Built at Howrah Dock Company, Calcutta, India for Capt. W. Clifton and Alexander & Co.
September 1829 keel laid down.
12 December 1829 launched as the RED ROVER.

A report as given by Basil Lubbock in his book The Opium Clippers gives on the launch:
A launch is at all times a very gay and highly interesting scene, and that of the RED ROVER from the yard of the Howrah Dock Company on Saturday afternoon was particularly so. Numerous boats filled with gay company, amidst which were conspicuous many of the fashionables of Calcutta, arrived at an early hour and at a quarter past three Lady William Bentinck , Lord Combermere and suite landed under the usual salute.
Her ladyship having christened the vessel, the dog shores were struck away, and at half-past three the RED ROVER glided majestically into her new element amid deafening shouts of applause and a salute of thirteen guns from the beach, which was answered from on board.
This beautiful little vessel drew but 9 ft 6 ins. aft and 7 ft forward, and we are informed by competent judges that she is of her kind perfect in every suspect.
At four o’clock Lady William Bentinck, Lord Combermere and a numerous assemblage of ladies and gentlemen sat down to an elegant collation laid out in the most tasteful manner. During refreshment the band of His Majesty’s 16th Regiment performed some favourite pieces.

She was flush-decked with little or no sheer, square stern with a long counter but no quarter-galleries.
She carried a figurehead of a fierce effigy of Cooper’s famous character after whom de barque was named.
Tonnage 254 tons, dim.29.78 x 7.32 x 3.38m.
Barque rigged. She was armed with?.
1829 Completed.

She was the first truly built opium clipper, and she carried three times a year the opium from India to China.
28 December 1829 her maiden voyage under command of Captain Clifton from Calcutta was with on board 800 chest of opium arriving in Singapore on 20 January 1830, where she remained until the 26th January, before he sailed from Singapore after some alternations were made in the rigging.
Arriving 17 February at Macao after a passage of 22days against the monsoon, never before a vessel had made this passage so fast.
After 10 days she left homeward bound where she arrived on 1 April making the round voyage from pilot to pilot in 86 days.
After she made three opium voyages within a year Capt. Clifton received from the Chamber of Commerce of Calcutta out of the hands of Lord William Bentinck a bonus of 1 lac of rupees, and from the merchants two silver vases, inscribed with the RED ROVER’s performances.
In 1832 and 1833 the RED ROVER opened a new passage from Singapore to Canton against the northeast monsoon, reducing the voyage from 3-4 months via the easterly Pitt’s Passage to just twenty days.
1833: 211/3 shares of Alexander & Co. were taken over by Brightman & Co and 10 2/3 by Francis Mender a merchant.
In 1834 she made a fast voyage from China to Bengal in 23 days 19 hours.
1836 Command taken over by Captain Wright.
1846 She was bought by Jardine, Matheson & Co.
Her best opium voyage was in 1848 when under command of Captain Oliver she left from Calcutta on 07 May and arrived in Canton on 11 June.

She was lost in the early 1870s, other sources give in the midst 1860s

Guyana 1998 $80 sg?, scott3309d

Source: The Opium Clippers by Basil Lubbock.

Alastor was a barque built 1875, official No 69930. Broken up Grays, 1952.
No other information.
Guyana

Built by the Lockheed Martin Missile and Space Company at Redwood City, California for the United State Navy.
22 October 1982 ordered.
1984 Completed as the SEA SHADOW.
Displacement 572 ton, dim. 50 x 21 x 4.6m. (draught).
Powered diesel electric, speed 14.2 knots.
Crew 4.
Armament: nil.
01 March 1985 acquired by the navy.

SEA SHADOW (IX-529) is an experimental stealth ship built by Lockheed for the United States Navy to determine how a low radar profile might be achieved and to test high stability hull configurations which have been used in oceanographic ships.
SEA SHADOW was built in 1984 and used in secret but normal service until her public debut in 1993, to examine the application of stealth technology on naval vessels. In addition, the ship was designed to test the use of automation to enable the reduction of crew size. The ship was created by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Navy and Lockheed. SEA SHADOW was developed at Lockheed's Redwood City, California, facility, inside the Hughes Mining Barge (HMB-1), which functioned as a floating drydock during construction and testing. It is sometimes referred to as USS SEA SHADOW however, this designation is inappropriate as it was never a fully commissioned ship of the U.S. Navy.
SEA SHADOW has a SWATH hull design. Below the water are submerged twin hulls, each with a propeller, aft stabilizer, and inboard hydrofoil. The portion of the ship above water is connected to the hulls via the two angled struts. The SWATH design helps the ship remain stable even in very rough water of up to sea state 6 (wave height of 18 feet (5.5 m) or "very rough" sea). The shape of the superstructure has sometimes been compared to the casemate of the ironclad ram CSS VIRGINIA of the American Civil War.
The T-AGOS 19-and-23-class oceanographic ships have inherited the stabilizer and canard method to help perform their stability-sensitive surveillance missions.
SEA SHADOW has only 12 bunks aboard, one small microwave oven, a refrigerator and table. It was never intended to be mission capable and was never commissioned, although it is listed in the Naval Vessel Register.
SEA SHADOW was revealed to the public in 1993, and was housed at the San Diego Naval Station until September 2006, when it was relocated with the Hughes Mining Barge - inside which it still resides - to the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in Benicia, CA. The vessels are available for donation to a maritime museum.
In 2006, the U.S Navy began to try to sell the SEA SHADOW to the highest bidder; after the initial offering met with a lack of interest, it was listed for dismantling sale on gsaauctions.gov The U.S. Government requires that the buyer cannot sail the ship and is required to dumped the ship for recycling scraps. The ship was finally sold in 2012 for $3.2 million.
SEA SHADOW was also the inspiration for the stealth ship in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies.
The SEA SHADOW’s design also provided an inspiration to the ASUS computer company for some of their gaming laptops, the G73, G53, G74, and recently announced G55 and G75 models.
A heavily modified version of the Sea Shadow is used as a Landing Zone for player-controlled attack helicopters in the Electronic Arts video game Nuclear Strike.
Mali 1997 250F sg?, scott903c
Source: Wikipedia.

The ship on the stamp is identified by Mr. Peter Crichton as one of the Leopard class. He wrote she has a very distinct profile with the very large anti-aircraft radar.
I have compared photo's with the stamp and Peter is correct she is one of the Leopard class, there were four of this class, and only the LYNX I could not find that she has made a call at Tristan da Cunha, the JAGUAR made a call outside the timeframe. The PUMA and LEOPARD made both a call in 1962 during the volcanic eruption, so we have two ships which can be depict on the stamp, most probably the LEOPARD is depict see http://royalnavymemories.co.uk/hms-leop ... ommission/ the beach on the stamp looks very similar as on the photo on this web-site (Hicks Beach).

But we can not be sure so I will give her as one of the LEOPARD class most probably the HMS LEOPARD.

I have just received a sheet of Mexican charity seals for 2010-2011. One of these seals show the Mexican research vessel EL PUMA.
The acquisition of the two research vessels (R/V EL PUMA AND R/V JUSTO SIERRA) of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México represented a milestone for the development of oceanography and capacity building in Mexico. These ships were designed to conduct multi and interdisciplinary research in the Economic Exclusive Zone of Mexico in the main areas of oceanography (Physics, Geology, Chemistry and Biology). Their use, by different institutions, resulted in a substantial advancement of the knowledge of Marine ecosystems of Mexico.
About 460 oceanographic voyages, with more than 8700 participants, have been conducted since the ships arrived. These covered a wide array of topics of the marine ecosystem from the inner shelf to deep sea. Extensive research was done on current patterns, primary productivity and pollution monitoring of the Mexican Pacific, Sea of Cortez, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean sea. Marine biodiversity studies were also carried which discovered more than 180 new species in Mexican seas. Ecological characterization and paleo-oceanographic research from continental shelf to deep sea also registered a substantial advance. The vessels are now fitted with hi-tech equipment for sea bottom, water column and navigation that increased their research capacity, representing again a new milestone in the history of oceanography in Mexico.
Vessel Information
EL PUMA (Mexico)
Call Sign: XCUM
Owner: Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico-Unam
Operator: Instituto De Ciencias Del Mar Y Limnologia
Builder: MJELLEM & KARLSEN yard No 129
Place of build (Country): BERGEN (NOR)
Date of Build: 08 Nov 1980
Main vessel activity
Oceanography
Ocean area where vessel operates: Pacific, Eastern Central; California Gulf
Main dimensions
Length OA: 49.99m
Breadth: 10.30m
Freeboard to working deck: 0.5m
Max. draft: 4.70m
Capacities and working spaces
Gross tonnage: 638 GRT. 1,050 DWT.
Dry cargo holds: 0m3
Fuel: 200m3
Fresh water: 44m3
Wet laboratories (total area): 0m2
Dry laboratories (total area): 0m2
Fresh water generator capacity: 7m3
Free working deck area: 0m2
Space for container laboratory: 3m x 6m
Range, speed and endurance
Range: 9000n. mi.
Cruising speed: 12.0 kts.
Max. speed: 12.5 kts.
Endurance: 30 days
Accommodation
Officers: 6. Other crew: 9. Scientists: 20
Air-conditioned: yes
Design Particulars
Hull materials:
Steel
Energy sources
Main engine(s): number: 1 make: Diesel model:
Power (BHP) each main engine: 1680at 770rpm
Diameter and max. rpm propeller: 2.550m 245rpm
Total power auxiliary diesels: 650HP
Electrical systems
AC Voltage: 0 / 440V, total 225kVA, 3phase, 60Hz
AC Voltage: / 440V, total 225kVA, 3phase, 60Hz
DC Voltage: 0V, total 0V
Stabilized system for scientific equipment: 120VAC 66AMP 60Hz
Fixed equipment
Navigation and communication
Nav. equip: Radar Loran SatNav Gyro DopLog
Comms: Fax
Comm sat:
GPS:
Acoustic
Echosounders for scientific research: 40kHz
Sonar: Sector-scan
Provisions for silent ship operation:
Oceanographic
Oceanographic winches: number: 3
Steel wire length: 1800m, safe working load: 0 tons
Conducting cable length: 7000m, safe working load: 0 tons
Other, specify: Synthetic Cable length: 5000m safe working load: 12 tons
Winch for bottom sampling, wire length: 5000m, safe working load: 13 tons
Gantry
Position: Stern, Midships
Clearance above deck: 7m and outboard extension: 3m
Safe working load at max. reach: 3 tons
Crane
Position: Stern
Clearance above deck: 0m and outboard extension: 10m
Safe working load at max. reach: 3 tons
Other winches for instruments or sampling:
Electronic data processing equipment permanently available on board
Computer: COMPAQ;ONIX 325;316:
Vessel construction and maintenance supervision
Construction supervised by:
Classification Society: DNV
Sources:- http://www.researchvessels.org/country/ ... l_puma.htm
http://www.veristar.com/wps/portal/!ut/ ... 28#7_1_KAV
http://www.agu.org/meetings/sm07/sm07-s ... OS32A.html
http://as01.ucis.dal.ca/wag/template/up ... essels.pdf
http://www.tdi-bi.com/what%27s_new/aug99/new-vessel.htm
Various web sites.

Peter Crichton.
__._,_.___

She was a Spanish “tartana” the type exist at least from the 12th century until the 20th century and some were employed on the Atlantic coast of North America. Two or three masted vessels
The MARK ANTONIE was also used as a privateer and in ballast from St Eustatius to Cape Henlope under command of Captain Jean Bautist Hugonne.
18 July 1777 she ran in the Bermuda’s reef’s and was lost.
Her wreck was discovered in the early 1960’s and she sits on a reef in 20 feet of water.

Bermuda 1986 50c sg516A scott? 1992 55c sg?, scott?

Source: Log Book and various web-sites

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company placed the order for RMS Mooltan with Harland and Wolff Ltd on 29 November 1918. On the same date, an order was placed for her sister ship RMS Maloja. RMS Mooltan was given the yard #587 and work began on her in the Belfast shipyard. She was launched on 15 January 1923. She was then put through her sea trials and was finally delivered on 21 September 1923. At that time she was the first P&O ship over 20,000 tons, but she had sacrificed speed for reliability and comfort. The Mooltan had broad decks and would have a reputation for magnificent steadiness, although, because of her small rudder, handling would prove to be difficult.
SS Mooltan set off on her maiden voyage on 5 October 1923. She left the Port of Tilbury, and via Suez canal arrived in Sydney, Australia on 21 December 1923, calling at Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Melbourne on her way. She would make the voyage to Australia many times carrying many thousands of immigrants to a new life in Australia. In 1929 SS Mooltan was refitted with new engines, namely, two British Thompson Houston exhaust-driven electric turbines and motors with the effect that her top speed was increased to 17 knots (31 km/h). The accommodations were also overhauled. In 1931 she was again in the shipyard. All the accommodations were again overhauled and improved. In 1933 she carried Douglas Jardine's MCC cricket test team back home to Britain after the controversial “Bodyline” Test Series. In 1938 alterations were made to the ship which allowed her to carry chilled beef.
After the outbreak of the Second World War, Great Britain and her allies realised that they would need ships for troop and equipment movements. On 6 September 1939 SS Mooltan was requisitioned for service as an armed merchant cruiser and was converted for such a task. Part of the conversion was the removal of her second funnel, which was in any case a dummy used to ventilate the engine room below; this was done to improve the arc of her anti-aircraft guns. Later on in the war the funnel was replaced but in a shorter form. As an armed merchant cruiser, SS Mooltan served in the South Atlantic based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and she had the satisfaction of not losing a single merchant ship placed in her care. On 31 July the Mooltan was on the western approaches en route from Plymouth to Freetown when she was attacked by a German reconnaissance aircraft; she survived intact. On 20 January 1941 she was returned to P&O for conversion to a troopship. The work was carried out by R & H Green and Silley Weir Ltd in Tilbury. The work was then completed at Tyneside, Newcastle and by May 1941 she had been fully converted. In 1941 she carried troops out to the Middle East Campaign, and in May 1942 she took part in the North African landings at Oran, Algeria as part of Operation Torch. She was returned to P&O after the war on 16 July 1947.
After her return to P&O in 1947, SS Mooltan was completely reconditioned before being returned to commercial use. On 26 August 1948 she was ready and returned to service; now she was 21,039 gross tons and she carried 1030 tourist class passengers. Most of the outward traffic was ministry of transport emigration work, and carrying “Ten Pound Poms” to Australia under an assisted passage scheme established and operated by the Australian government. The return trips were filled with P&O's own passengers. In April 1949 the Mooltan arrived at Tilbury the day after one of her passengers had died of smallpox. This was a Mr. Richard Allen (aged 69; he was a conveyancer and his cause of death, which is mentioned on the passenger list, is given as chickenpox). For the next three days the Mooltan was placed under quarantine before any of her passengers or crew could disembark; during this period five more of the passengers died. On 18 November 1953 SS Mooltan slipped out of Brisbane, Australia, on her last ever voyage, arriving at Tilbury on 7 January 1954. Her mainly Asian crew joined the brand new RMS Arcadia three weeks later. On 23 January 1954 SS Mooltan was sold for £150,000 to British Iron and Steel Corporation (Salvage) Ltd and she was sent to Metal Industries Ltd at Faslane in Scotland, where she was broken up.
Wikipedia
Not featured on a stamp.