Britannia HMY

[john sefton]

The Royal Yacht Britannia is one of the world's most famous ships. Launched at John Brown's Shipyard in Clydebank in 1953, the Royal Yacht proudly served Queen and country for 44 years. During that time Britannia carried The Queen and the Royal Family on 968 official voyages, from the remotest regions of the South Seas to the deepest divides of Antarctica.

As 83rd in a long line of Royal Yachts that stretches back to 1660 and the reign of Charles II, Britannia holds a proud place in British maritime history. On 16 April 1953, Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia rolled down the slipway at John Brown's Clydebank Shipyard, on the start of her long and illustrious career. Commissioned for service in January 1954, Britannia sailed the oceans for 43 years and 334 days. She travelled a total of 1,087,623 nautical miles, calling at over 600 ports in 135 countries.

In June 1994, the Government announced that Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia would be taken out of service. At the beginning of January 1997, Britannia set sail from Portsmouth to Hong Kong on her last and longest voyage. On 11 December 1997 Britannia was decommissioned at Portsmouth Naval Base in the presence of The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and 12 senior members of the Royal Family. Some 2,200 Royal Yacht Officers and Yachtsmen, together with their families, came to witness the ceremony.

Four months later, after intense competition from cities around the UK, the Government announced that Edinburgh had been successful in its bid to become her new home. She is now owned by The Royal Britannia Trust, a charitable organisation whose sole remit is the maintenance of Britannia in keeping with her former role. Britannia is now permanently moored in Edinburgh's historic port of Leith and visitors can discover what life was like on board the ship for the Royal Family and crew.

Britannia is now a five-star visitor attraction and one of the UK's most prestigious corporate hospitality venues.

Laid down June 1952 at John Brown & Co. Ltd, Clydebank
Designer / Builder: Sir Victor Shepheard, Director of Naval Construction; and John Brown & Co. Ltd
Launched: 16th April 1953 by HM Queen Elizabeth II
Commissioned: At sea, 11th January 1954
Length overall: 125.65m or 412ft 3in
Length on waterline: 115.82m or 380ft
Length between perpendiculars: 109.73m or 360ft
Maximum breadth moulded: 16.76m or 55ft
Breadth at upper deck moulded: 16.61m or 54ft 6in
Depth moulded to upper deck: 45ft abaft midships: 9.90m or 32ft 6in
Depth moulded to upper deck at fore perpendicular: 12.29m or 40ft 4in
Depth moulded to upper deck at after perpendicular: 10.31m or 33ft 10in
Load displacement: 4,715 tons
Mean draft at load displacement: 5.2m or 15ft 7in
Gross tonnage: 5,862 tons
Shaft horsepower: 12,000
Speed: 22.5 knots maximum 21 knots continuous
Engines: Two geared steam turbines, developing a total of 12,000 shaft horse power. Two main boilers, and an auxiliary boiler for harbour requirements by Foster Wheeler
Range: 2,196 miles at 20 knots (burning diesel fuel)
2,553 miles at 18 knots (burning diesel fuel)
Main Mast Height: 42.44m or 139ft 3in - Royal Standard
Fore Mast Height: 40.54m or 133ft - Lord Admiral's Flag
Mizzen Mast Height: 36.22m or 118ft 10in - Union Flag
Fuel & Water: 330 tons of fuel oil providing a range of 2,000 miles at 20 knots. 120 tons of fresh water. Additional tanks can increase fuel capacity to 490 tons and fresh water capacity to 195 tons
Propeller Diameter: 3.12m or 10ft 3ins
Pitch: 2.74m or 9ft
Developed blade area: 5.17m2 or 55.7ft2
Tip clearance from hull: 0.84m or 2ft 9in
Maximum rudder torque: 125 tons ft at 14 knots astern and 30.5° angle
Rudder Torque at 22 knots: 69 tons ft at 35° angle
Rudder Torque at 15 knots: 33 tons ft at 35° angle
Maximum normal rudder force: 63.5 tons at 22 knots ahead, and 25.5 tons at 14 knots astern.

HMY Britannia official web site.

Too many stamps to list.

[john sefton]

In 1993 Royal Yacht Britannia made her last call to the BVI when H.R.H. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visited the Territory for the third time. This was the final occasion that islanders and visitors had the privilege of being invited on board and witnessing the pageantry of the beat of the retreat accompanied by Britannia’s band. A truly memorable experience! The Royal Yacht was at the time celebrating her 40th birthday and no one knew that by 1997 she would be decommissioned. By that time she had carried Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the Royal Family on 968 official visits to no less than 135 countries.

[advanderpol46]

Also on Jersey stamp 1989 Michel nr. 484 Yvert nr. 478

[Arturo]

HMY Britannia

Ghana, 1981, S.G.?, Scott;761.

[Arturo]

HMY Britannia

Gilbert Islands 1977, S.G.?, Scott: 294.

[aukepalmhof]

Bahamas 2013 25c sg?, scott?
Belize 1985 $4 sg864, scott?
Kenya 1981 5sh sg209, scott?
Australia 1982 27c sg886, scott?
Jersey 1989 £1.00 sg500, scott?
Antigua & Barbuda 1985 $5 MSsg?, scott? (In margin of sheet)
Canada 2012 mini-pane in the margin is the Royal yacht depict during the opening of the St Lawrence Seaway in 1959, the year given as 1954 on the mini-pane is wrong.
Solomon Islands 1981 $1 sg 433, scott438.
Maldive Islands 1997 25Rf sgms 2703d, scott2231
British Antarctic Terr. 1977 6p sg 83, scott?

[aukepalmhof]

Kiribati 1981 $2 sg 153, scott?
Seychelles 1981 10R sg 509, scott?
Tuvalu 1981 $2 sg 172, scott?
St Kitts 1981 $4, sg 79 scott?
Samoa 1977 12s and 32s sg 479 and 481, scott?
Nevis 1981 $5 sg 76, scott?