MS Cap San Diego - Hamburg - 50 years

Thanks again to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for this envelope with special postmark to commemorate 50 years of the ship MS Cap San Diego.

The MS Cap San Diego was constructed by the Deutsche Werft, Hamburg, contract No. 785. The vessel is from bow to stern a Hamburg ship and was designed by the well known Hamburg marine architect Cäsar Pinnau. She was delivered on March 27th, 1962 to the fleet of the "Hamburg-Südamerikanische Dampfschifffahrtsgesellschaft". She is the youngest of 6 sister ships, named "Cap San Antonio", "Cap San Augustin", "Cap San Lorenzo", "Cap San Marco" and "Cap San Nicolas".

With their sleek hulls and massive sterns, these ships resembled elegant yachts rather than freighters with a loading capacity of 10,300 tons.

Text Source: capsandiego.de

FGS Passau M1096 - Minesweeper

Thanks to friend, Mr. Wolfgang Beyer, Germany for sending me this envelope with beautiful postmark of FGS Passau (M1096), a KULMBACH class (type 333) minesweeper commissioned in December 18, 1990. The postmark design shows FGS (Federal German Ship) Passau passing Kiel canal.

Minesweeper: A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.

Galley and Galleon

Date of Issue: June 28, 2002
Scott #: 418

A colorful miniature sheet showing design of a Galley and a Galleon.

Galley: A galley is a type of ship propelled by rowers that originated in the Mediterranean region and was used for warfare, trade and piracy from the first millennium BC. Galleys dominated naval warfare in the Mediterranean Sea from the 8th century BC until development of advanced sailing warships in the 16th century. 

 

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire galleys formed the mainstay of the Byzantine navy and other navies of successors of the Roman Empire, as well as new Muslim navies. Medieval Mediterranean states, notably the Italian maritime republics, including Venice, Pisa, and Genoa, used galleys until the ocean-going man-of-war made them obsolete. The Battle of Lepanto was one of the largest naval battles in which galleys played the principal part.

Galleys were in common use until the introduction of broadside sailing ships of war into the Mediterranean in the 17th Century, but continued to be applied in minor roles until steam propulsion.

Galleon: A galleon was a large, multi-decked sailing ship used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries. Whether used for war or commerce, they were generally armed with the demi-culverin type of cannon.

The galleon was powered entirely by wind, using sails carried on three or four masts, with a lateen sail continuing to be used on the last (usually third and fourth) masts. They were used in both military and trade applications, most famously in the Spanish treasure fleet, and the Manila Galleons.

The galleon continued to be used into the 18th century, by which time purpose-built vessels such as the fluyt, the brig and the full rigged ship, both as a trading vessel and ship of the line, rendered it obsolete for trade and warfare respectively.

Text Source: Wikipedia

Indian Navy Official Film 2011 President's Fleet Review

This publicity film was released by the Indian Navy as part of the Presidential Fleet Review 2011.

The Punjab Regiment - 250 Years - Galley Insignia

Date of Issue: October 12, 2011

The Punjab Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The first battalions were raised between 1761 and 1798. The Regiment has the proud privilege of earning 35 pre-independence battle honors and 14 post-independence battle honors besides eight COAS unit citations and 13 Army Commander Unit citations.

The Regiment insignia is a Galley, an ancient Greek or Roman warship. It is perhaps the only Infantry Regiment with an insignia of a naval vessel in the world.

Maritime Heritage of Tamilnadu - Rock Painting at Keelvalai

Date of Issue: October 8, 2011

Special Cover issued during SIPEX 2011 - Philately exhibition organized by SIPA - South India Philatelists' Association, Chennai.

The cover design shows the rock art / paintings at Keelvalai in Villupuram District of Tamilnadu, a South Indian state. The paintings, people on a small boat with pole dates back to 1000 - 500 B.C. and drawn using red ochre. Even though these sites have been known by archaeologists for more than twenty years, very little has been done so far to preserve the art forms that are usually near granite quarrying sites.