Houston

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shipstamps
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Joined: Fri Mar 13, 2009 8:12 pm

Houston

Post by shipstamps » Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:19 pm


The Cuban 3c, stamp of 1966, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Battle of Giron, shows a scene from an ill-fated revolt against the present Castro regime. A number of Cuban exiles had planned for some years to overthrow the Cuban Government and they decided to invade Cuba by sea and air, and with the help of resident sympathisers in Cuba, to start a full-scale revolt against Castro. The troops in exile were mainly trained in Guatemala, and at the appointed time were assembled at Puerto Cabeza in Nicaragua, where they embarked with all their equipment and ammunition in the transport ships.
The transports, with their escorts, left the port on April 14, 1961, and arrived off the Cuban coast, near Giron, early on the morning of April 17, starting the invasion immediately. According to the planners, the transport Houston was to land her forces in the nearby Bay of Pigs, but as soon as she attempted to enter the bay, she was attacked from the air, one rocket going right through her deck and bottom without exploding. Although taking in water, the vessel was successfully beached, but she was a sitting target for aircraft. Had the rocket exploded, she would have been blown to pieces, loaded as she was with gasoline and ammunition.
The Houston was built by the Sturgeon Bay Shipbuilding Company in 1943, one of the American class of standard ships which came to be known as "Baltic-type coasters" or "jeeps". Originally named Freeman Hatch, she later sailed as the Charles M under the British flag, before becoming the Houston under the Liberian flag.
Sea Breezes 5/68 SG1351

D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
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Re: Houston

Post by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen » Tue Feb 18, 2014 8:41 pm

Built in 1942 by Leatham D. Smith Ship Building, Sturgeon Bay, USA, #271, for Ministry of War Transport (Manager William Cory & Son) GBR as FREEMAN HATCH.
Freighter Type N3-S-A1, Gt:1793, Dw:2905, L:78,87m. (258’9”) B:12,83m. (20’9”) draft:6,32m. (20’9”) reciprocating steam engine:1300 shp. 10½ kn.
One of 36 Type N3-S-A1 vessels delivered to Britain from December 1942 to May 1945 her official number was 168494.
In 1949 sold to Metcalf Motor Coasters, London, renamed in CHARLES M., 1953 sold to Garcia Line of New York, Panama, renamed in HOUSTON, later under Liberian flag.
Bombed and sunk by the Cuban Air Force on 17/04/1961 at Bay of Cochinos (Bay of Pigs) Cuba, being one of four cargo ships carrying about 1400 Cuban exile ground troops of Brigade 2506, 100 dead.
(Cuba 1991, 50 c. StG.3618)
Internet.
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houston.jpg
as CHARLES M.
as CHARLES M.

Arturo
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Re: Houston

Post by Arturo » Wed Nov 19, 2014 4:36 pm

Houston

Cuba, 1971, S.G.?, Scott: 1615.
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Houston.jpg

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