Sailing Journal handwritten by a mechanic of on board the Israeli naval ship Mezanek, documenting the early flotilla training of the Israeli Navy. Haifa, Tel Aviv, Cyprus, North Africa and other places, 1950.
The journal contains descriptions of combat training, paratroop landings at the Palmachim shore, sea pursuits, machine room, technical equipment and dealing with setbacks, other ships which participated in the flotilla (Misgav, Mivtach, Hagganah, South Africa, Carostella and others), living conditions at sea, officers and commanders and other topics. The journal ends on July 16, 1950 at a reception in Haifa welcoming back the sailors attended by David Ben Gurion, Yigal Yadin, Golda Meir, military personnel and journalists.
A draft leaf with one handwritten line is inserted among the journal's leaves.
20 written pages, 20 cm. Good condition. Stains. One leaf is cut and repasted unto the notebook, with (minor) tears, some open, to margins. Remnants of torn out leaves at the beginning of the journal (apparently, drafts). Damaged, partially detached cover. Tears, some open, to spine. The entire length of the spine is reinforced with a strip of adhesive tape. Correction fluid on some leaves.
Enclosed: An envelope with an illustration of ship and banner of the Zim shipping company containing a postage stamp. Its upper edges bear a handwritten inscription: "United States, Canada".