detachment in Taipa (Destacamento militar na Taipa) military detachment at Ilha Verde (Destacamento militar na Ilha Verde) 1946–64 Following the war, the machine gun company was changed to an armoured cavalry squadron equipped with armoured cars. Five indigenous companies (Companhia Indígena de Caçadores) were posted at Colane, Flora, Ilha Verde, Mong Ha and Portas do Cerco. An anti-tank company (Companhia de Anti-Carro) was posted at Ramal dos Mouros. Final colonial period The last of the Mozambican Caçadores were withdrawn from Macau in 1964, after the outbreak of the Portuguese Colonial War in Portugal's African possessions. The remaining Portuguese garrison in the colony effectively ceased to exist following the change of government in Portugal in 1974 and agreement on a timetable for a takeover by mainland China by 1999. For the remaining quarter-century of Portuguese administration, order was kept in the territory by a civilian police force without direct military backing. Military Police Company 2428 of the 2nd Lancers Regiment was stationed in Macau from 1968 to 1970. Navy The Macau Naval Aviation Centre was created in 1927 as a seaplane base on Taipa to combat piracy activities in and around Macau. It was decommissioned in 1933, but re-activated from 1937 to 1940. The naval station was later moved to the Exterior Port (now site of old Fishing Wharf and the Macau Ferry Terminal) in 1940 and decommissioned after 1942. The naval station in Macau was part of the Far East Fleet covering Macau, Portuguese Timor, Lapa and Montanha (during World War II only). Naval forces Portuguese naval ships stationed in Macau: cruiser Rainha Dona Amélia – stationed early 1900s (1909–1911). cruiser Vasco da Gama – stationed or stopover in the early 1900s (1904–1905, 1909–1910). cruiser Adamastor – stationed or stopover in the early 1900s (1904–1905, 1912–1913, 1927–1928, 1930–1933). gunboat Pátria – constructed in Lisbon in 1903 and entering service in Macau in 1909–1930. small shallow-draught gunboat Macau – built in Yarrow, Scotland, shipped to Hong Kong in crates, and launched in 1909. The Macau was sold to the Japanese in 1943 where it was renamed the Maiko. Surrendered to Chinese Nationalist in 1945, the boat was renamed Wu Feng in 1946 and later served in the People's Liberation Army Navy until it was struck in 1968. Naval aviation A naval air station was established in 1927 with limited equipment. A list of some aircraft stationed in Macau prior to 1974: