Грекия Әскери-теңіз күштерінің тарихы мен қазіргі жағдайы

Maritime warfare branch of Greece's military
the naval forces of modern Greece

The Hellenic Navy (HN; Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy historically hails from the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, 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, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ). The Hellenic Navy is a Green water navy. The total displacement of the fleet is approximately 150,000 tons. The HN also operates a number of naval aviation units. The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα τὸ τῆς θαλάσσης κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been translated as "The rule of the sea is a great matter". while old ships were gradually being retired. Furthermore, continuous efforts towards the education of officers were initiated. Young people were initially trained at the military school of Scholi Evelpidon and afterwards they were transferred to the navy, as there was no such thing as a Naval Academy. In 1831, Greece descended into anarchy with numerous areas, including Mani and Hydra, in revolt. It was during this revolt that the flagship Hellas, docked at Poros, was set on fire by Admiral Andreas Miaoulis. Capodistrias was assassinated a few months after.

When the new King Otto arrived in the Greek capital, Nafplion, in 1832 aboard the British warship HMS Madagascar, the Greek fleet consisted of one corvette, three brigs, six schooners, two gunboats, two steamboats and a few more small vessels. The first naval school was founded in 1846 on the corvette Loudovikos and Leonidas Palaskas was assigned as its director. However, the inefficient training of the officers, coupled with conflict between those who pursued modernization and those who were stalwarts of the traditions of the veterans of the struggle for independence, resulted in a restricted and inefficient navy, which was limited to policing the sea and the pursuit of pirates. During the 1850s, the more progressive elements of the navy won out and the fleet was augmented with more ships. In 1855, the first iron propeller driven ships were ordered from England. These were the steamships Πανόπη Ι (ατμόπλοιο), Pliksavra, Αφρόεσσα (ατμοημιολία), and Sfendoni. During the Greco Italian War, the Navy took over convoy escort missions in the Ionian Sea and even embarked on three raids against the Italian supply convoys in the Strait of Otranto, although without success. The most important role was given to the submarines, which although obsolete, sank some Italian cargo ships in the Adriatic, losing one submarine in the process. The Greek submarine force (six boats) was however too small to be able to seriously hinder the supply lines between Italy and Albania (between 28 October 1940 and 30 April 1941, Italian ships made 3,305 voyages across the Otranto straits, carrying 487,089 military personnel, including 22 field divisions, and 584,392 tons of supplies while losing overall only seven merchant ships and one escort ship). When Nazi Germany attacked Greece, the RHN suffered heavily at the hands of the Luftwaffe, with 25 ships, including the old battleship, now artillery training ship, Kilkis and the hulk of her sister Lemnos, lost within a few days in April 1941. It was then decided to shift the remaining fleet (one cruiser – the famous Greek cruiser Georgios Averof – three destroyers and five submarines) to join up with the British Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria. As the war progressed, the number of Hellenic Royal Navy vessels increased after the concession of several destroyers and submarines by the British Royal Navy. The most notable aspects of the Hellenic Royal Navy's participation in World War II include the operations of the destroyer Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga which, until sunk in Leros on September 23, 1943, was the most successful Allied destroyer in the Mediterranean Sea; the participation of two destroyers in Operation Overlord; and the story of the destroyer Adrias, which while operating close to the coast of Kalymnos in October 1943 hit a mine, resulting in the loss of the vessel's prow, while blowing the two gun forward turret over the bridge. After some minor repairs at Gümüşlük Bay in Turkey Adrias managed to return to Alexandria in a 400 mile (644 km) trip, even though all the forepart of the ship, up to the bridge, was missing.

After World War II, the Royal Hellenic Navy was significantly strengthened by the concession of British and Italian ships. The organisation also changed in line with modern naval doctrines of that era after the entrance into NATO in 1952. At the beginning of the 1950s, US military aid formed the core of the country's armed forces. The Royal Hellenic Navy received the first Bostwick class destroyers which took on the name Beasts (Θηρία), while withdrawing the British ones. The next significant change was during the early 1970s, when Greece was the first Mediterranean naval force to order missile equipped fast attack craft (Combattante II) and the Type 209 submarines, whereas US military aid continued in the form of FRAM II type destroyers. In 1979, the Hellenic Navy placed an order in the Netherlands for two modern Standard class frigates (the ). These were the first acquisitions of new main surface vessels, rather than the use of second hand ships, in almost four decades.

The arrivals of Hydra class (MEKO 200 HN) and more Standard class frigates along with the orders for more missile corvettes, Poseidon class (Type 209) submarines and naval helicopters allowed the retirement of the obsolete vessels. Greece also received four s from the US Navy in 1991–1992. All four were decommissioned after only ten years in service, since their electronics and armament eventually became obsolete and they required large crews. The advance continued when Greece ordered Type 214 submarines that feature an air independent propulsion (AIP) system, Sikorsky S 70B 6/10 Aegean Hawk helicopters and Project 1232.2 Zubr class hovercraft from Russia and Ukraine. Later actions included the modernization of Standard class frigates with new electronics and radar systems and the modernization of Glaukos and Poseidon class submarines with new sonars, electronics and air independent propulsion engines (programs Neptune I/II).

The Hellenic Navy maintains a large number of surface vessels and submarines in its inventory. However, the vast majority of warships in active service are in the process of either being replaced by more modern and advanced designs, being refurbished, or being retired. The Navy is awaiting delivery of 3 FDI Belharra frigates from France with an option for 1 more after the Greek Prime Minister announced the purchase from Greece of 4 new multirole heavy frigates in September 2020, that will replace older Elli class vessels. Deliberations with other parties, including the United States and Germany, lasted for months after France was eventually awarded the contract. He also announced the immediate upgrade of all 4 Hydra (Meko 200HN) class frigates, already in service. Greece has also signed on to a program between Italy and France in making a new multirole heavy corvette, with Spain joining as well. The program, dubbed the European Patrol Corvette, has also been inserted in the EU's so called Permanent Structured Cooperation. Naviris expected the EU fund to issue a Request for Proposal for projects in 2020, with proposals to then be submitted by industry in 2021, and for decisions on fund allocation to be made the same year. Also, plans for the Hellenic Navy to acquire the Sa'ar 72 Israeli corvette of the new Themistocles class came to fruition after an agreement signed in June 2020, with exclusive production in Greece.

Frigates are the main heavy ships of the Navy, with 70% of the Hydra class frigates having an advanced anti aircraft missile launching system. However, there is no dedicated Anti aircraft Warfare (AAW) platform in the fleet since the Charles F. Adams class destroyers were decommissioned in the late 90s. The oldest ship in the frigate fleet is just over 40 years old (HS Kountouriotis, commissioned in 1978) while the youngest ship is just over 20 years old (HS Salamis, commissioned in 1998). None of the ships was equipped with a remote weapon station (RWS) for the purpose of asymmetric warfare and coastal defence and the electronic countermeasures systems (ECM) were absent or obsolete. Raytheon has now installed new electro optical systems on the ships that were previously not equipped with such sensors. It is certain that Hydras will undergo a modernization program but its scale is not yet known. Plan for the Hydras is to extend their operational lifespan well into the 2030s. However, the Elli class frigates need to be replaced by new designs. The acquisition of two, with an option for two more, Naval Group FDI Belharra frigates with high end AAW and deep missile strike (DMS utilising Scalp EG Naval) capabilities from France was put on hold in July 2020, despite an intense interest initially expressed by the Navy. Main reasons for this policy change by the Greek Government, were reported to be the increased cost of almost €3 billion for only 2 units, the exclusion by the French of co production and the delayed delivery of the first unit, placing it in 2025 at the earliest. Meanwhile, the United States had proposed the acquisition of four Multi Mission Surface Combatants (Freedom class MMSCs), also known as Littoral combat ships, that are already in full production for Saudi Arabia, also tested and in use by the US Navy. The Germans came to the table with the Meko A200 design, a new and advanced version of the Meko 200HN, that could additionally offer homogeneity to the fleet, especially after the upgrade of the ships already in service. On November 6, 2020, the Navy submitted its initial preference for the acquisition of 4 MMSC Littoral Combat Ships developed by Lockheed Martin. These multi mission frigates were part of a wider package discussed with the US, that also included upgrade of the four Hydra frigates, intermediate solution ships, and participation of Hellenic Shipyards in the development of the new American FFG(X) type frigate. The FFG(X) type frigate, now named Constellation class, is a multi mission guided missile ship, under development for the United States Navy by Fincantieri Marinette Marine. However all other proposals, also including those from the Netherlands, the UK, Spain and Italy, remained on the table pending closest evaluation of the packages offered by all participating companies. The final decision by the Greek Government on the type and country of origin of the new Hellenic ships, was scheduled for 2021. Final decision was made in September 28 of 2021 and after many months of deliberations. During his visit to the French capital and his meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the procurement of 3+1 French FDI HN Frigates and 3+1 Gowind HN class Corvettes in a €5 billion deal spreading to 2026, with the later class still being configured to meet the Hellenic Navy's needs. It is almost certain that two types will replace the Ellis, in order to maintain a ceiling of at least 10 frigates/corvettes. A floating scenario was the purchase of heavy corvettes to replace a number of old Ellis. This scenario has become increasingly more possible, after Greece joined Italy and France in the European Patrol Corvette (EPC/PESCO) consortium in early 2020 for the construction of a new advanced 3,000 ton corvette, with Spain joining the program as well. New ships, for all involved Navies, are not likely to enter service before 2027 or 2030 at the earliest.

Greece maintains a mixed fleet of modern and older submarine units. In December 2019, the Hellenic Ministry of Defence resolved a lingering issue, regarding the new Type 214 (Papanikolis class) torpedoes. An order for new multipurpose heavyweight SeaHake Mod4 torpedoes, from Atlas Elektronik, was placed. The contract also included the upgrade of older torpedoes and the purchase of new torpedo batteries. The six older and non modernized Type 209 units (Poseidon and Glavkos classes) will be gradually retired, without any replacement announced yet. The optimistic scenario is replacement with four additional Type 214s, reaching a ceiling of eight units of this type. By 2030, the recently upgraded Type 209/1500 AIP (HS Okeanos, former Type 209/1200) will have exceeded 50 years since entering service; therefore it is questionable whether it will still be part of the Greek fleet by that time.

There were two new Roussen class Fast Attack Missile Craft (FAMC) under construction, bringing the number of vessels of this type up to seven; The 6th ship was commissioned operational in July 2020, with the 7th and final ship expected Autumn 2020. This was after a more than ten year delay due to financial and structural problems faced by Elefsis Shipyard that was contracted to build the ships. There are no changes in the initial design, despite 20 years since the first vessel in the class entered service. The majority of the FAC were built in the late ‘70s. Four of them have been modernised extensively and the new ships have integrated all updates. All older vessels of other types, with the exemption of three Votsis class boats which are about to be retired soon with the introduction of the new Roussens, have replaced their old MM38 and Penguin missile systems with Harpoon launchers. In addition, the boats that had no electro optical tracking (Mirador) sensors, received new endogenous Miltech TDR 10A and TDR 300 systems. The fleet also consists of ten gunboats. With the exception of the four Machitis class (Osprey HSY 56A), the rest of the gunboats need modernization and, some of them, replacement. The two Asheville class boats are at least 50 years old. The remaining four boats (Osprey 55 and HSY 56) have already received new electro optical systems. On June 16, 2020, ONEX Neorion Shipyards SA in the Greek island of Syros and Israel Shipyards LTD signed a cooperation agreement for the construction of the Themistocles class corvette during Greek PM's visit to Israel. This is a multipurpose warship based on the Israeli Sa'ar 72 class corvette design, at 72 meters length and displacement of around 800 tons. It will be able of speeds above 30 knots with an extended endurance. It can operate a medium size marine helicopter, but also supports unique possibilities of deploying Special Forces units. The agreement was for the construction in Greece of 7 vessels, with an option for 6 more. These will replace an equal number of older gunboats. In February 2020, at a special event held at the Hellenic Institute of Naval Technology (HINT), the technical director of the Unit of Submersibles and Hellenic Navy Works of Hellenic Shipyards Co., presented project Aginor. The project was the development and construction, in collaboration with the Navy, of an advanced Asymmetric Warfare Vessel (AWV) that uses the latest technologies and composite materials. The first vessels have already been added to the Navy’s fleet. They are capable of a number of missions including insertion and extraction of Special Operations Forces, interdiction and coastal patrol, as well as search and rescue (SAR) operations. In April 2020 the Navy received the first four Mark V Special Operations Craft, ordered via the United States Excess Defense Articles programme. The craft are utilised by the Underwater Demolition Command.

In 2019, the U. S. State Department cleared a $600 million foreign military sale (FMS) of seven MH 60R Seahawk multi mission helicopters to Greece. In July 2020, Greece signed a contract for the purchase of four new units, via this program. In November of the same year, the remaining three aircraft were also included in the order. A decision was made in 2014 for the re activation of existing Lockheed P 3B Orions and their submission to a program of overhaul, upgrade and service life extension. The contract with Lockheed Martin included the return of one aircraft to airworthy condition with the existing mission equipment as an "interim solution" and the complete modernization and upgrade of four other aircraft in Hellenic Aerospace (HAI). The option included the complete modernization and upgrade of that aircraft as well. The "interim solution" aircraft has already been delivered, while all the remaining aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2023. The Hellenic Navy will soon begin the use of a new UAV called Archytas. This will be a VTOL aircraft used for surveillance and it will be able to take off and land on warships. It may also be lightly armed. However, this will not be flying until 2024.

The Hellenic Navy's fleet of warships and auxiliary boats is harboured in the two major HN naval bases at Salamis Island near Piraeus and at Souda Bay on the island of Crete. Internationally, the Navy used the prefix HS (Hellenic Ship) for its vessels.

The Hellenic Navy relies mainly on frigates as its primary surface heavy boats. The fleet consists of thirteen frigates. The types operated are the (Type: Meko 200HN) and the (Type: ). The Elli class frigates HS Elli and HS Limnos were sold to Greece during construction, the rest were bought directly from the Dutch Navy. The Hydra class vessels were constructed in Greece by Hellenic Shipyards Co., except from HS Hydra that was constructed by the German company Blohm and Voss based in Hamburg. Modernization of six frigates was completed in 2010. The intention for the Hydra class vessels was, as of February 2015, to be modernised with a €400 million upgrade that would extend their operational life to 2035. These plans became a priority for the Navy in 2020, amidst rising tensions with Turkey over delimitation of maritime zones in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece also negotiated the acquisition of four new Freedom class frigates from the United States to replace older Ellis and proposed to the US a wider package of upgrades and future coproduction opportunities involving the Constellation class frigate, currently being developed for the US Navy. The final decision on the type and origin of the new frigates was scheduled to be made in 2021, after examining closely all available proposals from a list of other countries, apart from the US. France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK also participated in the selection process. Finally, in September 2021 the decision for the future of the HN frigate fleet was announced, including gradual replacement of the Elli class with the French built Belharra Hellenique (Frégate de défense et d'intervention FDI) class warships, officially constituting the Navy’s new Kimon Class, and modernisation of the Hydra class in a €5 billion deal that initially extends up to 2026. Since 2022, three frigates of the Kimon Class have been under construction in France by Naval Group. These are HS Kimon (F 601), HS Nearchos (F 602) and HS Formion (F 603). Delivery of HS Kimon (F 601) is scheduled for early 2025 and the rest are to follow over the succeeding months. Greece has a contracted option for a fourth ship to be included in the initial production line, if it so chooses. The Greek frigate HS Psara carries three reliquaries permanently on its onboard historical exhibition. Two contain the taxidermic hearts of Greek War of Independence heroes Admiral Konstantinos Kanaris and Admiral Andreas Miaoulis and one reliquary contains the remains of heroine Rear Admiral (posthumous) Laskarina Bouboulina. The frigate's exhibition can be visited when the ship opens to the public during National Holidays and celebrations. In January 2024, Defence Minister Nikolaos Dendias announced a proposal to manufacture seven Constellation class frigate in Greece.

The Hellenic Navy operates ten gunboats of the Osprey and es. Both Osprey HSY 55 and Osprey HSY 56A classes are designed by the Hellenic Navy following a modular concept so that weapons and sensors can be changed as required. They were built by Hellenic Shipyards (HSY) in Greece. These vessels are similar in appearance to s. The first pair was ordered on 20 February 1990. HS Pyrpolitis was launched on 16 September 1992 and HS Polemistis on 21 June 1993. Each ship can carry 25 fully equipped troops. Alternative guns and Harpoon missiles can be fitted as required. Pyrpolitis was renamed Kasos on 11 November 2005, after the island of Kasos in the Dodecanese. The ship is based in the area of Kasos, and the name recognises the island and the Kasos Massacre during the Greek War of Independence. The two Asheville Class gunboats are former US Navy vessels, bought and transferred to Greece in 1989.

The fleet consists of nineteen missile boats also known as fast attack missile craft. Two new ships (P78 and P79) entered service in 2019. The main purpose of these vessels is offensive anti ship warfare. The Hellenic Navy operates four types of missile boats. These are the Roussen (Super Vita), Laskos (La Combattante III), Kavaloudis (La Combattante IIIb) and Votsis (La Combattante IIa) classes. The La Combattante III and La Combattante IIIb classes were upgraded in 2006. For the La Combattante III craft, Thales delivered a TACTICOS combat management system, including four multi functional operator consoles, one surveillance radar, a fire control tracking system, one electro optical tracking and fire control system, an integrated low probability of interception radar, two target designation sights and a tactical data link. The weapon suite of the La Combattante IIIs remained unchanged. Thales was also responsible for the integration of existing guns, surface to surface missiles and torpedoes. The La Combattante IIa ships are scheduled to be decommissioned upon completion of the two newly ordered Roussen gunboats.

The Hellenic Navy Submarine Command operates eleven submarines of four types. The newest and most advanced type operated is the Type 214 Papanikolis class, which is widely considered to be among the most advanced conventional (non nuclear) propulsion submarines in service with naval forces at the moment. The Type 214 is a diesel electric submarine developed by the German Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft GmbH (HDW). It features diesel propulsion with an air independent propulsion (AIP) system using Siemens polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells. A contract to build four boats for the Hellenic Navy was signed between February 2000 and June 2002. The first boat was built at HDW in Kiel, Germany, and the rest at Hellenic Shipyards Co. in Skaramangas, Greece. The Hellenic Navy named them the Papanikolis class. Other types operated are the 209/1100 Glavkos class, the 209/1200 Poseidon class and one boat of the 209/1500 AIP Okeanos class. The Glavkos submarines were upgraded with the "Neptune I" modernisation program and the Poseidon and Okeanos vessels with the "Neptune II" program. The Okeanos upgrade included AIP capabilities very similar to Type 214 so extensive to justify HS Okeanos as a new, separate class when compared to the rest of Type 209/1200 vessels. New dimensions are similar to Type 214 boats.

The Navy operates the endogenous AAWV Aginor (Αγήνωρ) which is an Advanced Asymmetric Warfare Vessel that uses latest technologies and composite materials making it suitable for a number of missions including insertion and extraction of Special Operations Forces, interdiction and coastal patrol, as well as search and rescue (SAR) operations. The Navy also operates the Mark V Special Operations Craft, which is an American design originally developed for the US Navy Seals. The craft are utilised by the Hellenic Navy Underwater Demolition Command and are specifically customised to the needs of the Hellenic Navy and the Aegean theater of operations.

The Hellenic Navy currently operates nine tank landing ships (LST), five of the Greek built and four heavy military hovercraft of the Ukrainian/Russian built The Jason landing craft are capable of transporting 287 troops plus 22 battle tanks or any other combination of other armoured vehicles. The Zubr craft have a military lift of total 130 tonnes of cargo with three battle tanks, eight armoured vehicles, ten personnel carriers and 140 troops or combinations of those and a speed of 40 knots when fully loaded. The Zubr class (Project 1232.2 / NATO codename: "Pomornik") is an air cushioned landing craft (LCAC). This class of military hovercraft is, as of 2012, the world's largest, with a standard full load displacement of 555 tons. The hovercraft is designed to sealift amphibious assault units (such as marines and tanks) from equipped or non equipped vessels to non equipped shores, as well as transport and plant naval mines. The purchase of HS Cephalonia for the Hellenic Navy was the first time a Soviet design had been built for and purchased by a NATO member.

The Hellenic Navy operates fifteen replenishment and support ships including petroleum tankers, water tankers and auxiliary vessels. It also operates two Greek built transport ships of the Pandora class, six coastline patrol boats, three minehunters, three torpedo retrievers, seventeen tugboats (both open sea and harbour), four oceanographic & scientific research vessels and two lighthouse tenders. The Navy also preserves three memorial ships including the Pisa class armoured cruiser HS Georgios Averof which is the only armoured cruiser worldwide still in existence and, although it is permanently a harboured museum ship, is ceremoniously considered in active service carrying the Rear Admiral's Rank Flag. The Hellenic Navy also has the trireme Olympias in commission, making the Hellenic Navy the navy with the oldest type of commissioned vessel in the world