Hellenic Navy
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The Hellenic Navy (Greek: Πολεμικόν Ναυτικόν, Polemikon Nautikon pronounced Polemikón Naftikón , is the naval force of the modern nation of Greece (Hellenic Republic). The modern Greek navy has its roots in the private naval forces of Andreas Miaoulis, and Laskarina Bouboulina, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833-1924 and 1936-1973) it was known as the Royal Hellenic Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Basilikón Nautikón).
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[edit] History
[edit] The navy of the Revolution
The naval forces of the 1821 revolution were composed of ships owned by shipowners of the revolted islands and ports. Since the largest part were from the islands of Hydra, Spetsai and Psara it has been called the three island fleet. Some money from the second revolutionary loan was spent in ordering warships abroad, among them steamships. These ships were organised by Ioannis Kapodistrias into the national fleet, based in the island of Poros.
[edit] Development in the 19th century
King Othon expanded the fleet by ordering new vessels abroad and constructing several auxiliary ships in Poros. From his time also dates the first effort to create an independent naval officer academy in 1845. The great reorganization of the fleet was undertaken by the governments of prime minister Charilaos Trikoupis. Trikoupis invited a French mission to retrain the officers, refounded the naval academy, the Scholē Nautikōn Dokimōn (Σχολή Ναυτικών Δοκίμων) in 1884, and ordered 3 battleships (the Hydra, Spetsai and Psara) that ensured supremacy over the Ottoman Empire. However, during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897 the fleet mostly stayed in port due to the incompetence of its leadership.
[edit] Balkan Wars and First World War
After the 1909 Goudi pronunciamento Greece bought several ships, most prominently among them the armoured cruiser Georgios Averof, which liberated the Aegean islands and twice defeated the Ottoman fleet during the First Balkan War. Major purchases from overseas included the two American pre-dreadnought battleships of the Mississippi class, bought in 1914, named Lemnos and Kilkis and a American-built light cruiser which was named Helle.[1]
During World War I, the fleet, for the third time in its history, was confiscated by the Allies due to the Greek National Schism. When Greece eventually entered the war on the Allied side in 1917, what was left of it was returned.
[edit] Inter-war years
During the interwar years and especially after the Asia Minor catastrophe the financial situation of Greece allowed for new, primarily light, ships to be ordered, such as submarines and destroyers, and increased emphasis was laid on training. During the late 1930s, the regime of Ioannis Metaxas did make an effort to improve its condition but it was stopped short by World War II.
[edit] The Second World War
On August 15, 1940, an Italian submarine torpedoed the light cruiser Helle without any prior declaration of war. After Italy attacked on land on October 28, 1940, the Royal Hellenic Navy joined action with the British Royal Navy against the Regia Marina having as its main mission to secure internal communications in the Aegean and to impede the supply of Italian troops in Albania via the Adriatic. With the collapse of Greece following the German attack on Greece in April 1941, a large part of the fleet escaped to Alexandria, led by the elderly Averof. There it joined the British Mediterranean Fleet, continuing the fight against the Axis. Although its operations were primarily focused in the Mediterranean, Greek Navy ships took part in convoy escort duty in the Atlantic and the Indian Oceans, as well as at the Allied landings at Normandy. With the withdrawal of German troops from Greece in October 1944, the Fleet returned home.
[edit] Post-war activities
Remaining loyal to the Royal government, the Navy participated in the Greek Civil War (1946-1949). With Greece's entry into NATO, the Navy came to rely more on ships and weapons of US origin, and a very close cooperation was developed with the USN. Aside from its role inside the Atlantic Alliance, since the 1960s, with the renewed deterioration of the Greco-Turkish relations, the Navy focused itself increasingly to countering the Turkish threat, a role which forms the main task of the Hellenic Navy to this day. Recently, Greek ships have participated in the Gulf War and in the international naval forces supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in the Indian Ocean.Greek Navy participates in Unifil with the HS Kanaris Helle class, to patrol against arms smugglers. Four of the Helle class frigates will be decomissioned by the end of 2007.
[edit] Organization
- Γενικόν Επιτελείον Ναυτικού (ΓΕΝ) Hellenic Navy General Staff
- Αρχηγείον Στόλου (ΑΣ) Fleet Headquarters
- Ναυτική Διοίκηση Αιγαίου (ΝΔΑ) Aegean Naval Command
- Ναυτική Διοίκηση Ιονίου (ΝΔΙ) Ionian Naval Command
- Ναυτική Διοίκηση Βορείου Ελλάδος (ΝΔΒΕ) Northern Greece Naval Command
- Διοίκηση Ναυτικής Εκπαίδευσης (ΔΝΕ) Navy Training Command
- Διοίκηση Διοικητικής Μέριμνας (ΔΔΜΝ) Administrating Provision Command
- Αρχηγείον Στόλου (ΑΣ) Fleet Headquarters
[edit] Combat Arms
- Διοίκηση Φρεγατών (ΔΦΓ) Frigate Command
- Διοίκηση Κανονιοφόρων (ΔΚΦ) Gunboat Command
- Διοίκηση Ταχέων Σκαφών (ΔΤΣ) Fast Attack Craft Command
- Διοίκηση Υποβρυχίων (ΔΥ) Submarine Command
- Διοίκηση Αμφιβίων Δυνάμεων (ΔΑΔ) Amphibious Assault Forces Command
- Greece does not have a marine corps established as a separate branch attached to the naval service, instead, the Army Special Forces Command includes the 32nd Marine Brigade (32η Ταξιαρχία Πεζοναυτών); the Navy provides the landing craft etc.
- Διοίκηση Υποβρυχίων Καταστροφών (ΔΥΚ) Underwater Demolition Command
- Ναυτική Συνεργασία Fleet Air Arm
- Διοίκηση Ελικοπτέρων Ναυτικού (ΔΕΝ) Naval Helicopter Command
- 353 Μοίρα Ναυτικής Συνεργασίας (353 ΜΝΑΣ) 353rd Naval Cooperation Squadron
[edit] Combat Support Arms
- Διοίκηση Ναρκοπολέμου (ΔΝΑΡ) Minesweeper Command
[edit] Combat Service Support
- Σχολή Εξάσκησης Ναυτικής Τακτικής (ΣΕΝΤ) Naval Tactical Training School (under Fleet Headquarters)
[edit] Fleet
[edit] Frigates
- 4 × Frigates Class Meko-200HN
- HS Hydra (F 452) Φ/Γ Ύδρα
- HS Spetsai (F 453) Φ/Γ Σπέτσαι
- HS Psara (F 454) Φ/Γ Ψαρά
- HS Salamis (F 455) Φ/Γ Σαλαμίς
- 10 × Frigates Class Standard Kortenaer-class
- HS Helle (F 450) Helle-class Φ/Γ 'Ελλη
- HS Lemnos (F 451) Helle-class Φ/Γ Λήμνος
- HS Adrias (F 459) Φ/Γ Αδρίας
- HS Aegeon (F 460) Φ/Γ Αιγαίον
- HS Navarinon (F 461) Φ/Γ Ναυαρίνον
- HS Kountouriotis (F 462) Φ/Γ Κουντουριώτης
- HS Bouboulina (F 463) Φ/Γ Μπουμπουλίνα
- HS Kanaris (F 464) Φ/Γ Κανάρης
- HS Themistokles (F 465) Φ/Γ Θεμιστοκλής
- HS Nikephoros Phokas (F 466) Φ/Γ Νικηφόρος Φωκάς
Six frigates of the Kortenaer-class are currently being modernized by the Hellenic Shipyards.
[edit] Fast attack craft missile
- 5 × Super-Vita
- PCFG Roussen (P67) ΤΠΚ Ρουσσέν
- PCFG Daniolos (P68) ΤΠΚ Δανιόλος
- PCFG Krystallides (P69) ΤΠΚ Κρυσταλλίδης
- PCFG Gregoropoulos (P70) ΤΠΚ Γρηγορόπουλος (under construction)
- PCFG Ritsos (P71) ΤΠΚ Ριτσος (under construction)
- 4 × La Combattante III
- PCFG Laskos (P 20) ΤΠΚ Λάσκος
- PCFG Blessas (P 21) ΤΠΚ Μπλέσσας
- PCFG Mykonios (P 22) ΤΠΚ Μυκόνιος
- PCFG Troupakis (P 23) ΤΠΚ Τρουπάκης
- 5 × La Combattante IIIb
- PCFG Kavaloudis (P 24) ΤΠΚ Καβαλούδης
- PCFG Degiannis (P 26) ΤΠΚ Ντεγιάννης
- PCFG Xenos (P 27) ΤΠΚ Ξένος
- PCFG Simitzopoulos (P 28) ΤΠΚ Σιμιτζόπουλος
- PCFG Starakis (P 29) ΤΠΚ Σταράκης
- 6 La Combattante IIA
- PCFG Botsis (P 72) ΤΠΚ Βότσης (P 72)
- PCFG Pezopoulos (P 73) ΤΠΚ Πεζόπουλος (P 73)
- PCFG Blachavas (P 74) ΤΠΚ Βλαχάβας (P 74)
- PCFG Maridakis (P 75) ΤΠΚ Μαριδάκης (P 75)
- PCFG Tournas (P 76) ΤΠΚ Τουρνάς (P 76)
- PCFG Sakipis (P 77) ΤΠΚ Σακίπης (P 77)
[edit] Submarines
- 4 × Glaukos class (Type 209 (1100) Submarine - Neptune I upgrade)
- Glaukos (S-110) Υ/Β Γλαύκος
- Nereus (S-111) Υ/Β Νηρεύς
- Triton (S-112) Υ/Β Τρίτων
- Proteus (S-113) Υ/Β Πρωτεύς
- 4 × Poseidon class (Type 209 (1200) Submarine - Neptune II upgrade)
- Poseidon (S-116) Υ/Β Ποσειδών
- Amphitrite (S-117) Υ/Β Αμφιτρίτη
- Okeanos (S-118) Υ/Β Ωκεανός
- Pontos (S-132) Υ/Β Πόντος
[edit] Landing ships
- 5 × Landing Ships Jason Class (LST)
- LST Chios (L 173) Α/Γ Χίος
- LST Samos (L 174) Α/Γ Σάμος
- LST Ikaria (L 175) Α/Γ Ικαρία
- LST Lesbos (L 176) Α/Γ Λέσβος
- LST Rodos (L 177) Α/Γ Ρόδος
- 4 × Fast Landing Ships Class Zubr/Pomornik (LCAC)
- LCAC Kephallenia (L180) ΠΤΜ Κεφαλληνία
- LCAC Ithake (L181) ΠΤΜ Ιθάκη
- LCAC Kerkyra (L182) ΠΤΜ Κέρκυρα
- LCAC Zakynthos (L183) ΠΤΜ Ζάκυνθος
[edit] Gunboat ships
- 3 × Gunboats Class Thetis
- FS/PG Νike (P 62) Κ/Φ Νίκη
- FS/PG Doxa (P 63) Κ/Φ Δόξα
- FS/PG Eleutheria (P 64) Κ/Φ Ελευθερία
- 2 × Gunboats Class Osprey 55
- PG Armatolos (P 18) Κ/Φ Αρματωλός
- PG Naumachos (P 19) Κ/Φ Ναυμαχός
- 2 × Gunboats Class HSY-55
- PG Kasos (P 57) Κ/Φ Κάσος
- PG Polemistes (P 61) Κ/Φ Πολεμιστής
- 4 × Gunboats Class Osprey HSY-56A
- PG Machetes (P 266) Κ/Φ Μαχητής
- PG Nikephoros (P 267) Κ/Φ Νικηφόρος
- PG Aettetos (P 268) Κ/Φ Αήττητος
- PG Krataios (P 269) Κ/Φ Κραταιός
- 2 × Asheville Class Gunboat
- PC/PG Tolme (P 229) Κ/Φ Τόλμη
- PC/PG Horme (P 230) Κ/Φ Ορμή
[edit] Minesweepers/mine-layers
- 6 × Minesweepers - Coastal
- MSC Alkyon (M 211) Ν/Α Αλκυών
- MSC Aura (M 214) Ν/Α Αύρα
- MSC Aedon (M 240) Ν/Α Αηδών
- MSC Kichle (M 241) Ν/Α Κίχλη
- MSC Kissa (M 242) Ν/Α Κίσσα
- MSC Pleias (M 248) Ν/Α Πλειάς
- 2 × Mine-Sweepers/Hunters Class Hunt
- MSC/MSH Europe (M 62) Ν/ΘΗ Ευρώπη
- MSC/MSH Kallisto (M 63) Ν/ΘΗ Καλλιστώ
- 2 × Minesweepers - Coastal Osprey class coastal mine hunters
- MSC Euniki (M 61) Ν/Α Ευνίκη
- MSC Calypso (M 64) Ν/Α Καλυψώ
[edit] Auxiliary Vessels
- 1 x AOR Etna class
- AOR Prometheus (A 374) ΠΓΥ Προμηθεύς
- 2 x ex german LUNEBURGType 701C class,replenishment ships
- AO Axios (A 464) Π/Φ Αξιός
- AO Aliakmon (A 470) Π/Φ Αλιάκμων
[edit] Aircraft inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[2] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aérospatiale Alouette III |  France |
Helicopter | SA 319B | 2 | |
| AB212ASW |  Italy |
Anti-submarine Helicopter | AB 212ASW | 10 | |
| Lockheed P-3 Orion |  United States |
Maritime Patrol | P-3B | 5 | |
| Sikorsky S-70 | United States |
Naval Helicopter | S-70B-6 | 11 |
[edit] Future plan
- 4 x Papanikolis class (Type 214 submarine)
- Papanikolis (S-120) Υ/Β Παπανικολής (It will be commissioned by the first half of 2007)
- Pipinos (S-121) Υ/Β Πιπίνος
- Matrozos (S-122) Υ/Β Ματρώζος
- Katsonis (S-123) Υ/Β Κατσώνης
[edit] Recently decommissioned ships
[edit] Fast attack craft torpedo
- 4 x FACT Class Jaguar
- PCF Hesperos (P 50) (ex German SEEADLER P6068), decommissioned 21 December 2004
- PCF Kyklon (P 53) (ex German GREIF P-6071), decommissioned 7 October 2005
- PCF Lelaps (P 54) (ex German KONDOR P-6070), decommissioned 21 December 2004
- PCF Typhon (P 56) (ex German GEIER P-6073), decommissioned 7 October 2005
[edit] Mine-Sweepers
- MSC Kleio (M 213) Class A (decommissioned 3 October 2006)
- MSC Erato (M 60) Class Castano (decommissioned 3 October 2006)
[edit] Designations explanation
- F: Frigates
- FACM: Fast Attack Craft Missile
- FACT: Fast Attack Craft Torpedo
- FFG: Guided Missile Frigate
- FS: Fast Ship
- L: Landing ships
- LCAC: Landing Craft Air Cushion
- LST: Landing Ship Tank
- M: Mine Warfare Ships
- MSC: Mine Sweeper Craft or Mine Sweep Craft
- MSH: Mine Sweeper/Hunter
- P: Patrol ships
- PC: Patrol Craft
- PCF: Patrol Craft Fast
- PCFG: Patrol Craft, Fast, Guided missile
- PG: Patrol Guard
- S: Submarines
[edit] External links
- www.hellenicnavy.gr
- Procurement programs for the Hellenic Navy (greek)
- Royal Hellenic or Greek Navy in World War 1, including warship losses
[edit] References
- ^ Miscellaneous smaller navies, 1914
- ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
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