“The waters have been for mankind the sum of all virtues, the source and the origin of all existence, the support for any piece of creation”, said Mircea Eliade.
The history of navigation originates from unmemorable times, which are accounted for by the holy book of Christianity, the Bible, together with the first ship built by the legendary Noah, the survivor of the largest flood. The ark with no sails and no helm which was stranded on the Arabat Mountain gave birth to the followers of those who had survived the Flood, who were eager to know the large world waiting for them beyond the land that had welcomed them, fighting with the waves of the seas and of the oceans to discover new territories. They have founded new spaces, populated with peaceful people or warriors who, like the restless turmoil of the waves, have shaped countries and empires.
The pirogues turned into boats, the boats kept growing larger and turned into vessels, and the rows multiplied spectacularly. Then, the masts and sails appeared; the seas and the oceans were traveled by large ships.
Just like on the land, the god of war turned people into enemies, transforming the waters into a bloody war scene. After the famous battle of Trafalgar, from 1805, between Napoleon and the admiral Nelson, the battle ships started to diversify the shapes and their weapon equipments. Simultaneously to the appearance of the steam engine, then of the Diesel engine, more recently, of the nuclear propulsion engine, the ships turned into true steel fortresses capable of detecting the enemy from a distance of dozens or hundreds of marine miles.
Just like all countries bordered by the sea, by the ocean or by rivers, Romania benefits from patrol, battle and defense ships adapted to the requirements of modern war. This year, on October 22nd, 145 years are celebrated since the building of the modern Military Marine, an anniversary which is going to be marked by the Naval Forces through a series of cultural-scientific events.
On this occasion, Romfilatelia, specialized company in issuing and trading Romanian postage stamps is launching the philatelic issue called Romanian Military Vessels, with the annual theme of the ROMANIAN STAMP DAY.
The philatelic issue consists of a set of 4 stamps (also available in a block of 4 stamps), each with a face value of RON 2.20, that reproduce the following ships:
The “Mărășești” frigate, inaugurated for service in 1985, is specialized in the execution of independent missions or missions in the company of naval groups, attack missions against the enemy, missions behind the frontline, detection and attack on enemy submarines.
The monitor “Mihail Kogălniceanu”, began its service in 1993 and it has a complex destination: it may lead independent combat missions or in cooperation with other naval battle ships.
The corvette “Counter-admiral Horia Macellariu” began its service in 1996 and is specialized in search and destruction missions against enemy submarines, anti-submarine protection of battle ships and convoys during marching and while mooring.
The school vessel “Constanța” began its service in 1980 and it has performed numerous training travels.
On the “first day cover” envelope the educational vessel “Mircea” has been issued.
