INS Valsura - Golden Jubilee - 1942 - 2002

Date of Issue: December 15, 2002

Many thanks to my new friend and swap partner, Mr. Jaydev, The Right Honourable Shri Nansey of Jamnagar, for providing me this special cover for my collection.

INS Valsura: located in Rozi Island in the Gulf of Kutch, 5 km from Jamnagar, is a premier training establishment of the Indian Navy.

HMIS Valsura was commissioned by Colonel Digvijay Singhji, the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar, on December 15, 1942 as the Torpedo Training School of The Royal Indian Navy. The name Valsura means Swordfish , which was also the name of the most common torpedo carrying aircraft of the Royal Navy. Post- Independence, the establishment was renamed Indian Naval Ship Valsura.

The Second World War saw a sudden spurt in the use of electricity on board warships, with intensive use of

radio equipment, early warning and gunnery radar and introduction of computers and fire control systems. The course of the war soon determined that torpedo training was very much required and as a consequence, electrical training.

To counter the menace created by the German U-boats to Allied shipping during World War II, formation of the Electrical Branch in the Indian Navy in 1947, resulted in INS Valsura becoming the alma mater for the electrical branch. Since then, thousands of officers and sailors have passed out of its portals to take care of a wide array of systems on-board and offshore in combat.

INS Valsura is one of the oldest establishments of the Indian Navy. While keeping pace with the recent technological developments, the establishment is striving for excellence in technology. It has its roots firm in the service ethos of character building and an all-round development of the trainees. INS Valsura undertakes training of officers, sailors and civilian personnel of the Navy, Coast Guard and friendly foreign navies in electrical, electronics, computer and weapon engineering disciplines. Professional training for electrical artificers and power & radio branch sailors is also conducted here.

The picture above is the crest of INS Valsura. The motto below the crest translates to - "The light that emanates from here illuminates the whole world."

Source: insvalsura.gov.in, Bharat-Rakshak.com

Red Cross Ship SS Vega

Date of Issue: May 08, 2013

Jersey Post issued a set of six stamps and a miniature sheet to commemorate 150th Anniversary of International Red Cross on May 8th, the Birthday of its founder, Henry Dunant.

Since its inception 150 years ago, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has become the world's largest network of volunteer-based humanitarian organizations, helping people during times of war and peace, suffering and tragedy.

Jersey was occupied by Nazi troops from 1940-1945, and islanders experienced first-hand the humanitarian efforts of the Red Cross. Not only did the Red Cross postal message system keep Channel Islanders in touch with their relatives, the Red Cross ship ss Vega delivered food parcels at times when the situation was becoming desperate and many lives were saved.

During her six visits, the Vega delivered 456,264 standard food parcels and 22,200 diet supplement parcels. On her final voyage, 118 bales of medical supplies and 23 cases of x-ray equipment, food, clothing, and fuel were delivered arriving in Jersey on May 31, 1945.

Text Source: Presentation pack of Jersey Post.

60 Years of Indian Naval Aviation (1953 - 2013)

Date of Issue: May 11, 2013

The Department of Posts, India - Maharashtra and Goa Circle issued a Special Cover to commemorate 60 Years (Diamond Jubilee) of Indian Naval Aviation, at a function held at INS Hansa, Goa.

The cover is creatively designed, with timeline showing the type of aircrafts inducted into the Naval Aviation arm over the last 60 years, and the newly commissioned MiG-29k fighter jet.

The first naval air station, INS Garuda, was inaugurated in Cochin on May 11, 1953.

Commissioning of INAS 303 MiG-29 Aircraft - Black Panthers

Date of Issue: May 11, 2013

The Department of Posts, India - Maharashtra and Goa circle issued a Special Cover to commemorate the Commissioning of Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 303 of MiG-29 Aircraft. Also called Black Panthers. On the right, is the Crest of INAS 303.

Defence Minister AK Antony commissioned the first MiG-29 K - supersonic fighter jets squadron into the Indian Navy at the INS Hansa in Goa, on May 11, 2013.

India has about 45 MiG-29K which have cost the exchequer $2.4 billion (over Rs. 13,200 crore). A squadron each will be positioned on board INS Vikramaditya and the indigenously-made aircraft carrier - INS Vikrant - that is expected to be launched on July 12, 2013. Till then the planes will fly from Goa.

This is the first-induction of fighters in the Navy since the Sea Harriers were commissioned in early 1980s.

In the 60 years of the Fleet Air Arm, this is the first time that the Indian Navy will be operating the aircraft that can fly faster than the speed of sound. Moreover, the ability of the MiG-29K to stay in air, cover distance with weapons is about four times more than the existing British made Sea Harrier aircraft. The MiG-29 can also be refuelled mid-air allowing it to cover longer distances.

"The MiG-29 K will be a game changer in Indian Ocean region. It will allow us to fly longer distances and maintain a better vigil. The arc of the influence of the Indian Navy in the Indian Ocean region now stands increased and strengthened," Flag officer Commanding Western Naval Command Admiral Shekhar Sinha, who is also senior-most aviator of the Indian Navy, said.

Source: Wikipedia, strapost.com, ndtv.com

Spanish Transatlantic Steamship - Jose Gallart - Postcard

Received this wonderful picture postcard today, from Spanish Postcrossing user - luiseme, showing Spanish Transatlantic Steamship - Jose Gallart, Barcelona. The advert says Regular direct services offered, stopping at various ports in the Mediterranean and the South American Coast.

Mongolia - 500th Anniv. of Discovery of Americas by Christopher Columbus

Many thanks to friend, Mr. Robert Schrijvers in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for this letter with miniature sheet issued to commemorate 500th Anniversary of the Discovery of The Americas by Christopher Columbus.

A set of 7 stamps were also issued by Mongol Post to commemorate this event.

The letter is posted on May 15, 2013 and received on June 03, 2013.

To match the actual postage, more stamps are placed on the reverse side of the envelope. The first stamp shows image of Christopher Columbus, and second one showing his flagship Santa Maria. The logo of Colombian Stamp Expo 92 logo can also seen, which is used by most countries of the world which issued stamps for this event.

The background of the miniature sheet shows the northern hemisphere, and a line in red showing Mongolia is exactly on the other side of the world, to U.S.A.