INS Satavahana Golden Jubilee (1974-2024), Visakhapatnam - Special Cover

On 21 Dec 1974 in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, the premier submarine training establishment, INS Satavahana, under Eastern Naval Command was commissioned by the Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral SN Kohli at a function that included the investiture ceremony.

The base is named after the great Satavahana Dynasty, which in turn takes the name from the first ruler, Srimukha Satavahana. Ruling over the Deccan for over 400 years - 184 BC to 300 AD, the kingdom is known to have established trade with the Far East - islands of Malaysia and Indonesia.

As an integrated training establishment, for all branches of officers and sailors in the submarine arm, it has the following facilities:

(a) the Submarine School (SMS)

(b) the Escape Training School (ETS), and

(c) the School of Advanced Undersea Warfare (SAUW).

The primary role of this establishment is to impart world class submarine and escape training to meet the stringent performance objectives and exacting standards of the Submarine Arm. It is the only integrated training establishment in the Indian Navy, as it carries out training for all branches of officers and sailors of the Submarine Arm.

Training is also conducted for personnel from foreign navies, thus making it the most sought after submarine training establishments in the whole of South East Asia. Personnel from 25 countries including Vietnam, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and South Africa have been trained here.

The crest design in its upper half depicts a steering wheel surrounded by a cogged wheel with sparks

emanating from its sides. This represents the integrated type of submarine training being imparted at the establishment to the sailors of the Seaman, Engineering and Electrical branches. The lower half contains a representation of an erstwhile ship taken from a coin of Satavahana dynasty. The motto in Sanskrit, ‘Abhyasaat Sidhi' means, ‘Practice Leads to Achievement’. 

The cover illustration depicting a sailor viewing through periscope is a sculpture at the entrance of INS Satavahana premises.

Text & image Source: Today We Remember - Facebook Page, Wikipedia, Indian Navy - Facebook Page, Bharat-rakshak.com

3rd Award for my blog - Silver-Bronze at TANAPEX 2025, Chennai

Latest award for my blog - Silver-Bronze at TANAPEX 2025 - Tamilnadu State-Level Philatelic Exhibition held at Amma Arangam, Chennai - Jan 29 - Feb 01, 2025. Received the Certificate and Medal from Smt. Mariamma Thomas, Chief Postmaster General, Tamilnadu Circle & Jury Chairperson TANAPEX 2025.

Pic Courtesy: Mr.PeeVee

French Aircraft Carrier - Bearn

 

Date of Issue: Nov 07, 2022

The stamp depicts Hunter Dewoitine and Aircraft Carrier Bearn.

The image of the Dewoitine and Bearn were printed using intaglio, and the rest of the design by offset printing.

As a ship theme collector, the aircraft carrier caught my attention.

Béarn, named for the historic province of Béarn, was an aircraft carrier converted from an incomplete

Normandie-class battleship for the Marine nationale (French Navy) during the 1920s. The only aircraft carrier France produced until after World War II, the ship played a minor role in early stages of the war, training in home waters and conducting pilot training.

The ship's flight deck was 180 meters (590 ft 7 in) long and it had a maximum width of 27 meters (88 ft 7 in). The deck itself was composed of two overlapping 12-millimeter (0.47 in) plates covered by 50–70 millimeters (2.0–2.8 in) of African teak.

The ship was designed with two hangar decks, of which only the upper 124-meter-long (406 ft 10 in) hangar could be used for aircraft operations as the lower hangar was dedicated to workshops and aircraft assembly and storage facilities.

The above image matches the design on the stamp.

Click here to know more about the aircraft carrier Bearn.

Text Source: Wikipedia
Image Source: wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com

China 2024 Shipbuilding Industry in China

 Date of Issue: April 23, 2024

The above mini sheet comprises two sets of 4 stamps depicting various vessels, a testament to growing China's Shipbuilding Industry.

Chinese Aircraft Carrier - Shandong:

Shandong is a Chinese aircraft carrier that was launched on 26 April 2017 for the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of the People's Republic of China. It is the country's first domestically built aircraft carrier.  

Shandong was constructed by the Dalian Shipbuilding Industry, part of the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, in Dalian, Liaoning province, China.

The carrier was commissioned on 17 December 2019 at Sanya, Hainan by Central Military Commission chairman Xi Jinping and was officially named Shandong.

It is capabe of carrying up to 30 aircrafts.

Click here to know more about Shandong.

Chinese Destroyer - Nanchang (101)

Nanchang (101) is a Type 055 destroyer of the People's Liberation Army Navy. She is the lead ship of the class and laid down in December 2014 at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai.  She was commissioned on 12 January 2020. When launched, Nanchang was among the largest post-Second World War warships launched in East Asia. She is equipped with wide range of armaments including short-range SAM 24-cell launcher, surface-to-air missiles, anti-ship cruise missiles, land-attach cruise missiles, anti-submarine torpedoes, anti-ship ballistic missiles and can carry 2 medium-lift helicopters.

Click here to know more about Nanchang (101)

Adora Magic City - China's first large-scale cruise ship

It was built by a joint venture between China State Shipbuilding Corp (CSSC) and Carnival, an American cruise operator. 

It has 15 decks and can accommodate up to 5,246 passengers and 1,292 crew members.  The ship has 2,125 cabins.The ship's launch is a milestone in China's shipbuilding industry.

CMA CGM Jacques Saade

The world's largest container vessel powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) as well as fuel oil.

It was named and handed over by its Chinese manufacturers to its French buyer in Changxing Island in Shanghai on Tuesday, proving that China's shipbuilding industry has moved from following others to "leading the pack" in terms of large container ship manufacturing.

With a deck as large as 23,978 square meters, roughly equivalent to the size of three and a half standard soccer fields, the world's largest and most advanced dual-fuel container ship can be loaded with 23,000 TEUs at a single time.

Text Source: Wikipedia, globaltimes.cn

Cuba Coast Guard - Mirando al Mar

Date of Issue: February 11, 2017

The Border Troops (part of Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces) of the Republic of Cuba are de facto both a border guard and a coast guard force, and all new officers are commissioned from the Granma Naval Academy. It is a branch that ensures the protection of the state borders and territorial waters.

Depicted on the stamp is a fast patrol boat with number 091. Could not get much information online. If anyone could share more information to be published, I would be grateful.

 

2nd Award for my Blog - Silver Medal at Kalanchiam@79°E, Thanjavur

Latest Award for my blog - Won a silver medal at Kalanchiam@79°E - District Level Philatelic Exhibition organized by India Post, Central Region, Tamilnadu held at Tamil University, Thanjavur on October 8 & 9, 2024.