Destroyer type Greyhound

Queen Olga D-15 (1938-1943)

Built by the British Yarrow shipyards in the period 1936-38. Ship of the same type: VASSILEFS GEORGIOS (see relative entry). One of the most distinguished ships of the Hellenic Navy. She participated actively in the 1940-43 naval operations. Till April 1941 in convoy escorts and in the first and third Otranto Straights raids (November 14th to 15th 1940, January 4th to 5th 1941). She sailed for the Middle East after the German occupation of Greece. Between November and December 1941 she underwent modifications in Calcutta. She was back in the Mediterranean in February 1942 where she participated successfully in the Tobruk operations with a British squadron (CO. Lt Cdr G. Blessas HN). On December the 14th 1942 in cooperation with British destroyer HMS PETARD they sunk near Bengazi the Italian submarine VARSCIEK. On January 18th 1943 she sunk in the Pantelaria area the Italian oil tanker STROMBOLI (500 tons). On June 2nd 1943, in cooperation with British destroyer HMS JERVIS they sunk an entire Italian convoy consisting of 2 merchant ships and 2 escorts, destroyer CASTORE (650 tons) being one of them. Was also in action for the capturing of Pantellaria and the landing in Sicily. On September 16th with other British and allied vessels was given the honour to escort the surrendered Italian fleet proceeding to Alexandria. On September 18th 1943 in cooperation with British destroyers HMS FAULKNOR and HMS ECLIPSE they sunk near the island of Astypalea yet another convoy consisting of freighters PLUTO (2.000 tons), PAOLO (4.000 tons) and their escort ship No. 2104. Finally, VASSILISSA OLGA was sunk on September 26,1943 during a german air attack while anchored in Lakki bay of Leros island after the capitulation of Italy. Her CO. Lt. Cdr Blessas HN, 6 officers and 65 petty officers and sailors were lost.