India- President's Fleet review ,Vishakhapatnam and Indian Coast Guard Stamp on Cover

Recently acquired the India- President's Fleet review ,Vishakhapatnam and Indian Coast Guard Stamp  on Cover with Guwahati cancellation.

India- President's Fleet review ,Vishakhapatnam released on 12 Feb 2006 

A Naval Fleet Review is a long-standing tradition followed by Navies across the Globe. It is a grand occasion when every operational ship is spruced up, proudly displaying its crest/emblem and its company (officers and crew) in a spirit of loyalty and allegiance to its Sovereign and the State/Nation.

The concept of a Review of naval ships was conceived as a show of naval might or an inspection of readiness for battle at sea.

Presently, the Fleet Review has transformed into more of a “symbolic sail past” where warships are assembled without any belligerent intentions. Sometimes, such Reviews are conducted as a “celebratory demonstration” for victories achieved in battle or for a coronation of a monarch or on the occasion of visits by important State Guests.

On many occasions, ships have sailed across the seas to participate in Fleet Reviews of friendly nations. When this happens, the assembly of ships undergoes an “International Fleet Review (IFR)”.

Indian Naval tradition dates back to Vedic times, but there are few instances of records of Fleet Reviews over the ages:

India has a naval tradition dating back to Vedic times, although records of Fleet Reviews are found few and far between.

Indian Coast Guard : India Post released a set of 4 stamps in the denomination of Rs 5 each and a miniature sheet on August 12, 2008 to mark 30 years of Indian Coast Guard. The stamps depict the Dornier Fixed Wing Aircraft, Advanced Light Helicopter, Hovercraft, and Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel. The five Sheetlets have also been issued. The Indian Coast Guard is the fourth armed force service created to guard India's vast coastline on August 18, 1978. The coast guard works closely with the Indian navy and the Indian Customs Department, and is usually headed by a naval officer of the rank of Vice-Admiral. India's coast guard has a large number of fast craft including hovercrafts and hydrofoils. They patrol the seas and river mouths. The coast guard has performed a number of commendable tasks of rescuing distressed personnel. It has also apprehended pirates on high seas and cleaned up oil spills. Heavy patrolling of sensitive areas such as Gujarat, West Bengal and Mumbai have resulted in catching a large number of smugglers and illegal immigrants.