MBR9oakn5-Ux0-vzkPSPinfc/s1600/AKD+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489925328193657234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM65rhF-dnzcfVB44-1vwKkL4qL7NGc4-Qtp3u0UA7YiTZu7u_5vArFhmXzk-Xke7aMvgdF5B4yV_Zome54DHfte-i5XjB4sek45n-6K_GWrxBnytPWD0MBR9oakn5-Ux0-vzkPSPinfc/s320/AKD+1.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoVmrSXo4xm6bwCuXvzIImQUaXxBueTzbs65M3iznz24yUMcY3L3lHaNPyympOzQJGg8Bc45pAxB1HL_-WY8LtzWRndiVk79TqeH95dXH1FoL6yF6na70_hHIKgueLpjfq0U1BimmjwQ/s1600/AKD+2.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489925121225798226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaoVmrSXo4xm6bwCuXvzIImQUaXxBueTzbs65M3iznz24yUMcY3L3lHaNPyympOzQJGg8Bc45pAxB1HL_-WY8LtzWRndiVk79TqeH95dXH1FoL6yF6na70_hHIKgueLpjfq0U1BimmjwQ/s320/AKD+2.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOmVNMo79g5Wqcj2VH6Y-ZrH11TBwQSozRn9Ot6UepiKJtqHCLqryc2hn8Ze4p0J7UHDIa_-vyYCtJvVLA-k-lyfW9tseIiep9MVzTAdiBVxOT1vz469eK1gPjBDv9dcBe3XNJ_ghnuM/s1600/1984.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 247px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489924864106236306" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOmVNMo79g5Wqcj2VH6Y-ZrH11TBwQSozRn9Ot6UepiKJtqHCLqryc2hn8Ze4p0J7UHDIa_-vyYCtJvVLA-k-lyfW9tseIiep9MVzTAdiBVxOT1vz469eK1gPjBDv9dcBe3XNJ_ghnuM/s320/1984.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Dear Bloggers,<br />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. <br />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.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-32374856111658416062010-07-03T22:35:00.000-07:002010-07-03T22:47:23.014-07:00Information from NPS Members<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJCJAmxOYcXqu4AlIH1OSkxJVHqvDY263TN8OmkZOaiEVK-HYb8-NytDjEjGcVW2O984kZ9aM46TI_3YjcDNVDiyJsT59kFH1Y2iwGrKsqfM6m7XaWKQLVJynwDky6pMxoA1bfMEfSeY/s1600/DHRAO+1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489921717977392146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJCJAmxOYcXqu4AlIH1OSkxJVHqvDY263TN8OmkZOaiEVK-HYb8-NytDjEjGcVW2O984kZ9aM46TI_3YjcDNVDiyJsT59kFH1Y2iwGrKsqfM6m7XaWKQLVJynwDky6pMxoA1bfMEfSeY/s320/DHRAO+1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvmBwV5dF4WGTplLYJ0MHwqrY2fnpBPuicqv8nehao7Ne9AcQt3mZIz8ZkUgTLSdFbi6Sha2C-BW3_OWLvjqWUBkupCv1Egk7FHLFvGBX_bPIHdXPcS71jGuKFnhJP3D5pUwtBt88Opc/s1600/DHRAO+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489921504115074850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvmBwV5dF4WGTplLYJ0MHwqrY2fnpBPuicqv8nehao7Ne9AcQt3mZIz8ZkUgTLSdFbi6Sha2C-BW3_OWLvjqWUBkupCv1Egk7FHLFvGBX_bPIHdXPcS71jGuKFnhJP3D5pUwtBt88Opc/s320/DHRAO+2.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl9PcRU7z4pOVgePaufwL0pmhtUPPbM1U5FcN8ropANXAIhy3vaokpPGxS_mO7q7YlDxKhFmcZpFO2uv3RkDelKMS3KtK5KbIMpfSWXU6USMBkeHvozV7gZyPrc7Fa1b5U-eSHV3SZog/s1600/DHRAO+3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489921232830682946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl9PcRU7z4pOVgePaufwL0pmhtUPPbM1U5FcN8ropANXAIhy3vaokpPGxS_mO7q7YlDxKhFmcZpFO2uv3RkDelKMS3KtK5KbIMpfSWXU6USMBkeHvozV7gZyPrc7Fa1b5U-eSHV3SZog/s320/DHRAO+3.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRszNXco7OeTY6t3G5vCknvrZlVLk7_S1xqe05V6_a9yxCICKzcMN48ecnLQAvBICf7V3PZMhd1-eVExFFLpihfwxN8kL4ftlJlqRaroYazvh7eGMfXjuve9kOeJ7QDHCVq9mVMPdNBJI/s1600/DHRAO+4.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 230px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489920739320204354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRszNXco7OeTY6t3G5vCknvrZlVLk7_S1xqe05V6_a9yxCICKzcMN48ecnLQAvBICf7V3PZMhd1-eVExFFLpihfwxN8kL4ftlJlqRaroYazvh7eGMfXjuve9kOeJ7QDHCVq9mVMPdNBJI/s320/DHRAO+4.jpg" /></a> </div></div></div><br /><br />Dear Bloggers,<br />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.<br /><br />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.<br />Discussion on Maxim Cards (Courtesy RAINBOW STAMPNEWS JULY 2010)<br />DH Rao, Chennai<br />Dear Ms Jyoti, <br />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.<br />In my opinion there is no sanctity of First day Cancellation at least in India.<br />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. <br />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.<br />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<br />Horses - Kathiavari at Kuvada bo,Marwari at Marwar JnHO,,Zanskari at Leh HO,Manipuri at Imphal GPO,<br />Textiles- Kalamkari at Sri Kalahasti, Banaras Brocade at Varanasi,Conjeevaram silk at Kancheepuram and Apa Tani at Ziro MDG in Arunachal Pradesh.<br />Jain Temples - Ranakpur at Ranakpur, Dilwara at Abu,<br />North East Animals - Shillong GPO,<br />Silent Valley at Mukhaly BO, Holy Cross Church at Madayikonam,Sacred Heart Church at Pondicherry.<br />The list goes on and on. Please let me know, how many seniors has these and other cancelled cards.<br />I would be most happy to interact with them, so I can enrich myself on the subject.<br />I am based at Chennai & Specializes on ships, lighthouses and explorers.<br />I Wish you all the best.<br />D H Rao <br />e-mail - dhrao1939@yahoo.com, mob - 0 9840870172Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-15572806596822471282010-07-03T21:50:00.000-07:002010-07-03T22:15:52.356-07:00Information from NPS Members<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-frSlHF8QoWZeQAau67fg5eHJkLXq9p0QNl8LuYKsl3DFBgNAWd8HY0MP2beCTRQdh6PwZAWp9CjoiOSP_WvMc5kEDtr718256_Xf4k10PiLpr2y-NnMdXugOfErvm68ImbT-7VgZbk/s1600/sc+2.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 211px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489911401388485314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-frSlHF8QoWZeQAau67fg5eHJkLXq9p0QNl8LuYKsl3DFBgNAWd8HY0MP2beCTRQdh6PwZAWp9CjoiOSP_WvMc5kEDtr718256_Xf4k10PiLpr2y-NnMdXugOfErvm68ImbT-7VgZbk/s320/sc+2.jpg" /></a>
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<br />Dear bloggers,
<br />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.
<br />I shall begin with the information sent by Mr. Sekhar Chakrabarthi.
<br />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).
<br />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.
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<br />Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-77865539883499268332010-04-17T18:57:00.000-07:002010-04-17T19:03:57.231-07:00philatelic tribute to hermes/viraat 1<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BZQUj3uZzK89VlgRn9TezHDMQsFF_2Jyr9mDUDhTSmsDT5_lH3KXpE1lA0Kct4gMSkaLmyKjiID7j_d2l4NayCOZaJiJhcmGnsLHTyURS3xhKaaRnQqQAFuHeZ8Bz9z6TfJCjP3FXFs/s1600/scan0060.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 219px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BZQUj3uZzK89VlgRn9TezHDMQsFF_2Jyr9mDUDhTSmsDT5_lH3KXpE1lA0Kct4gMSkaLmyKjiID7j_d2l4NayCOZaJiJhcmGnsLHTyURS3xhKaaRnQqQAFuHeZ8Bz9z6TfJCjP3FXFs/s320/scan0060.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461292406405900818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FHWWgzG1e3zTkMYf5Db32XQLDDlaFE7Zkz06lRO3N4GRIrVaTvZUQYmjU1f8GZUiIEkDe_J_z4hASvCdJaDnHCl2c5FHDA87qLZVq_5O6GT6IZY2Rjd-tuZ4of6p8y0WzD37xsOAyD4/s1600/scan0059.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1FHWWgzG1e3zTkMYf5Db32XQLDDlaFE7Zkz06lRO3N4GRIrVaTvZUQYmjU1f8GZUiIEkDe_J_z4hASvCdJaDnHCl2c5FHDA87qLZVq_5O6GT6IZY2Rjd-tuZ4of6p8y0WzD37xsOAyD4/s320/scan0059.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461292235671325746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpz9xizGIuiZ7cp1anEdSX1VypcErXOFneTp4pG_VtRQZsd9CB-a32xWEX-Z9JGiQJjt1DxGP7q_rsJaFjz6uNYpdxLr8RdbglkfYKbdzF0SikJkNmDso_G41FPu6y4wzoNImxytyFtw/s1600/scan0026.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 159px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQpz9xizGIuiZ7cp1anEdSX1VypcErXOFneTp4pG_VtRQZsd9CB-a32xWEX-Z9JGiQJjt1DxGP7q_rsJaFjz6uNYpdxLr8RdbglkfYKbdzF0SikJkNmDso_G41FPu6y4wzoNImxytyFtw/s320/scan0026.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461292047549638498" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLyfxDIAkxWA9eL1wbiqdeCrfoNSkenCz6AHo82j4G5JfxXRQ-u0vz59TfAf9rqMYeJI41QsqLe922bIpg6WAuntKW0tidEcGYBqnMmAMKIC9lFayZwCiyn4PJq5RDOMaMDVkEau11s4/s1600/scan0025.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 155px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLyfxDIAkxWA9eL1wbiqdeCrfoNSkenCz6AHo82j4G5JfxXRQ-u0vz59TfAf9rqMYeJI41QsqLe922bIpg6WAuntKW0tidEcGYBqnMmAMKIC9lFayZwCiyn4PJq5RDOMaMDVkEau11s4/s320/scan0025.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461291923252830946" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCkpSakt8ooGaCbdbEIEQXHqNa1LUs1uFmcbCs4KEK7WFbR5BAbZmesYgcwt-q142ZAgy_abZw_IwWb3dJMVRJ_QpMSc4LDQk1pWzhtvf0OF6w9nWsPgyCFSqIlPZc-cH8mQirtjEtFc/s1600/scan0024.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCkpSakt8ooGaCbdbEIEQXHqNa1LUs1uFmcbCs4KEK7WFbR5BAbZmesYgcwt-q142ZAgy_abZw_IwWb3dJMVRJ_QpMSc4LDQk1pWzhtvf0OF6w9nWsPgyCFSqIlPZc-cH8mQirtjEtFc/s320/scan0024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461291799751240674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCH5yuCWmMCcGEr3IhGUUaJTVO3JZQ7tpEjlALDJVePNTs5WuDupVUM4Eu5iL326df0zvjj7yVcI36wROIkb4pTyXqF-JTFoGnWROitYNkPKy_cjXQtkTKhzk3VNyjAHoXEPjw0B8yNo/s1600/scan0061.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 185px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhCH5yuCWmMCcGEr3IhGUUaJTVO3JZQ7tpEjlALDJVePNTs5WuDupVUM4Eu5iL326df0zvjj7yVcI36wROIkb4pTyXqF-JTFoGnWROitYNkPKy_cjXQtkTKhzk3VNyjAHoXEPjw0B8yNo/s320/scan0061.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461291677211172178" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_dV2Nx2ckgeMGB9M8Io15FOb75ccPgvlkCgDefhsR_iDRM_CakIODMWBRW3aeyBvmC5AiVeFETHoSmzOMZsaegdSV5Rn5vWPC1Qbd9BiT9efRXP5QmYSqfxkXIqcbsn6ED_pmx4_XvM/s1600/scan0062.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo_dV2Nx2ckgeMGB9M8Io15FOb75ccPgvlkCgDefhsR_iDRM_CakIODMWBRW3aeyBvmC5AiVeFETHoSmzOMZsaegdSV5Rn5vWPC1Qbd9BiT9efRXP5QmYSqfxkXIqcbsn6ED_pmx4_XvM/s320/scan0062.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461291391531515442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwv0-b73pSpdg8soN3kG6_JjTxdhlgBkBu6yiNhCDDMHJNEAgTLM1a7n4n6j44Kik7HD_7QYm4pnWHxe4wE9SFHVqV17xbse8TKf-4Bcc97p99xCXR9m1FrXxHduOlDnAZK0EsbQoxBYk/s1600/scan0027.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwv0-b73pSpdg8soN3kG6_JjTxdhlgBkBu6yiNhCDDMHJNEAgTLM1a7n4n6j44Kik7HD_7QYm4pnWHxe4wE9SFHVqV17xbse8TKf-4Bcc97p99xCXR9m1FrXxHduOlDnAZK0EsbQoxBYk/s320/scan0027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461291240576909554" /></a>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-16910444945748304272010-04-17T18:43:00.000-07:002010-04-17T18:45:40.068-07:00PHILATELIC TRIBUTE TO HERMES/VIRAAT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLD3-4RBoPIKlHOErUkl-8t29PN1LRYawr2WKwfJrYbWmLWrQWgjIUc9KQbexkj_f-HEzD9CwAVRK5mUKH_A_UF0Oao3ehzNVoIW6d__jBBijHevvI7NpHA7Gs4hz0BwFCcb5W54E8dQ/s1600/scan0023.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLD3-4RBoPIKlHOErUkl-8t29PN1LRYawr2WKwfJrYbWmLWrQWgjIUc9KQbexkj_f-HEzD9CwAVRK5mUKH_A_UF0Oao3ehzNVoIW6d__jBBijHevvI7NpHA7Gs4hz0BwFCcb5W54E8dQ/s320/scan0023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461287690068114210" /></a>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-79125560970316954752010-04-17T18:39:00.001-07:002010-04-17T18:43:17.790-07:00MORE ON VIRAAT<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8TcvdQles6l0J9eoP-pMarQd8cjygqQF_UesLHdjTrzwGUqr3hudyZJ7eq6CPgmaY1PrESkdZf_Rlm-BGEC1HCUYwrL2zP3jtWd98TyQ8-DhUz0S1DU370EPDKBpFTnrrVq5LtwK2hA/s1600/scan0056.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8TcvdQles6l0J9eoP-pMarQd8cjygqQF_UesLHdjTrzwGUqr3hudyZJ7eq6CPgmaY1PrESkdZf_Rlm-BGEC1HCUYwrL2zP3jtWd98TyQ8-DhUz0S1DU370EPDKBpFTnrrVq5LtwK2hA/s320/scan0056.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461287053834179586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxecdZThMBP2lHv6ZaD5E-BmEqamziaV1qheGnht7wHILS5izvl11KIqsWPtQJUVWjBmoQtUkmBb67jnB8TrLSrvWunuXiNo9lN4Uzp_lgq1BnrB-am9g0i2iCwQVzI33pPzrX-n9FCI/s1600/scan0057.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 228px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxecdZThMBP2lHv6ZaD5E-BmEqamziaV1qheGnht7wHILS5izvl11KIqsWPtQJUVWjBmoQtUkmBb67jnB8TrLSrvWunuXiNo9lN4Uzp_lgq1BnrB-am9g0i2iCwQVzI33pPzrX-n9FCI/s320/scan0057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461286783695529714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsrnW4QPMnHj7ikUUkPTziSf4kvU4h-4bcSje1emqYDj41L6I3PTeS0j7jMrpHQADhUhh7D9iRfaFiKYXts7k8Jcx06qSoiMOEe-WuUOzkhipqmnuECjBxUfb3-MZ1mtEOI1gmmrp08c/s1600/scan0055.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLsrnW4QPMnHj7ikUUkPTziSf4kvU4h-4bcSje1emqYDj41L6I3PTeS0j7jMrpHQADhUhh7D9iRfaFiKYXts7k8Jcx06qSoiMOEe-WuUOzkhipqmnuECjBxUfb3-MZ1mtEOI1gmmrp08c/s320/scan0055.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461286532448719746" /></a>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-310739642230174312010-04-17T18:20:00.000-07:002010-04-17T18:21:21.412-07:00INS VIRAAT R 22R 22 Viraat Class <br />HMS Centaur Class (UK)<br />Aircraft Carrier<br />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. <br />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. <br />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. <br />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. <br />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. <br />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. <br />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. <br />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. <br />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. <br />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.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-79730157673093615242010-04-06T08:35:00.000-07:002010-04-06T08:38:43.743-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdAhKqVhcZoyvG2KJlTcJzq-h8J3GYz6kEIFhycM9tXnlEAa0b5hQBqIB5G4EA0HT49eCmqIim22egHGfDjvVj9CSjhjVfqDEDzOrKBNkZBhZR1dj5RNjXKdSxo2PpgVwTRAyCoYUGc8/s1600/HERMES2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdAhKqVhcZoyvG2KJlTcJzq-h8J3GYz6kEIFhycM9tXnlEAa0b5hQBqIB5G4EA0HT49eCmqIim22egHGfDjvVj9CSjhjVfqDEDzOrKBNkZBhZR1dj5RNjXKdSxo2PpgVwTRAyCoYUGc8/s320/HERMES2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457049330266191090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hEaCjFybANd0wwmcsp9bvuMsXqYGfyexSWGDSxFKa-wXlLDfjOl1ofaIyG7Vr-ovct7fzQQ9m14QgO9bVJNOmqJMgPHyDvoe3Wv20IeDoMDZmzHOcpJjD5KCZ5qSTLEPdpDevOSyrA8/s1600/HERMES1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hEaCjFybANd0wwmcsp9bvuMsXqYGfyexSWGDSxFKa-wXlLDfjOl1ofaIyG7Vr-ovct7fzQQ9m14QgO9bVJNOmqJMgPHyDvoe3Wv20IeDoMDZmzHOcpJjD5KCZ5qSTLEPdpDevOSyrA8/s320/HERMES1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457048904686769346" /></a>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-79643903356928471202010-04-06T08:30:00.000-07:002010-04-06T08:34:20.993-07:00HMS HERMES INS VIRAATHMS Hermes (R12)<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Career (United Kingdom) <br />Builder: Vickers-Armstrong<br /><br />Laid down: 21 June 1944<br />Launched: 16 February 1953<br />Commissioned: 25 November 1959<br />Decommissioned: N/A<br />Struck: 1985<br />Homeport: HMNB Portsmouth<br /><br />Fate: Sold to India in 1986. Active in service as INS Viraat<br /><br />Notes: Pennant = R12,<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />General characteristics<br />Displacement: 23,000 tonnes standard 2; 28,000 tonnes Full Load<br />Length: 236.14 m<br />Beam: 45.10 m<br />Draught: 27.8 ft (8.5 m)<br />Propulsion: 2 Parson turbines, 76,000 shp (57 MW)<br />Speed: 28 knots (52 km/h)<br />Range: 7,000 nautical miles at 18 knots (13,000 km at 33 km/h)<br />Complement: 2,100<br />Armament: 10 × 40 mm Bofors<br />Aircraft carried: Up to 1970:12 Sea Vixens, 7 Buccaneers, 5 Gannets and 6 Wessex<br />After 1980: up to 28 Sea Harriers<br /><br />HMS Hermes (R12) was a Centaur-class British aircraft carrier, the last of the postwar conventional aircraft carriers commissioned into the Royal Navy.<br />• 1 Construction and modifications <br />• 2 Operations <br />o 2.1 Proposed transfer to Australia <br />o 2.2 Proposed International Fleet <br />o 2.3 Falklands War <br />o 2.4 Viraat <br />• 3 Complement <br />• 4 References <br />• 5 External links <br /><br />Construction and modifications<br />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.<br />Operations<br />Proposed transfer to Australia<br />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.<br />Proposed International Fleet<br />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.<br />Final CATOBAR air wing 1968-1970[3]<br />• 801 sqn. 7 Buccaneer S2 Strike <br />• 893 sqn. 12 Sea Vixen FAW2 All-Weather Fighter <br />• 849 sqn. A flt. 4 Gannet AEW3 Airborne Early Warning <br />• 849 sqn. 1 Gannet COD4 Carrier Onboard Delivery <br />• 814 sqn. 5 Wessex HAS3 Anti-Submarine Warfare <br />• Ships Flight 1 Wessex HAS1 Search and Rescue <br />Refitted at Portsmouth 1980 to June 1981, 12-degree ski-jump and facilities for operating Sea Harriers were added.<br />• 800 sqn. 8 Sea Harrier FRS1 Fighter <br />• 826 sqn. 9 Sea King HAS5 ASW <br />Falklands War<br />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.<br />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]<br />Viraat<br />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.<br /> <br />HMS Hermes in 1982<br />Complement<br />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.<br />References<br />1. Hobbs, Commander David (October 2007). "HMAS Melbourne (II) - 25 Years On". The Navy 69 (4): 5–9. ISSN 1332-6231. <br />2. http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/frus/johnsonlb/xix/28055.htm The international naval task force proposal in May 1967 <br />3. http://www.btinternet.com/~a.c.walton/navy/rn-cv3.html <br />4. http://www.harrier.org.uk/history/history_SHARdownunder.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-27. <br /> <br />• Maritimequest HMS Hermes photo gallery <br /><br />[hide] <br />v • d • e<br />Centaur-class aircraft carrier<br /><br /> <br /> Royal Navy<br />Albion • Bulwark • Centaur • Hermes<br /><br /> <br /> Indian Navy<br />Viraat (ex-HMS Hermes)<br /><br /> <br />List of aircraft carriers of the Royal NavyNaval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-5743003704747384982010-04-06T08:25:00.001-07:002010-04-06T08:28:41.507-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOazn-iymzAEgl3qmr6wCubUqR2cueg_kSsBbKgkyW5RPDxQDqxTTgVKERwk-iSJAHnC-hQhOvxiw0zlEUYxWjJSGbgsls7EVMMjN5-kVnHcQfUTOkfmGF4Crkgz1HoA6m8oKF8_Z5us/s1600/1964_02_24_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 230px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUOazn-iymzAEgl3qmr6wCubUqR2cueg_kSsBbKgkyW5RPDxQDqxTTgVKERwk-iSJAHnC-hQhOvxiw0zlEUYxWjJSGbgsls7EVMMjN5-kVnHcQfUTOkfmGF4Crkgz1HoA6m8oKF8_Z5us/s320/1964_02_24_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457046569775941586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkbgdos-2nHCQC014SsJfqPxmFFWzPBBnGsrPhI6PhjlxEuq6ZfHevD-caMn7n80fBMj-0FCWdQGLCJaMRXY19d3cJOKhd0BqirGG0dfAlItund_8bv8VX5FOngLUIgMFHvu85EjtrJ0/s1600/1959_11_00_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkbgdos-2nHCQC014SsJfqPxmFFWzPBBnGsrPhI6PhjlxEuq6ZfHevD-caMn7n80fBMj-0FCWdQGLCJaMRXY19d3cJOKhd0BqirGG0dfAlItund_8bv8VX5FOngLUIgMFHvu85EjtrJ0/s320/1959_11_00_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457046378953992514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sd_qtBDN2IqsRcM-XYSeyQKPR2o1sC11YH0l1CeAVpGyZyTxOXtxs28wgJf2ev64Gp_p6lRJe7ui69l0-UPy8wIcZqozED1fKEWOUeOQvtlqfRBWCgulJamb2falmsQ17_KpRE388p4/s1600/03_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sd_qtBDN2IqsRcM-XYSeyQKPR2o1sC11YH0l1CeAVpGyZyTxOXtxs28wgJf2ev64Gp_p6lRJe7ui69l0-UPy8wIcZqozED1fKEWOUeOQvtlqfRBWCgulJamb2falmsQ17_KpRE388p4/s320/03_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457046218963304994" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUitFoC2KnjvNOigq5Jm05d6mcWvfcTexwuIoP-Wjt-C0udn8QCVa4GNIx6nkm1BIT__HjC5QXghIbAG5_vvzOZU7K0ggm0hOjzQeBinQE1fHVpmmwnHKTZVMkjlGVn1EBHSq1uG4EJfA/s1600/02_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUitFoC2KnjvNOigq5Jm05d6mcWvfcTexwuIoP-Wjt-C0udn8QCVa4GNIx6nkm1BIT__HjC5QXghIbAG5_vvzOZU7K0ggm0hOjzQeBinQE1fHVpmmwnHKTZVMkjlGVn1EBHSq1uG4EJfA/s320/02_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457046043856441938" /></a>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-72533994087415690712010-04-06T08:21:00.001-07:002010-04-06T08:25:02.649-07:00HMS HERMES<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y8Xe9INE1fLG8MBfPisaoxIBqz9eYIs2TMstyqbjcvxcniP6dTD2zzJz1j4aPi2jXzRD4PsfD4sx0v0snNqjKfMaR5mi4dvC1F5AZoQYPAZQsBzlFDF_RLVVr-5bX94XMqUjCLv03wc/s1600/01_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_y8Xe9INE1fLG8MBfPisaoxIBqz9eYIs2TMstyqbjcvxcniP6dTD2zzJz1j4aPi2jXzRD4PsfD4sx0v0snNqjKfMaR5mi4dvC1F5AZoQYPAZQsBzlFDF_RLVVr-5bX94XMqUjCLv03wc/s320/01_hms_hermes%5B1%5D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457045809432104530" /></a>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-8761117275744933752010-04-04T06:38:00.000-07:002010-04-04T06:47:24.579-07:00A 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.<br />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.<br />Covers can be obtained through mail order from Cdr (retd) U.N Acharya, Flat B, Deep Apartments, 5th cross, Atmananda Colony, Bangalore 560032.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-23224730218270066822010-03-07T07:12:00.001-08:002010-03-07T07:26:28.135-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LOrAwZbs8vVEat25w18WVdQRkmKzEl02eKGqyYiIkAaMyrAGnRDwFIA_2vKnimhJguHf3xXqSHDIxQnLt1ftJrj8VGCGl8dFQYWI5h2nEphuXSG9ZZyjrEJm4GmGshpVFhi6JEEqupo/s1600-h/collossal+class++ships.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445912371529072306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 86px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LOrAwZbs8vVEat25w18WVdQRkmKzEl02eKGqyYiIkAaMyrAGnRDwFIA_2vKnimhJguHf3xXqSHDIxQnLt1ftJrj8VGCGl8dFQYWI5h2nEphuXSG9ZZyjrEJm4GmGshpVFhi6JEEqupo/s320/collossal+class++ships.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRwZ780-CNTiqrGK4yIHZNeWCNKifxJAfFpsOlV8TPp9kan9qUNAXoiT1kdX7_5thOVrK5eeWMbsTi4QjIB7hXIFTOypgG_TBHXbmAJF-m4ooexK8Sd-wGl_IALFWLUHJTzJSIvkJdgY/s1600-h/vik+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445912168866007218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMRwZ780-CNTiqrGK4yIHZNeWCNKifxJAfFpsOlV8TPp9kan9qUNAXoiT1kdX7_5thOVrK5eeWMbsTi4QjIB7hXIFTOypgG_TBHXbmAJF-m4ooexK8Sd-wGl_IALFWLUHJTzJSIvkJdgY/s320/vik+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>Above : Collossal Class Aircraft Carriers. The Brazil stamp depicts Minas Gerais (A11) ex HMS VENGEANCE.</div><div>This is the last in the series on VIKRANT for ther time being. Watch out for a series on INS VIRAAT.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpZ4LDlyBvvt-Uc37bYvsGSigLWvo-Dcn7cVu5a25AAlvi56IXwmhUMWIqBa6B1i-qQOLQNfuYCadIgqUiKEgetRUAhY-4fmJYc2fojlRjP5O9GeaGMjvZMSARQlyJyfkX5ze1dNNU5M/s1600-h/vik9.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445911966874406754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpZ4LDlyBvvt-Uc37bYvsGSigLWvo-Dcn7cVu5a25AAlvi56IXwmhUMWIqBa6B1i-qQOLQNfuYCadIgqUiKEgetRUAhY-4fmJYc2fojlRjP5O9GeaGMjvZMSARQlyJyfkX5ze1dNNU5M/s320/vik9.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeMjyBc57v4HnY0m9NnffwI6j_Oix6EbAytPPbKov5J_UxxlfXb3js5K9B1PFL29c5bJA5henX7ob1jhB7M_7GO41Q2OAM-xSIS3baEvAx0m3KQ6qRuwVaqvvZO2Tv4RLtRrxUI8q85s/s1600-h/vik8.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445911776979073746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoeMjyBc57v4HnY0m9NnffwI6j_Oix6EbAytPPbKov5J_UxxlfXb3js5K9B1PFL29c5bJA5henX7ob1jhB7M_7GO41Q2OAM-xSIS3baEvAx0m3KQ6qRuwVaqvvZO2Tv4RLtRrxUI8q85s/s320/vik8.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKShfeZ4L6Gbj72CQDYWU6Fjo8jNlU9ZszlI-0Cd6_-e27z7MmPsCboiKL5bQ2juNdJmFghd5NK-NBGSD2-LPoMhSopnLc1CduIGtXRHGjuw3Xv5Dy4d3lqijSS3yGC4tbmJ_pk4BEkQ/s1600-h/vik7.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445911400297443682" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKKShfeZ4L6Gbj72CQDYWU6Fjo8jNlU9ZszlI-0Cd6_-e27z7MmPsCboiKL5bQ2juNdJmFghd5NK-NBGSD2-LPoMhSopnLc1CduIGtXRHGjuw3Xv5Dy4d3lqijSS3yGC4tbmJ_pk4BEkQ/s320/vik7.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5xPEQG-nl6OLu068z13V6u1M3_qNovlMEL39VeGF1QAogNg7VEfNZLvLTvVwMYSYLH-Y4n0PXVZljnAaQJRV8ALUp3RUx5sPLkhNQ6OAalhuEmuwUxE5GXAe0SYpN2mrW7VCZc6mkGo/s1600-h/vik6.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445911207913258450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 171px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5xPEQG-nl6OLu068z13V6u1M3_qNovlMEL39VeGF1QAogNg7VEfNZLvLTvVwMYSYLH-Y4n0PXVZljnAaQJRV8ALUp3RUx5sPLkhNQ6OAalhuEmuwUxE5GXAe0SYpN2mrW7VCZc6mkGo/s320/vik6.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJiXvVtYrzQQKREJeQ1PiecfrTYZdxqclGqlm463yiUgzI4m4gamwrqRi7SDRTgXGIqQOjP8cWEmdERQnuWGl9CWKAIotnvD0_LtswGSHmQW10t0tClwUd21X0PpxoSIjeGnKa-OniZg/s1600-h/vik5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445910993449756018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJiXvVtYrzQQKREJeQ1PiecfrTYZdxqclGqlm463yiUgzI4m4gamwrqRi7SDRTgXGIqQOjP8cWEmdERQnuWGl9CWKAIotnvD0_LtswGSHmQW10t0tClwUd21X0PpxoSIjeGnKa-OniZg/s320/vik5.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHW6NLadbMbiu7cRdMZDFFllalzydNiGutgYY4bE9FyvIjVKzZdVDwX6aU9wlEcyWdaRqO9ZDy653yS04coPZbwA8Mhff8Z42rPr7T4otvy4vYHmxjVhUfFBLm6DIPx3s5DFFJH6r_T4E/s1600-h/vik4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445910812796620578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHW6NLadbMbiu7cRdMZDFFllalzydNiGutgYY4bE9FyvIjVKzZdVDwX6aU9wlEcyWdaRqO9ZDy653yS04coPZbwA8Mhff8Z42rPr7T4otvy4vYHmxjVhUfFBLm6DIPx3s5DFFJH6r_T4E/s320/vik4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_aFD-04gF3dGol2gAtWBFsakk4IB0TO8SKID6kvudqd-47XLxVlRlpH8eMaN0fNlHaVE4FZbDtRjrxSZdZN2OYj_xAEyPOjOODt6d067lwySnSieH7Z0c95tQwBpdguYg2CvmkQkxaM/s1600-h/vik3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445910607366055746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 170px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_aFD-04gF3dGol2gAtWBFsakk4IB0TO8SKID6kvudqd-47XLxVlRlpH8eMaN0fNlHaVE4FZbDtRjrxSZdZN2OYj_xAEyPOjOODt6d067lwySnSieH7Z0c95tQwBpdguYg2CvmkQkxaM/s320/vik3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVQyUn6QYBtymwPNZTNg_ELOSxa4O9v9WplxOGmXaLFpzd0y4TtXJBvwayF5hAuRrGVUOCCS6Fbcm_WEAckjpf9MEv1wEn7jD2Mc5_UO21hId_M5rBqgolS4duo7ub0oyA9XrburIFec/s1600-h/Vik1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445910383406725218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 169px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSVQyUn6QYBtymwPNZTNg_ELOSxa4O9v9WplxOGmXaLFpzd0y4TtXJBvwayF5hAuRrGVUOCCS6Fbcm_WEAckjpf9MEv1wEn7jD2Mc5_UO21hId_M5rBqgolS4duo7ub0oyA9XrburIFec/s320/Vik1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-80727027639683852012010-03-07T00:05:00.000-08:002010-03-07T06:50:03.779-08:00<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRuY447zWQRqpIanLxUh4ldwenPi3dhMu8ILUThXdxFXmMuhoxMs-W8JxMsNAeGZm6SMlq8pHxBriFqjxbgiJL4qDlrVYa95T7pHQ8saJO5h-biuF4K4YOVJCAt5EX6WHZmQSsVbYgVY/s1600-h/300px-HMS_Triumph_1950.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445800340961418290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRuY447zWQRqpIanLxUh4ldwenPi3dhMu8ILUThXdxFXmMuhoxMs-W8JxMsNAeGZm6SMlq8pHxBriFqjxbgiJL4qDlrVYa95T7pHQ8saJO5h-biuF4K4YOVJCAt5EX6WHZmQSsVbYgVY/s320/300px-HMS_Triumph_1950.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />
<br /><div>Colossus class aircraft carrier<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia<br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HMS_Triumph_1950.jpg"></a><a title="HMS Triumph (R16)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Triumph_(R16)">HMS Triumph</a>, Colossus class carrier. Planes on her deck include <a title="Supermarine Seafire" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Seafire">Supermarine Seafires</a>, forward, and <a title="Fairey Firefly" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Firefly">Fairey Fireflys</a> aft.<br /></div>
<br /><div><strong>Class overview<br />Builders:<br /></strong><a title="Vickers Armstrong" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_Armstrong">Vickers Armstrong</a><a title="Swan Hunter" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Hunter">Swan Hunter</a><a title="Cammell Laird" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cammell_Laird">Cammell Laird</a><a title="Harland & Wolff" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harland_%26_Wolff">Harland & Wolff</a><a title="Alexander Stephens and Sons" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Stephens_and_Sons">Alexander Stephens and Sons</a><a title="Hawthorn Leslie" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawthorn_Leslie">Hawthorn Leslie</a><a title="Fairfield Shipbuilding" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairfield_Shipbuilding">Fairfield</a><br />Operators:<br /> <a title="Argentine Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Navy">Argentine Navy</a><br /> <a title="Royal Australian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy">Royal Australian Navy</a><br /> <a title="Brazilian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Navy">Brazilian Navy</a><br /> <a title="Royal Canadian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Navy">Royal Canadian Navy</a><br /> <a title="French Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Navy">French Navy</a><br /> <a title="Royal Netherlands Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Navy">Royal Netherlands Navy</a><br /> <a title="Royal Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy">Royal Navy</a><br /><strong>In commission:<br /></strong>16 December 1944 – 16 October 2001<br />Completed:<br />10<br />General characteristics<br />Displacement:<br />13,400 tons (13,600 t)<br />Length:<br />695 ft (211.8 m)<br />Beam:<br />80 ft (24.4 m)<br />Draught:<br />23.5 ft (7.2 m)<br />Propulsion:<br />Steam Turbines (4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared turbines); 40,000 shp<br />Speed:<br />25 knots (46 km/h)<br />Range:<br />12,000 nmi at 14 knots (26 km/h)<br />Complement:<br />1,300 (including air group)<br />Armament:<br />30 x <a title="Bofors 40 mm gun" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_40_mm_gun">Bofors 40 mm guns</a><br />Aircraft carried:<br />48 aircraft<br />Aviation facilities:<br />Axial flight deckSingle main hangar<br />The Colossus class aircraft carriers were a <a title="Ship class" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_class">class</a> of <a title="Royal Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy">Royal Navy</a> <a title="Light aircraft carrier" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_aircraft_carrier">light aircraft carriers</a>. A total of sixteen ships were foreseen.<br />Two ships of the Colossus class (<a title="HMS Perseus (R51)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Perseus_(R51)">HMS Perseus</a> and <a title="HMS Pioneer (R76)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pioneer_(R76)">Pioneer</a>) were tailored for aircraft maintenance rather than combat duty. Another five were suspended, to be completed later as <a title="Majestic class aircraft carrier" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier">Majestic class</a> carriers. A sixth converted Majestic, the <a title="HMS Leviathan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Leviathan">Leviathan</a>, was not completed at all. All five Majestics were sold to <a title="Commonwealth of Nations" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations">Commonwealth</a> or friendly navies.<br />Contents<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_class_aircraft_carrier#Design">1 Design</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_class_aircraft_carrier#List_of_ships">2 List of ships</a><br /> Design<br />The sinking, in December 1941, of the <a title="HMS Prince of Wales (1939)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Prince_of_Wales_(1939)">HMS Prince of Wales</a> and <a title="HMS Repulse (1916)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Repulse_(1916)">Repulse</a> 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.<br />At the start of the war, the Royal Navy operated both <a title="Escort aircraft carriers" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escort_aircraft_carriers">escort aircraft carriers</a> and <a title="Fleet aircraft carriers" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_aircraft_carriers">fleet aircraft carriers</a>. However, escort carriers were designed solely for defensive <a title="Convoy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convoy">convoy</a> 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.<br /><br />The Colossus class emerged as an expedient solution to this critical shortage of combat aircraft carriers. These ships were based on the <a title="Illustrious class aircraft carrier" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illustrious_class_aircraft_carrier">Illustrious class</a> 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 <a title="Scantling" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scantling">scantlings</a> up to the hangar deck.<br />The first four Colossus carriers were completed in December 1944 and were immediately dispatched to the <a title="Far East" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Far_East">Far East</a>. None of the ships saw action. The Colossus class ships did not possess the <a title="Armour" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armour">armoured</a> flight decks that had effectively protected the Illustrious class fleet carriers against <a title="Kamikaze" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamikaze">kamikaze</a> attacks during <a title="Operation Iceberg" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Iceberg">Operation Iceberg</a>. 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 <a title="Korean Conflict" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_Conflict">Korean Conflict</a>. 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.<br />List of ships<br /><a title="HMS Colossus (R15)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Colossus_(R15)">Colossus</a>—first loaned, then sold, to <a title="France" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France">France</a>. Renamed Arromanches. Broken up in 1978.<br /><a title="HMS Glory (R62)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Glory_(R62)">Glory</a>—broken up in 1961.<br /><a title="HMS Ocean (R68)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ocean_(R68)">Ocean</a>—broken up in 1962.<br /><a title="HMS Perseus (R51)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Perseus_(R51)">Perseus</a>—originally designated Edgar, but rechristened Perseus upon commission in 1945. Broken up in 1958.<br /><a title="HMS Pioneer (R76)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pioneer_(R76)">Pioneer</a>—originally the Ethalion; later, the Mars. Finally renamed Pioneer. Broken up in 1954.<br /><a title="HMS Theseus (R64)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Theseus_(R64)">Theseus</a>—broken up in 1962.<br /><a title="HMS Triumph (R16)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Triumph_(R16)">Triumph</a>—broken up in 1981.<br /><a title="HMS Venerable (R63)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Venerable_(R63)">Venerable</a>—sold to the <a title="Netherlands" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands">Netherlands</a> in 1948 and renamed <a title="HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HNLMS_Karel_Doorman_(R81)">Karel Doorman II</a>. Resold to <a title="Argentina" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina">Argentina</a> and renamed <a title="ARA Veinticinco de Mayo" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Veinticinco_de_Mayo">Vienticinco de Mayo</a>. Towed to India as of 2006 and believed to have been scrapped.<br /><a title="HMS Vengeance (R71)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_(R71)">Vengeance</a>—served with the <a title="Royal Australian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy">Royal Australian Navy</a> from 1953–1955. Sold to <a title="Brazil" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil">Brazil</a> in 1956 and renamed <a title="NAeL Minas Gerais" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAeL_Minas_Gerais">Minas Gerais</a>. Decommissioned in 2001. Broken up in 2004.<br /><a title="HMS Warrior (R31)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Warrior_(R31)">Warrior</a>—loaned to the <a title="Royal Canadian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Navy">Royal Canadian Navy</a>, returned to the UK in 1956 and sold to <a title="Argentina" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina">Argentina</a> to be renamed Independencia in 1958. Broken up in the 1970s.<br /> <a title="Royal Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy">Royal Navy</a><br /><a title="French aircraft carrier Arromanches (R95)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Arromanches_(R95)">Colossus</a> · <a title="HMS Glory (R62)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Glory_(R62)">Glory</a> · <a title="HMS Ocean (R68)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Ocean_(R68)">Ocean</a> · <a title="HMS Perseus (R51)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Perseus_(R51)">Perseus</a> · <a title="HMS Pioneer (R76)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Pioneer_(R76)">Pioneer</a> · <a title="HMS Theseus (R64)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Theseus_(R64)">Theseus</a> · <a title="HMS Triumph (R16)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Triumph_(R16)">Triumph</a> · <a title="HMS Venerable (R63)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Venerable_(R63)">Venerable</a> · <a title="HMS Vengeance (R71)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_(R71)">Vengeance</a> · <a title="HMS Warrior (R31)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Warrior_(R31)">Warrior</a><br /> <a title="Argentine Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentine_Navy">Argentine Navy</a><br /><a title="HMS Warrior (R31)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Warrior_(R31)">Independencia</a> (ex-Warrior) · <a title="ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Veinticinco_de_Mayo_(V-2)">Veinticinco de Mayo</a> (ex-<a title="HMS Venerable (R63)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Venerable_(R63)">Venerable</a>)<br /> <a title="Royal Australian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy">Royal Australian Navy</a><br /><a title="HMS Vengeance (R71)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_(R71)">Vengeance</a><br /> <a title="Brazilian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Navy">Brazilian Navy</a><br /><a title="Brazilian aircraft carrier Minas Gerais" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_aircraft_carrier_Minas_Gerais">Minas Gerais</a> (ex-<a title="HMS Vengeance (R71)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Vengeance_(R71)">Vengeance</a>)<br /> <a title="Royal Canadian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Navy">Royal Canadian Navy</a><br /><a title="HMS Warrior (R31)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Warrior_(R31)">Warrior</a><br /> <a title="French Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Navy">French Navy</a><br /><a title="French aircraft carrier Arromanches (R95)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_aircraft_carrier_Arromanches_(R95)">Arromanches</a> (ex-Colossus)<br /> <a title="Royal Netherlands Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Netherlands_Navy">Royal Netherlands Navy</a><br /><a title="HNLMS Karel Doorman (R81)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HNLMS_Karel_Doorman_(R81)">Karel Doorman</a> (ex-<a title="HMS Venerable (R63)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Venerable_(R63)">Venerable</a>)<br /><a title="List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_carriers_of_the_Royal_Navy">List of aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy</a><br /><br /> </div></div>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-6882227658566340092010-03-05T22:35:00.000-08:002010-03-05T22:39:31.418-08:00Majestic class aircraft carrier<br />From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia <br />Class overview<br />Builders:<br /><a title="Harland and Wolff" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harland_and_Wolff">Harland and Wolff</a><a title="HM Dockyard Devonport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Dockyard_Devonport">HM Dockyard Devonport</a><a title="Swan Hunter" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Hunter">Swan Hunter</a><a title="Vickers-Armstrongs" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers-Armstrongs">Vickers-Armstrongs</a><br />Operators:<br />Royal Australian NavyRoyal Canadian NavyIndian Navy<br />Preceded by:<br /><a title="Colossus class aircraft carrier" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_class_aircraft_carrier">Colossus class</a><br />Succeeded by:<br /><a title="Centaur class aircraft carrier" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centaur_class_aircraft_carrier">Centaur class</a><br />Built:<br />1942–1961<br />Planned:<br />6<br />Completed:<br />5<br />Cancelled:<br />1 (scrapped prior to completion)<br />Preserved:<br />1 (museum ship)<br />General characteristics (original design)<br />Type:<br />Light fleet carrier<br />Displacement:<br />14,224 tons standard, 18,085 tons at full load<br />Length:<br />695 ft (212 m)<br />Beam:<br />80 ft (24 m)<br />Draught:<br />23.5 ft (7.2 m)<br />Propulsion:<br />4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, Parsons geared steam turbines; 40,000 shp<br />Speed:<br />25 knots (46 km/h)<br />Range:<br />12,000 nmiles at 14 knots (26 km/h)<br />Complement:<br />1,200 (including air group)<br />Armament:<br />25 × <a title="Bofors 40 mm gun" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_40_mm_gun">Bofors 40 mm guns</a><br />Aircraft carried:<br />37 aircraft of various types<br />Notes:<br />Individual ships' characteristics vary greatly depending on the time major construction resumed, the operating navy, and the intended role of the ship<br />The Majestic class was a <a title="Ship class" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_class">ship class</a> of six light fleet aircraft carriers constructed for the <a title="Royal Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy">Royal Navy</a>, but serving in the <a title="Royal Australian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy">Royal Australian Navy</a>, <a title="Royal Canadian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Navy">Royal Canadian Navy</a>, and <a title="Indian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Navy">Indian Navy</a>.<br />Contents<br />[<a href="javascript:toggleToc()">hide</a>]<br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#Design">1 Design</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#Construction_and_acquisition">2 Construction and acquisition</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#Ships">3 Ships</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#Notes">4 Notes</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#References">5 References</a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#External_links">6 External links</a><br />Design<br />The Majestic class was conceived as a modified version of the <a title="Colossus class aircraft carrier" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus_class_aircraft_carrier">Colossus class</a> carrier, incorporating improvements in flight deck design and habitability.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-Hobbs5-0">[1]</a> Majestic and Colossus carriers were almost identical in hull design and both were considered subclasses of the "1942 design" light aircraft carrier program.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-1">[2]</a> 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.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-2">[3]</a><br />Six ships were ordered: <a title="HMS Hercules (R49)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hercules_(R49)">Hercules</a>, <a title="HMS Leviathan (R97)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Leviathan_(R97)">Leviathan</a>, <a title="HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Magnificent_(CVL_21)">Magnificent</a>, <a title="HMS Majestic (R77)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Majestic_(R77)">Majestic</a>, <a title="HMS Powerful (R95)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Powerful_(R95)">Powerful</a>, and <a title="HMS Terrible (R93)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Terrible_(R93)">Terrible</a>. These six ships replaced the cancelled final six Colossus class carriers.<br />Construction and acquisition<br />The six carriers were built by four shipyards: <a title="Harland and Wolff" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harland_and_Wolff">Harland and Wolff</a>, <a title="HM Dockyard Devonport" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HM_Dockyard_Devonport">HM Dockyard Devonport</a>, <a title="Swan Hunter" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Hunter">Swan Hunter</a>, and <a title="Vickers-Armstrongs" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers-Armstrongs">Vickers-Armstrongs</a>. Construction of the ships began in 1942 or 1943, and they were launched during 1944 and 1945, but following the end of <a title="World War II" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II">World War II</a>, the <a title="Admiralty" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiralty">Admiralty</a> ordered the suspension of many British shipbuilding projects, including the fitting out of the six Majestics.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-Hobbs5-0">[1]</a><br />Majestic and Terrible were purchased by the <a title="Royal Australian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy">Royal Australian Navy</a> in June 1947 for the combined cost of <a title="Australian pound" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_pound">AU£</a>2.75 million, plus stores, fuel, and ammunition.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-Hobbs5-0">[1]</a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-3">[4]</a> 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 <a title="HMAS Sydney (R17)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(R17)">HMAS Sydney</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-Hobbs5-0">[1]</a> Work progressed on Majestic at a slower rate, as she was to be upgraded with the latest technology and equipment, including an <a title="Flight deck" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flight_deck#Angled_flight_deck">angled flight deck</a>, <a title="Steam catapult" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_catapult">steam catapult</a>, and <a title="Mirror landing aid" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirror_landing_aid">mirror landing aid</a>.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-4">[5]</a> Majestic was completed and commissioned into the RAN as <a title="HMAS Melbourne (R21)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Melbourne_(R21)">HMAS Melbourne</a> on 28 October 1955.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-Hall72-3-5">[6]</a><br />The <a title="Royal Canadian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Canadian_Navy">Royal Canadian Navy</a> acquired <a title="HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Magnificent_(CVL_21)">Magnificent</a> (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 <a title="HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Bonaventure_(CVL_22)">HMCS Bonaventure</a> and commissioned into the RCN in January 17, 1957, replacing her near-sister ship.<br />Hercules was also upgraded along the lines of Majestic/Melbourne. She was sold to the <a title="Indian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Navy">Indian Navy</a> in 1957, who commissioned her as <a title="INS Vikrant" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Vikrant">INS Vikrant</a> in 1961.<br />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 <a title="ARA Veinticinco de Mayo (V-2)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Veinticinco_de_Mayo_(V-2)">ARA Veinticinco de Mayo</a>, a Colossus class carrier acquired by the <a title="Armada of the Argentine Republic" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armada_of_the_Argentine_Republic">Armada of the Argentine Republic</a>, and she was scrapped without ever being commissioned later in the year.<br /><br />Ships<br /><a title="HMS Hercules (R49)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Hercules_(R49)">Hercules</a><br />She was launched in 1945, but was neglected for 10 years until bought by <a title="India" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India">India</a>. She was commissioned into the Indian Navy in 1961, being named <a title="INS Vikrant" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/INS_Vikrant">INS Vikrant</a>. 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.<br /><a title="HMS Leviathan (R97)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Leviathan_(R97)">Leviathan</a><br />She was launched in 1945, though never completed or commissioned. Her boilers were removed to repair <a title="ARA Veinticinco de Mayo" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ARA_Veinticinco_de_Mayo">ARA Veinticinco de Mayo</a> in 1968, and she was scrapped later that year.<br /><a title="HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Magnificent_(CVL_21)">Magnificent</a><br />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.<br /><a title="HMS Majestic (R77)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Majestic_(R77)">Majestic</a><br />She was launched in 1945, and sold to <a title="Australia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia">Australia</a> 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.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majestic_class_aircraft_carrier#cite_note-6">[7]</a> The ship was renamed <a title="HMAS Melbourne (R21)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Melbourne_(R21)">HMAS Melbourne</a> 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 <a title="Melbourne-Voyager collision" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne-Voyager_collision">HMAS Voyager in 1964</a> and <a title="Melbourne-Evans collision" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melbourne-Evans_collision">USS Frank E. Evans in 1969</a>. She was decommissioned in 1982, and sold to China for scrap in 1985. Instead of scrapping Melbourne, the <a title="People's Liberation Army Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Liberation_Army_Navy">People's Liberation Army Navy</a> studied the carrier and used her to train pilots.<br /><a title="HMS Powerful (R95)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Powerful_(R95)">Powerful</a><br />She was launched in 1945, and was purchased by <a title="Canada" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada">Canada</a> in 1952 to be upgraded to a similar standard to Majestic. She was renamed <a title="HMCS Bonaventure (CVL 22)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Bonaventure_(CVL_22)">HMCS Bonaventure</a> and commissioned into RCN service in January 1957, to replace sister ship <a title="HMCS Magnificent (CVL 21)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Magnificent_(CVL_21)">HMCS Magnificent</a> that was exchanged for the Colossus class carrier <a title="HMCS Warrior" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Warrior">HMCS Warrior</a> in 1948. She was decommissioned in 1970, and was scrapped in Taiwan in 1971.<br /><a title="HMS Terrible (R93)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Terrible_(R93)">Terrible</a><br />She was launched in 1944, and was transferred to the <a title="Royal Australian Navy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Navy">Royal Australian Navy</a>, under the name of <a title="HMAS Sydney (R17)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMAS_Sydney_(R17)">HMAS Sydney</a> in 1948. She was decommissioned in 1958, recommissioned as a fast troop transport in 1962. Sydney participated in both the <a title="Korean War" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_War">Korean</a> and <a title="Vietnam War" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_War">Vietnam</a> Wars. She was decommissioned for the second time in 1973, sold to a South Korean steel mill in 1975, and broken up for scrap.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-88401646657535930642010-03-05T21:43:00.000-08:002010-03-05T22:03:25.281-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWnHkXdlLbY_BdRT47qPWwJOXbqtMmsYmbosvZ_gs5wbb-m0-HNkTINRk-QmWc9xHW7FErrXrHKrS03SRGn0YJwcnlHKm93mXtVsa6SZ3mTW6OnpFiaZRm0V5dv3PjIrkCF65i26vQCQ/s1600-h/navymeter.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445393977630621554" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 86px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWnHkXdlLbY_BdRT47qPWwJOXbqtMmsYmbosvZ_gs5wbb-m0-HNkTINRk-QmWc9xHW7FErrXrHKrS03SRGn0YJwcnlHKm93mXtVsa6SZ3mTW6OnpFiaZRm0V5dv3PjIrkCF65i26vQCQ/s320/navymeter.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiPVjpxgIIw0DcmnDPULwG70EB_Q-zo_6AhLU1or0UH1J6oLgVbfYX94jJgiR9Ci2R3vHeRVHpWNCd1MRyS_G5_7mHEFiBjR5jcwF999_gPBo9QHy5AcReshRICyE0lwZCh7J3JdHAIc/s1600-h/join+navy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445393785929950450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiPVjpxgIIw0DcmnDPULwG70EB_Q-zo_6AhLU1or0UH1J6oLgVbfYX94jJgiR9Ci2R3vHeRVHpWNCd1MRyS_G5_7mHEFiBjR5jcwF999_gPBo9QHy5AcReshRICyE0lwZCh7J3JdHAIc/s320/join+navy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3kwCYKXwR-a4c7uKHIZWIoN9JljSj6qDe9VaLUthDpWxNL9T4fr5BYNJG_uxRWQC1vUQVWKOYEtbJp2U80lSqMW7fk1P-rXYjWDlQEYqs7FDr_D6mMs6QZAIeb3Eg-VzJpc0lHLynSo/s1600-h/navypayscale.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445393563231528770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 309px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih3kwCYKXwR-a4c7uKHIZWIoN9JljSj6qDe9VaLUthDpWxNL9T4fr5BYNJG_uxRWQC1vUQVWKOYEtbJp2U80lSqMW7fk1P-rXYjWDlQEYqs7FDr_D6mMs6QZAIeb3Eg-VzJpc0lHLynSo/s320/navypayscale.jpg" border="0" /></a> On the top is the franking meter of the Intergrated Defence Head-Quarters- Ministry of Defence NAVY.</div><div>It reads thus:</div><div><span style="color:#000066;">"</span><span style="color:#3333ff;">FOR THE PHYSICALLY FIT </span></div><div><span style="color:#000066;"><span style="color:#3333ff;">MENTALLY TOUGH</span>"</span></div><div><span style="color:#000066;">Indian male Philatelists (<span style="color:#ff0000;">age 19 1/2 to 25 years-born between 2nd Jan 1986 and 1st July 1991)</span> who can stand up to this requirement, and want to make a career as an officer in the Indian navy , can access:-</span></div><div><span style="color:#000066;"></span><span style="color:#ff0000;"><a href="http://www.nausena-bharti.nic.in/">http://www.nausena-bharti.nic.in/</a></span></div><div><span style="color:#000000;">for further details.</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-63503005667764455222010-03-05T05:01:00.000-08:002010-03-05T05:06:03.600-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzqmuY4ykEm6eOGWZ77Ks7T5vq4QKruotUpMllmpzNP-m6SVEeZgHEvw5kI0nL5NwTjP_ER5TT2Wh-X-idhmN_1pWoN2U7w4vaGtJY2lLTFbT2nJJtdW6TaMfthwbMTmwqhk_z5QfJkU/s1600-h/navyband.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445134550846283842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 229px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzqmuY4ykEm6eOGWZ77Ks7T5vq4QKruotUpMllmpzNP-m6SVEeZgHEvw5kI0nL5NwTjP_ER5TT2Wh-X-idhmN_1pWoN2U7w4vaGtJY2lLTFbT2nJJtdW6TaMfthwbMTmwqhk_z5QfJkU/s320/navyband.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#cc0000;">This is how we blow our trumpet</span>.<br /><span style="color:#000099;">A TRIBUTE TO INDIAN NAVY BAND</span><br />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.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-51640866108189065072010-03-05T04:58:00.000-08:002010-03-05T05:01:33.734-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYzOZl90-2Xcatuox70EzSlIzSowHPbj2g8jMT5yOzETM4nUx5O7INt04sdEatajtlkwsFebeSJXqDLONWEDb-WxIL6GStojLZKk2vSSwNaj3LtZvEtekz3749XFzB7vxVoEKBGxdxgM/s1600-h/ensignhigh+(3).jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445133664310671442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 234px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIYzOZl90-2Xcatuox70EzSlIzSowHPbj2g8jMT5yOzETM4nUx5O7INt04sdEatajtlkwsFebeSJXqDLONWEDb-WxIL6GStojLZKk2vSSwNaj3LtZvEtekz3749XFzB7vxVoEKBGxdxgM/s320/ensignhigh+(3).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br />The NAVAL ENSIGN flies high as always, from the quarter deck of I.N.S VIKRANT, when in commission.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-77247860768928805222010-03-05T04:49:00.000-08:002010-03-05T05:17:21.789-08:00INIAN HOCKEY TEAM WOULD HAVE PERFORMED BETTER IF:<br />They had practiced on the deck of an aircraft carrier, whilst the carrier was sailing on high seas, as <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFD3RvthOdBLOHu4koB8RPsvA9eKQ9KpjHeQhfWxQa_TMs0EoAFBpa1RTDi_ND7WbKXaWP-Jr1N4IedkwEoWKE7uaywSPfrDXtcIjaJO_ZKEz97m5bal-Y-4z4LB7SMWHEilUW3-AjQU/s1600-h/hockey+on+board.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445137417157916642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 227px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFD3RvthOdBLOHu4koB8RPsvA9eKQ9KpjHeQhfWxQa_TMs0EoAFBpa1RTDi_ND7WbKXaWP-Jr1N4IedkwEoWKE7uaywSPfrDXtcIjaJO_ZKEz97m5bal-Y-4z4LB7SMWHEilUW3-AjQU/s320/hockey+on+board.jpg" border="0" /></a> the brave sailors on board INS VIKRANT did whilst the ship was in commission.Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-75576003502092688082010-02-28T21:53:00.000-08:002010-02-28T22:06:53.652-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguuyQvwtxYbAA02p99Xb6GNO_amRAVVp9cyo-6Vo3T5FPbozD3kl8-oX2Ko1zXTQPj6OC6fgXWUzN8NVtivAE-LGdiYsLqpgDMMYgmF-vLlm16RDGf1fVsP16R6ceo0TbclZFri9GAB8/s1600-h/publicity.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443542759792849026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 236px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguuyQvwtxYbAA02p99Xb6GNO_amRAVVp9cyo-6Vo3T5FPbozD3kl8-oX2Ko1zXTQPj6OC6fgXWUzN8NVtivAE-LGdiYsLqpgDMMYgmF-vLlm16RDGf1fVsP16R6ceo0TbclZFri9GAB8/s320/publicity.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9k6LQ0Ka4WCSzn2OOosJnORntMBXquggFw8LLhyphenhyphen3reAEps1Tl1-f3zeRiM04fL8NNLnDxFhJ_Jvb9gxMUKbtPD8r7QbCbLr5e-JteGqRPbeiePQRRTYKsGoFBVgckEhsITaQumNtvRg/s1600-h/VIKRANT+FDC+CANC.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443542506142896754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9k6LQ0Ka4WCSzn2OOosJnORntMBXquggFw8LLhyphenhyphen3reAEps1Tl1-f3zeRiM04fL8NNLnDxFhJ_Jvb9gxMUKbtPD8r7QbCbLr5e-JteGqRPbeiePQRRTYKsGoFBVgckEhsITaQumNtvRg/s320/VIKRANT+FDC+CANC.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGo-Pwe_bUdq3TfU6jYSDpbVkmOSvpZQr8WP73xcY8UtswCyb7UcBP3nuXXlLCjbGaYI6RRlSMzl0fMxxHh9fuGetJwU2NbBbBWdVXfNNfTBYW-JT97ceC8Eq_j0VyJOb99RvJR8vGtg/s1600-h/navphilex79+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443541290805139090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGo-Pwe_bUdq3TfU6jYSDpbVkmOSvpZQr8WP73xcY8UtswCyb7UcBP3nuXXlLCjbGaYI6RRlSMzl0fMxxHh9fuGetJwU2NbBbBWdVXfNNfTBYW-JT97ceC8Eq_j0VyJOb99RvJR8vGtg/s320/navphilex79+3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbQhOMrBbKCFtaxb737rOM5WSFQMCHQbVHmAzPnt0J0OiKVog2zGmKcHSi4oxNXEp4u9meHx3F5qKf5yyc-2kUZ2DeW7Ey3CHXtYQrAFc_vg83DcBI_u_gfzfg1F2R7t2mPGMKK1ahTE/s1600-h/navphilex79+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443541129550794770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbQhOMrBbKCFtaxb737rOM5WSFQMCHQbVHmAzPnt0J0OiKVog2zGmKcHSi4oxNXEp4u9meHx3F5qKf5yyc-2kUZ2DeW7Ey3CHXtYQrAFc_vg83DcBI_u_gfzfg1F2R7t2mPGMKK1ahTE/s320/navphilex79+2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9ZsGG1rPo5VrN7fOwT1w3CeNbx7c9c8UzP-aUOjLeaBfg6PWXJ8W-NJStVI-3HmL6XoxFjbo80zs1m5Mi2eQg1BBCGI2pszIQTkAEBDkdi7CBX8WiNR6XHsy_8sFi9ot0GqmQyvAvH0/s1600-h/navphilex79+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443540912373311650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 187px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9ZsGG1rPo5VrN7fOwT1w3CeNbx7c9c8UzP-aUOjLeaBfg6PWXJ8W-NJStVI-3HmL6XoxFjbo80zs1m5Mi2eQg1BBCGI2pszIQTkAEBDkdi7CBX8WiNR6XHsy_8sFi9ot0GqmQyvAvH0/s320/navphilex79+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">OUR HISTORY-1970s</span></strong></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;">1. Organisation of NPS: - Some time in mid 1979,the, then, Cdr. S Shekhar now Cmde. (Retd) and the then Lcdr, now Cdr (Retd), U.N Acharya initiated the formation of the NPS. Cdr S Shekhar was in INS Virbahu and Lcdr U.N Acharya was serving his sea time as Electrical Officer on board INS Kavaratti. The, then, Capt., now Cmde. (Retd), S.R Iyengar, Commanding Officer INS Satavahana, agreed to be the founding Chairman. A committee, under the chairmanship of Capt. S.R Iyengar, was formed to conduct NAVPHILEX-79, at the Navy Mela, during Navy Week-1979. The, then, Cdr. Anil Dhir, now Cmde (Retd), joined the Committee in September 1979. Cdr S Shekhar was the Founding Secretary of NPS and the secretary for NAVPHILEX- 79. The then Lt D.N Ghosh was the treasurer Navphilex 79. A loan of Rs 3000/- (Three Thousand only) was taken, from Headquarter Eastern Naval Command, for the conduct of Navphilex 79. V Admiral S Schunker FOC-in-C East later converted this loan to a grant. In Navphilex -79 warships/ships on stamps in 8 frames, compiled by Capt Anil Dhir and Cdr S Shekhar, were exhibited at a stall, during the Navy Mela, from 29 Nov to 1 Dec 1979. Thousands of visitors, who viewed these displays, were very appreciative of the efforts of NPS. The NAVPHILEX-79 can therefore be considered a great success and the credit should go entirely to Capt.A.K Dhir and Cdr S Shekhar. The three days of the exhibition were designated respectively “ Submarine Forces Day”, “ Surface Forces Day” and “ Naval Aviation Day”. A special cover, bearing appropriate design, was issued on each of the three days of the Exhibition. These covers were officially released, in the presence of the Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, SSP, by Vice Admiral M.R Schunker, AVSM, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command, Shri C Arjuna Rao, District Collector, Visakhapatnam AND Capt. A.K Mehra, Vr C, Commanding Officer INS Chilka, respectively (See feature on NAVPHILEX-79 in EASTERN NAVAL NEWS- January 1980). </span></div></div></div></div></div>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-90450545787845225712010-02-28T21:31:00.000-08:002010-03-01T09:10:56.898-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhenWzsPkvmyEQp0MR0LOW2TBQzs2FPjmJ3wBwROICWhx8PcWKgQcobcRO2JqxEYEJoCg6xqqDcGmlUhKgMW8c8IPsTX9yMocZ9de3py4xlAXmMbPnlWK7W_UxmOOXJ4zwyuM6trzxWE/s1600-h/VIKRANT+FDC+CANC.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443536446769714626" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 190px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhenWzsPkvmyEQp0MR0LOW2TBQzs2FPjmJ3wBwROICWhx8PcWKgQcobcRO2JqxEYEJoCg6xqqDcGmlUhKgMW8c8IPsTX9yMocZ9de3py4xlAXmMbPnlWK7W_UxmOOXJ4zwyuM6trzxWE/s320/VIKRANT+FDC+CANC.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>STRANGE BUT TRUE: </p><br /><p>Here is the FDC of INS VIKRANT, silver jubilee of commissioning, released on 16.2.1986. The cancellation shows the same having been given on board INS VIKRANT. This implies that a post office was located on board. Not the case as only ,a bank, a unique occurence, existed on board INS VIKRANT. Be that as it may, an experimental post office could have been opened to cover this event, which to my knowledge it was not effected. ONLY THE CLOUT OF THE NPS or one of its members must have prevailed for this Postal Department gaffe.</p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5472299995930438854.post-68585327057835766612010-02-21T17:09:00.000-08:002010-02-21T17:13:25.660-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UFggDLCer-0l5rL9FhP-ko2SEswSlkDMbOdK6Ibvzug-DkJKliLiNQ__IEcBUW2rY2OjVwp1v2dmIcYUysF7QNVynOyWsHqzp3uKc43A3kIPIVUFHvucoBXFUuGtjp1azNa7ZX4vGLo/s1600-h/Vikrant-25+years+old.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440868895978428754" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 230px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UFggDLCer-0l5rL9FhP-ko2SEswSlkDMbOdK6Ibvzug-DkJKliLiNQ__IEcBUW2rY2OjVwp1v2dmIcYUysF7QNVynOyWsHqzp3uKc43A3kIPIVUFHvucoBXFUuGtjp1azNa7ZX4vGLo/s320/Vikrant-25+years+old.jpg" border="0" /></a> R 11 Vikrant<br />INS Vikrant, the first aircraft carrier of Indian Navy, was decommissioned on January 31, 1997. The ship which played a key role during 1971 Indo-Pak war has now been converted into a maritime museum and anchored off the Gateway of India in Mumbai.<br />The word Vikrant means valiant or powerful, and the crest of the carrier showed a combination of bows and arrows portraying the fighter planes taking off the carrier to strike the enemy. The motto Jayema Sam Yudhi Sprdhah was taken from Rig Veda which means ‘I completely defeat those who dare to fight with me’.<br />Vikrant was originally known as HMS Hercules -- was to be one of the six Majestic-class light fleet aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy. Her keel was laid down November 12, 1943 by Vickers-Armstrong, of Tyne, England, and she was launched September 22, 1945. Construction was suspended after World War II and she was laid up for possible future use.<br />Even though the need for a naval air arm and an aircraft carrier had been accepted in principle before, and again, after Independence in 1947, negotiations for the acquisition of the first carrier from Britain concluded only in 1957. Apart from the lack of resources for so large a project, this ten year delay was also caused by the outbreak of the Korean War, which prevented the British Navy from releasing to India a British aircraft carrier with British fighter aircraft. This delay was fortuitous for it enabled the acquisition from Britain of a surface fleet and the creation ashore of Training Schools to remedy the dislo­cation caused by the partition of the Navy in 1947.<br />Until 1955, the British Navy had not been able to spare a light fleet carrier. Nor could the naval budget have been able to afford one. In 1955, Admiral Mountbatten succeeded in convincing Prime Minister Nehru that the Navy should have a carrier. Formal approval was accorded soon thereafter.<br />By 1957, the Navy was able to finalise the acquisition of the aircraft carrier VIKRANT along with two aircraft squadrons. In April 1957, VIKRANT commenced an extensive refit cum moderni­sation in Britain, scheduled for completion in 1961. Almost all the electronic and electrical equipment was to be replaced. The ship was to be fitted with an angled deck, a steam catapult and a mirror landing sight. Essential spaces were to be air condi­tioned. Additional accomodation and facilities were to be provid­ed to enable VIKRANT to function as the Fleet Commander's flag­ship.<br />Ever since India acquired the carrier, she had come in for severe criticism and much controversy, invariably to her detriment. In 1957, the Russian Defence Minister, Marshal Zhukov, visited India. In Cochin, Rear Admiral RD Katari, the Fleet Commander, invited him to a banquet on board the flagship. In his memoirs, "A Sailor Remembers" he recalls: (Page 83). "From the moment Marshal Zhukov, stepped on board, he virtually impaled me against the centre-line capstan and demanded to know why we were acquiring an aircraft-carrier. Resisting the temptation to tell him that it was none of his business, I tried to explain to him the reasons which induced us to do so, but he could not, or would not, accept them. The discussion was obviously reaching a point of exasperation to both sides but the climax came when Zhukov made the provocative observation that we were buying the carrier at the behest of the British and to please them."<br />In January 1957, she was sold to India, and construction was completed at Harland and Wolff with an extensively modernized design, including an angled deck with steam catapults, a modified island, and many other improvements. A group of about 150 officers and senior technical sailors were flown to the UK in batches in April/May 1957 for supervising the refit of Vikrant at Harland and Wolf Shipyard at Belfast. Towards the end of 1960, the official commissioning date of the ship was fixed as March 4, 1961. Reconstruction and moderanisation of Vikrant took about four years.<br />India became an aircraft carrier nation with the commissioning of INS Vikrant. It was brought to Bombay on November 3, 1961 and later formed part of the Indian Fleet as a fully operational carrier. It was a light fleet carrier.<br />On 16 February 1961 the commissioning warrant was read by Capt P S Mahindroo, the Commanding Officer designate of Vikrant at a gathering of Indian officers and sailors and officials of Harland and Wolf. Her initial airwing consisted of British Hawker Seahawk fighter-bombers and a French Alize anti-submarine aircraft. On May 18, 1961, the first jet landed on board, piloted by Lieutenant (later Admiral) R H Tahiliani.<br />In 1963, India's ambassador in Moscow asked the Russian Defence Minister, Marshal Malinovsky, what sort of defence preparedness India needed against the Chinese threat. He replied that what India needed was a strong, mobile, Army, Navy and Air Force, well equipped with the latest weapons. Instead of a prestigious, overhauled, old British aircraft carrier (which he called the fifth leg of a dog and an easy target), India should go in for a submarine fleet to guard her long coastline.<br />The first active operation in which Vikrant took part was for the liberation of Goa in December 1961. The first warlike operation of Vikrant was the Indo-Pak war of 1965. In 1965 Pakistan claimed that they had sunk her. At the time, however, Vikrant was in the dry dock undergoing her periodical refit.<br />In June 1970 VIKRANT was immobilised in Bombay due to serious cracks and leaks that had developed in the water drum of A1 boiler. Subsequent radiographic examination revealed that the water drums of the remaining three boilers also had a large number of internal fatigue cracks and fissures at each of the circumferential rivetted joints that were beyond repair by welding. It was clear that long term repairs to VIKRANT's boilers were not feasible indigenously. The boilers were first flashed up on 01 Mar 1971 and the ship proceeded to Sea Trials. As a result of these sea trials, it was considered feasible to operate the boilers at low pressure, restricting the ships speed to 14 knots.<br />There were many in the service, some of them very senior officers, who considered VIKRANT a liability in any war with Pakistan. They argued that deployment of the VIKRANT involved certain inherent risks, especially from underwater threats, so considerable escort effort would be required. Many doubted her exact role in a war with Pakistan. Some even went to the extent of suggesting that the VIKRANT should take no part in the war but should be tucked away inside Cochin. VIKRANT was the core round which the Fleet was built and her loss would be something too terrible to contemplate.<br />Vikrant's real opportunity to show her prowess came in the 1971 war. The flagship of the Navy, INS Vikrant was undergoing major dry-dock work in Bombay during 1971. Her one boiler was non-operational for weak boiler tubes unfit for flashing up. The tubes were under replacement along with other repair jobs and the ship was not expected to be operational for another year or so. This was the time when refugees were flooding in, owing to suppression and atrocities leashed out by General Yahya Khan on the people of East Pakistan. Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibhur Rehman was arrested and was not allowed to take over the government as an elected majority leader.<br />INS Vikrant was patched up in a hurry, but her speed was curtailed. This would mean she would be an easy target to Pakistan’s submarines. It was then the brilliant tactician, Vice Admiral Krishnan, C-in-C Eastern, Naval Command requested NHQ to utilize her on the eastern sea-front. At the speed of 12 knots, INS Vikrant was capable of operating only the erstwhile Bregeut Alize aircraft from her Deck. Later the engine room department got the Catapult ready for operations.<br />As soon as the engineering department managed to flash up the unserviceable second boiler the carrier could give sustained speed of 18 knots for the Hawk squadron also to embark and so they too started flying from the carrier. The grit, devotion and the spirit to achieve the impossible gave one and all total confidence to take on all and sundry. The Carrier with its aircraft was itching to go into action. It was then middle of November 1971. Our ‘Iron Lady’, Prime Minister Madam Indira Gandhi gave the indication to our Chiefs that India may have to go to war with Pakistan. In the mean time Vikrant was quietly moved to Port Blair in Andaman Islands and finally positioned in Port Cornwallis Lagoon. On third December evening Pakistan's Air Force struck many Indian airfields. Vikrant received orders to sail and strike enemy airfields in East Pakistan at the earliest.<br />In the 1971 war, the Navy's achievements in the Bay of Bengal sprung from Admiral Nanda's insistence that VIKRANT be sent out at sea and Captain Parkash's courage in letting his eager pilots push to the extreme, the safety limits for launching and recovering aircraft in the low wind conditions in the northern part of the Bay of Bengal.<br />There is no doubt that many of the strikes by Vikrant's aircraft not only hit many vital targets on shore, damaged and sank many ships and crafts, it instilled fear in the enemy. She was considered important enough by the Pakistanis that they sent the submarine Ghazi all the way to the Bay of Bengal to mine the Visakhapatnam harbor in an attempt to sink the aircraft carrier when she put to sea. Vikrant and her aircraft made sure that no supply could reach the enemy by sea. The escape route of Pakistani land forces from East Pakistan by sea was completely cut off. These factors undoubtedly helped substantially to hasten the surrender of Pakistani troops.<br />Vikrant earned two Mahavir Chakras and 12 Vir Chakras.<br />VIKRANT underwent three modernisation refits. Vikrant was given an extensive refit, including new engines and modernization between 1979 and 03 January 1982. This was the first phase of her modernisation, her boilers were renewed, new radars were fitted, facilities were installed to operate the Sea Harriers, new anti air­craft guns were fitted, the communication systems were modernised, the air conditioning was extended, and the cata-pult and arrestor gear were overhauled since Alizes would continue to operate.<br />Between December 1982 and February 1983 she was refitted again to permit her to operate Sea Harriers.<br />After the retirement of the Alize propeller-driven anti-submarine planes from carrier service in 1989, she received a ski jump for more efficient use of her Harriers. In this second phase of modernisation the catapault and arrestor gear were removed, a ski jump was fitted in the bows to assist the Sea Harriers to take off, facilities were installed to operate the newer technologi­cally advanced Seaking helicopters and their new missiles and torpedoes.<br />A pilot who ditches is expected to allow his aircraft to sink sufficiently before he operates his ejection seat and separates himself from the aircraft and his parachute. Keeping a cool head in such circumstances requires discipline of the highest order. When the engine room receives the order "full astern" from "half ahead", it is an emergency manoeuvre where risk to the machinery is acceptable. The watchkeepers throw open the stern manoeuvering valves admitting steam to the stern turbines, even while the ahead valves are still being closed. Under these conditions the propellers can be stopped and reversed in a little over 20 seconds. The stern of a 700-foot ship takes longer than this to reach the area of ditching even at 20 knots. With the propellers going astern, the propeller wash is forward, although the ship continues to have considerable way on her. This prevents any suction into the propeller zone and anything floating in the vicinity gets pushed forward and outward.<br />Vikrant was India's only carrier for over 20 years, but by the early 1990s she was effectively out of service because of her poor condition. Even following major overhauls she rarely put to sea. She was formally decommissioned 31 January 1997.<br />The ex-aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, INS Vikrant is converted into a floating museum and rechristened Indian Museum Ship (IMS) Vikrant. But as of 2003 funds for the maintenance or its resurrection as a tourist attraction had still to materialise. She was initially anchored opposite to Middle Ground near Gateway of India in Mumbai. It is precisely a five minute ride from Gateway of India. The Navy extensively refurbished Vikrant and opened it to the visitors during Navy Week in December. During the period of a fortnight, over one lakh people visited the ship.<br />Pending formal conversion into maritime museum by the Government of Maharashtra and considering the overwhelming response from the visitors, the Navy has now thrown open Vikrant to the public from 12 January 2002 on a trial basis. This was with a view to meet the enormous demand of the public to see the ship and also assess the economic viability of sustaining her. A corpus of about Rs 12 crore was needed to generate funds for the ship's annual upkeep. Corporate sponsorships and contributions are welcome.<br />To state that Mumbai's Naval Dockyard is a gold mine for heritage partisans is old hat, with the floating museum that is the INS Vikrant.<br />The preliminary focus of the museum was to highlight the role of the ship as the cradle of naval aviation in the country. Subsequently, it was decided to expand this to include all facets of naval activities so that the general public could get to see and understand the Navy in all its hues. Specialised naval areas like diving, naval operations, armament, missiles, naval uniforms and seamanship aspects were therefore included in the gamut of artifacts, exhibits and displays. The museum is now a microcosm of the entire Navy.<br />The museum will be further expanded to cover naval operations in greater depth, depicting the glory of naval victory in 1971 and the role of Vikrant in achieving this victory. Also, other compartments of the ship that can be converted will be made operational/functional as and when more funds become available.<br /><br /><div></div>Naval Philatelic Society (India)http://www.blogger.com/profile/01849580903698607270noreply@blogger.com0