Malabar Coast of their orientation to the sea and to maritime commerce, the Malabar coast cities feel very cosmopolitan, and has been home to some of the first groups of Jews, Syrian Christians, Muslims and Anglo-Indians in India. During Ming China's treasure voyages in the early 15th century, Admiral Zheng He's fleet often landed at the Malabar Coast. Soon after, Vasco da Gama landed near Calicut in 1498, establishing a sea route between India and Europe. Portugal became the first of several European maritime empires to grow rich from the spice trade with this area. The Malabar Coast is repeatedly referenced in
USS Malabar (AF-37) New Jersey, 1 July to spend the rest of the year cruising along the Atlantic coast and in the Caribbean from Argentia, Newfoundland, to Bermuda. On 3 January 1947 "Malabar" departed Bermuda for Europe, arriving Casablanca, French Morocco, the 14th to unload her cargo. After a stop at Naples, Italy, she returned to the U.S. East Coast later in the month to continue her service force operations between Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Norfolk, Virginia; and Argentia, interspersed with annual supply trips to Europe through the next 8 years. "Malabar" was placed in reserve at Galveston, Texas, 20 June 1955 before decommissioning