TRANSVAAL SAS 1945

[aukepalmhof]

Tristan da Cunha issues in 2013 the final stamps in the series on the volcano eruption, the mint sheet of this set shows two ships which took part in the rescue and resettlement of the island.
The Tristan da Cunha post gives by the miniature sheet: The £2 stamp on the miniature sheet shows the MV BORNHOLM, which brought the final group of returning islanders from England to Tristan, arriving on 10th November 1963. The background to the sheet shows the SAS TRANSVAAL off the still active volcanic eruption on Tristan on 27th January 1962 when she brought the Royal Society Expedition to the island. The Transvaal also took from the island the first mail from the expedition, and a cover from that mail also appears on the miniature sheet.
TRANSVAAL.
Built as a Loch class anti-submarine frigate under yard No 1251 by Harland & Wolf, Belfast for the Royal Navy.
02 May 1943 ordered.
20 January 1944 keel laid down.
02 August 1944 launched as the LOCH ARD. Christened by Miss D, Newman.
Displacement 1435 standard, 2260 full load, dim. 93.6 x 11.7m, length bpp. 87.2m.
Powered by two 4-cyl. Vertical triple expansion reciprocating steam engines, 5,500 ihp, twin shaft, speed 20 knots.
Range by a speed of 12 knots, 9,500 mile.
Armament: 1 – 4 inch QF Mark V gun, 4 – QF 2 pdr. Guns, 2 – 40mm Bofors A.A. guns and 2 – AS mortars.
Crew 119.
Fitted out by the Lobnitz yard in Renfrew.
14 May 1945 handed over to the South African Navy and renamed TRANSVAAL (K 602)
21 May 1945 completed and the next day commissioned in the South African Navy.

July 1945 sailed independently from the U.K. to South Africa.
Did not take part in World War II but after VJ-Day she was used to transporting South African personnel from the Middle East to South Africa till March 1946.
4 November 1948 she rescued under difficult conditions the crew of the tanker ESSO WHEELING which was aground at Quoin Point, Cape Province.
July 1950 paid off and put in reserve at Durban.
September 1950 in service again and was in December fitted out for a voyage to Australia for an official visit. 10 January 1951 arrived in Fremantle. After arrival took part in an exercise with Australian warships and visited other ports in Australia.
October to December 1961 took part in the evacuation of the population of Tristan da Cunha in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption on the island.
April till August 1962 deployed to take members of the British Royal Society Scenic Party to Tristan da Cunha to carry out an inspection and restoration of facilities for the return of some people to the island.
14 August 1964 paid off and reduced to reserve status.
Laid up in reserve till 1978.
After she was de-equipped and prepared for scuttling as a breakwater in False Bay, she was towed to her position on 8 August 1978 and sunk by gunfire.
When in service she steamed 170,000 miles.

Tristan da Cunha 2013 $2 mssg?, scott?
Tristan da Cunha 2022 60p sg?, Scott?

Source: Internet http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono ... nsvaal.htm