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The 10 avos stamp of Macau honours the patrol launch Vega, which was lost in action in December 1961 during the Indian invasion of Goa. The name Vega appears above the launch in the stamp design. Actually the illustration is a 1963 Portuguese Navy official photograph of the Antares (P360), a sister-ship of the Vega. Both of these patrol vessels were built in England, in 1959, by James Taylor (Shipbuilders) Ltd., at Shoreham, Sussex, and were commissioned in that year by the Portuguese Navy.
They displaced 18 tons, their overall length being 56 ft. with a waterline length of 511/2 ft., a beam of 151/4 ft., and a 4-ft. draft. Armament is one 20mm. Oerlikon quick-firing anti-aircraft gun. Machinery consists of two Cummins oil engines driving two shafts at a b.h.p. of 460, to give the launch a speed of 181/4 knots. Radius of the craft is 600 miles at full power, and each boat carries a complement of seven men. The hull of the launches is built of Deborine resin-glass moulding.
Macau SG504

Built as a patrol vessel by James Taylor, Shoreham, U.K. for the Portuguese Navy.
The hull was made of fibreglass the first warship built of this material.
Launched under the name VEGA, one of the Antares class, three sisters ANTARES, SIRIUS and REGULUS.
Displacement 18 ton, dim. 17.07 x 4.62 x 1.22m. (draught)
Two cumin diesels 460 hp, twin screws, speed 18 knots.
Armament 1 – 20mm Oerlikon gun.
Crew 6.
1959 commissioned.

After delivery used by the Portuguese Naval Command of Portuguese India., the VEGA was based at Diu.

When India made an invasion in the Portuguese Territory in December 1961, the VEGA left Diu 17 December and anchored opposite Nagoá the same day at 22.00.
18th Early in the morning shots were heard from shore, and the crew were ordered to their stations.
A radar contact 12 miles of the coast was detected, and at 04.00 visual identified as a cruiser, who opened fire on the VEGA.
At 06.15 it was seen that the cruiser carried the Indian flag, where after the VEGA returned to her anchorage.
07.30 Two airplanes carried out a bombardment on shore, and when nearing the VEGA the commander Lt. Oliveira E Carmo (he is also depict on the stamp) ordered to fire the 20mm gun. The VEGA was also hit killing two men, and injuring the commander Oliveira E Carmo.
A heavy fire broke out on board that quickly spread to the engine room and the bridge.
The crew tried to launch the small boat to evacuate the commander, but a new aerial attack killed the commander, and made the small boat useless due to many holes caused by enemy fire, the men still alive abandoned the vessel and had to swim to shore taken with hem the injured men on a raft.
Seven men after a long swim saved their life, two other men were separated from the group and landed on an other part of the beach, all were taken prisoners later.

When the fire reached the ammunition on board the VEGA, she exploded taken with her down the bodies of the men died on board under which the Commander Oliveira E Carmo.

There is given that not a image of the VEGA exist and a photo of the ANTARES of the same class was issued for the design of the stamp, The ANTARES after which the class was named, was also in Portuguese India at that time, but she escaped to Karachi, and took later part in the suppressing of the independent movement in Mozambique, she was 1975 struck of the navy list.

Source: http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classe_Antaris http://www.marinha.pt/extra/revista/ra_ ... pag20.html