I.N.S. Vikrant
A commemorative postage stamp on the 25th Anniversary of INS Vikrant, a Majestic-class aircraft carrier of Indian Navy :
Issued by India
Issued on Feb 16, 1986
Issued for : The Department of Post is privileged to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the silver jubilee of INS Vikrant.
Description of Designs : A 200p Stamp of the Silver Jubilee of I.N.S. VIKRANT is based on the art work prepared by Alka Sharma and designed by India Security Press, Nashik Road. The First Day Cover shows a Sea Harrier Aircraft ready for take off with Alize and Seaking Aircraft started upon either side of the deck ready for launch and the crest of I.N.S. VIKRANT superimposed on it. The First Day Cover is based on the transparency courtesy Lieutenant Commander S.S. Gulati.
Type : Stamp, Postal Used
Colour : Multi colour
Denomination : 200 Paise
Printed at : India Security Press
About :
- The Silver Jubilee of I.N.S.-Vikrant, India‘s only aircraft carrier falls on 16 Feb. 1986. Vikrant will be completing 25 years of glorious service which is a matter of pride not only for the Indian Navy but the entire country. As a flag-ship she has always kept the Navy’s flag flying high and her service to the country, particularly during 1971 war, shall always be remembered.
- Initially known as Hercules, Vikrant is one of the 6 Majestic class aircraft carriers. Hercules was purchased by the Government of India in Jan. 1957 and the ship was commissioned as INS-Vikrant on 16 Feb. 1961. Smt. Vijayalakshmi Pandit, the then High Commissioner of India, formally took over the ship from Mr. Orr Ewing, the Civil Lord of the Admiralty on 4 Mar. 1961.
- Soon after arrival, Vikrant took part in the liberation of Goa in Dec. 1961. The air squadrons of INS-Vikrant participated in the 1965 hostilities.
- During the Pakistan aggression in 1971 Vikrant showed her real prowess. As the flag ship of the Eastern Fleet, commencing on 4 Dec. 1971, she launched strikes on Cox Bazar, Chittagong airfield and ships in harbour of Chalna, Khulna and Mongla. The part played by Vikrant in the 1971 operations undoubtedly helped hasten the surrender of Pakistani troops thus giving birth to our new neighbour Bangladesh.
- In 1971, the Navy acquired Seaking anti-submarine helicopters which formed an important part of Vikrant’s inventory thus making Vikrant a composite ASW unit.
- The aging Sea-Hawk fighters were replaced by the modern VSTOL Sea Harrier aircraft in 1983. The Seaking are also being augmented with highly sophisticated and modern sensors. With the fighters and ASW aircraft and helicopters, Vikrant is capable of providing protection to any threat may it be sub-surface, surface or air.
[…] which we inherited from the British in 1947, had by now grown its wings (the aircraft carrier VIKRANT had joined the fleet in 1961) and had also moved into the third dimension with the acquisition of […]
[…] and three years later, the Navy “acquired its wings” when the aircraft-carrier “Vikrant” joined the fleet. In between, three squadrons of modern anti-aircraft and anti-submarine […]