FLAMINGO HMBS
Posted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 8:55 pm
For the 40th Anniversary of Bahamas Independence, the Bahamas Post issued a set of stamps of which the 65c is interesting for ship stamp collectors. It depicts the patrol boat HMBS FLAMINGO lost on 11 May 1980 after it was attacked by Cuban MiG-21 aircrafts.
The Bahamas Post gives by this stamp:
On 10 May 1980, just weeks after the Defence Force's official establishment, the Flamingo Incident occurred. It proved to be a nation-building experience, achieving what no Bahamian politician had been able to do before. By engendering widespread outrage and national shock it helped Bahamians to grasp the idea of sovereignty and independence and brought about a rallying of patriotism to the Bahamian flag.
In short HMBS FLAMINGO a 103ft patrol vessel, left the Coral Harbour Base on Thursday, 8 May, on what should have been a routine ten-day patrol of Bahamian territorial waters to stem poaching. Two days later, two fishing vessels were spotted and attempted to flee as the FLAMINGO approached. When the marines boarded the vessels they found four Cuban crewmen on each vessel along with a large quantity of fish. They took the vessels into tow to the nearest cay for a more thorough search.
At this point, things became far from routine. Two Cuban MIGs arrived and buzzed and strafed HMBS FLAMINGO, despite the flying of the Bahamas flag in Bahamas territorial waters. Hit by rockets and machine gun fire, FLAMINGO began to take on water and the bridge burst into flames. Commander Rolle ordered the crew to evacuate and even as the ship sank and the crew attempted to swim to safety, the jets returned, strafing the surrounding waters and tearing apart the two lifeboats that had been jettisoned overboard.
All except four of the nineteen crewmen made it to one of the fishing boats and despite extensive searches the missing marines - Fenrick Sturrup, David Tucker, Edward Williams and Austin Smith - were never found.
The remaining Bahamian crew and their prisoners arrived at Ragged Island on the Sunday and proceeded to Duncan Town on foot to send telegraphs to Nassau about the tragedy and unprovoked attacks.
Unbelievably the Cuban jet fighters returned with a large long range transport aircraft and a helicopter. They simulated rocket attacks over the island and at one point the helicopter landed opposite the Cuban fishing vessel dispersing armed troops. It seemed that a full scale invasion was underway! It was not until a US jet flew over and around that the Cubans withdrew. The small island community had been harassed for more than three hours.
Initially the Cubans claimed that the FLAMINGO had been mistaken for "a pirate ship," but this was not accepted and the immediate concern was to continue the search for the missing men. Weeks of diplomacy ensued and the Cubans eventually accepted full responsibility for the attack, paid compensation to the families of the dead marines and made reparations for the ship and her supplies. The eight Cuban poachers, who started it all, paid $90,000 in fines.
In 1981 a plaque dedicated to the memory of those lost in the Flamingo Incident was placed near the top of the cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance and in 1982 Commander Amos Rolle and the other survivors were presented with commemorative awards. More recently, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force HMBS Flamingo Memorial Park and Monument was officially opened on 10 May 2008. The families of the four deceased marines each placed one brick, representing their sons, into their respective slots. The trauma experienced as a young nation may have faded, but Bahamians will always hold fast the memories of the four brave young Marines that perished on that day.
HMBS FLAMINGO (P 02) was built by Vosper Thornycroft in the U.K. for the Bahamas Government, as a steel hulled patrol boat. She was one of the 103-foot patrol boats of Vosper Thornycroft.
Displacement 100 tons standard, 125 tons full load. Dim. 31.5 x 5.9 x 1.6m.
Powered by two Paxman Ventura diesel engines, 2,900 hp., twin shafts, speed 24 knots.
Range by a speed of 13 knots, 2,000 mile.
Armament 1 – 20mm AA gun.
Crew 19.
July 1978 she and her sister the HMBS MARLIN (P-01) arrived in the Bahamas.
11 May 1980 sunk after an attack by Cuban Mig-21 aircraft with the loss of 4 men.
Bahamas 2013 65c sg?, scott?
Source: Internet.
The Bahamas Post gives by this stamp:
On 10 May 1980, just weeks after the Defence Force's official establishment, the Flamingo Incident occurred. It proved to be a nation-building experience, achieving what no Bahamian politician had been able to do before. By engendering widespread outrage and national shock it helped Bahamians to grasp the idea of sovereignty and independence and brought about a rallying of patriotism to the Bahamian flag.
In short HMBS FLAMINGO a 103ft patrol vessel, left the Coral Harbour Base on Thursday, 8 May, on what should have been a routine ten-day patrol of Bahamian territorial waters to stem poaching. Two days later, two fishing vessels were spotted and attempted to flee as the FLAMINGO approached. When the marines boarded the vessels they found four Cuban crewmen on each vessel along with a large quantity of fish. They took the vessels into tow to the nearest cay for a more thorough search.
At this point, things became far from routine. Two Cuban MIGs arrived and buzzed and strafed HMBS FLAMINGO, despite the flying of the Bahamas flag in Bahamas territorial waters. Hit by rockets and machine gun fire, FLAMINGO began to take on water and the bridge burst into flames. Commander Rolle ordered the crew to evacuate and even as the ship sank and the crew attempted to swim to safety, the jets returned, strafing the surrounding waters and tearing apart the two lifeboats that had been jettisoned overboard.
All except four of the nineteen crewmen made it to one of the fishing boats and despite extensive searches the missing marines - Fenrick Sturrup, David Tucker, Edward Williams and Austin Smith - were never found.
The remaining Bahamian crew and their prisoners arrived at Ragged Island on the Sunday and proceeded to Duncan Town on foot to send telegraphs to Nassau about the tragedy and unprovoked attacks.
Unbelievably the Cuban jet fighters returned with a large long range transport aircraft and a helicopter. They simulated rocket attacks over the island and at one point the helicopter landed opposite the Cuban fishing vessel dispersing armed troops. It seemed that a full scale invasion was underway! It was not until a US jet flew over and around that the Cubans withdrew. The small island community had been harassed for more than three hours.
Initially the Cubans claimed that the FLAMINGO had been mistaken for "a pirate ship," but this was not accepted and the immediate concern was to continue the search for the missing men. Weeks of diplomacy ensued and the Cubans eventually accepted full responsibility for the attack, paid compensation to the families of the dead marines and made reparations for the ship and her supplies. The eight Cuban poachers, who started it all, paid $90,000 in fines.
In 1981 a plaque dedicated to the memory of those lost in the Flamingo Incident was placed near the top of the cenotaph in the Garden of Remembrance and in 1982 Commander Amos Rolle and the other survivors were presented with commemorative awards. More recently, the Royal Bahamas Defence Force HMBS Flamingo Memorial Park and Monument was officially opened on 10 May 2008. The families of the four deceased marines each placed one brick, representing their sons, into their respective slots. The trauma experienced as a young nation may have faded, but Bahamians will always hold fast the memories of the four brave young Marines that perished on that day.
HMBS FLAMINGO (P 02) was built by Vosper Thornycroft in the U.K. for the Bahamas Government, as a steel hulled patrol boat. She was one of the 103-foot patrol boats of Vosper Thornycroft.
Displacement 100 tons standard, 125 tons full load. Dim. 31.5 x 5.9 x 1.6m.
Powered by two Paxman Ventura diesel engines, 2,900 hp., twin shafts, speed 24 knots.
Range by a speed of 13 knots, 2,000 mile.
Armament 1 – 20mm AA gun.
Crew 19.
July 1978 she and her sister the HMBS MARLIN (P-01) arrived in the Bahamas.
11 May 1980 sunk after an attack by Cuban Mig-21 aircraft with the loss of 4 men.
Bahamas 2013 65c sg?, scott?
Source: Internet.