Danmark 1933
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 3:34 pm
The label, issued in aid of funds for the Danish Seamen's Mission, shows the school-ship Danmark, a magnificent full-rigged ship of 1,430 tons displacement, built in 1933 for the Danish Ministry of Shipping. This 188ft. steel-hulled vessel had the unique distinction during the Second World War of becoming a training ship for officers of the United States Coast Guard. While on one of her annual training cruises in 1940, under the Danish flag, she was lying at Jacksonville, U.S.A., when Denmark was overrun by the Germans, and her officers and men accepted internment voluntarily.
The vessel lay idle until America's entry into the war, after Pearl Harbour, when the ship's comple¬ment immediately offered their services to the U.S. Government. President Roosevelt issued an executive order formally accepting the ship and the services of her men on February 3, 1942, and she was commissioned as a U.S. Coast Guard vessel at New London, Connecticut. While in this service over 2,800 U.S. Coast Guard officer candidates passed through the ship, spending their last full month as candidates aboard the Danmark, actively taking part in practice cruises between Cape Ann, Massachusetts and New York, under the direction of the Danish master and crew. For this service, the Danmark received a bronze plaque commemorating her period under the United States' flag. The plaque reads:
"Presented to Danish Training Ship Danmark in appreciation of Services Rendered in Training Officer Candidates for the United States Coast Guard Academy, January 1942, to September 1945" On September 26, 1945, she once again hoisted Danish colours at her gaff and set sail for her homeland.The Danmark's three steel masts are each 127ft. high and all carry the same spread of canvas. In addition to this spread she is also provided with a 250 h.p. auxiliary diesel. Sail however is
relied upon almost exclusively when at sea. Anguilla SG690. Denmark SG621, 1004.Azerbaijan SG348,389. N Korea SGN2728 (SB 5/76)
Sea Breezes 8/53
NOTE
The Turks and Caicos stamp of 2001 titled "Danmark" is actually the "Simon Bolivar". Thanks for the information from Mario F Rosner
The vessel lay idle until America's entry into the war, after Pearl Harbour, when the ship's comple¬ment immediately offered their services to the U.S. Government. President Roosevelt issued an executive order formally accepting the ship and the services of her men on February 3, 1942, and she was commissioned as a U.S. Coast Guard vessel at New London, Connecticut. While in this service over 2,800 U.S. Coast Guard officer candidates passed through the ship, spending their last full month as candidates aboard the Danmark, actively taking part in practice cruises between Cape Ann, Massachusetts and New York, under the direction of the Danish master and crew. For this service, the Danmark received a bronze plaque commemorating her period under the United States' flag. The plaque reads:
"Presented to Danish Training Ship Danmark in appreciation of Services Rendered in Training Officer Candidates for the United States Coast Guard Academy, January 1942, to September 1945" On September 26, 1945, she once again hoisted Danish colours at her gaff and set sail for her homeland.The Danmark's three steel masts are each 127ft. high and all carry the same spread of canvas. In addition to this spread she is also provided with a 250 h.p. auxiliary diesel. Sail however is
relied upon almost exclusively when at sea. Anguilla SG690. Denmark SG621, 1004.Azerbaijan SG348,389. N Korea SGN2728 (SB 5/76)
Sea Breezes 8/53
NOTE
The Turks and Caicos stamp of 2001 titled "Danmark" is actually the "Simon Bolivar". Thanks for the information from Mario F Rosner