History

Summary of the History of the Command

The present Command of the Hellenic Frigates has been consisted just before the Balkan Wars with the formation of a small Fleet of Destroyers with headmaster Captain I. VRATSANO and it had two (2) Squadrons. The Squadron of Scouters with headmaster Commander D . PAPACHRISTOY, Captain of the Destroyer LEON and the Squadron of Destroyers with headmaster Commander I. IPITI, Captain of the Destroyer SFENDONI.

The small Fleet of Destroyers included the following ships:

a. Scouters AETOS- IERAKS- LEON- PANTHIR. They where constructed at the naval yards of LIVERPOOL in G. Britain, they had 980 tons ballast and 31 knots speed. The conscription which happened a little before the beginning of the Balkan Wars forced the sudden bought, while the ships were being constructed for Argentina . After many efforts in order not to be caught from the enemy during the war in G.Britain, the ships set sail with foreign crews and were recovered from greek ships in Algeri.

With the Aegean fleet they were united in 18 October 1912 except for the destroyer AETOS which was tugged due to mechanical failure and remained for reparation in Salamina's Naval Base. At first, they were characterized as 'Tracking ships' because on the one hand the gun's ammunition was limited and on the other hand the torpedoes they were using didn't exist in the market.

b. Destroyers ASPIS -VELOS - DOXA - NIKI : They were constructed between 1905-1907 in German shipyards of STETINO .They had a draft of 350 tones and 30 knots speed. Among them , destroyer VELOS was the first greek ship which arrived in Constantinople in November of 1918.

c. Destroyers SFEDONI - LOGXH - THIELA - NAYKRATOUSA. They were constructed by order of the greek government in Yarrow shipyards of G.Britain between 1905-1907. They had a draft of 380 tones and 30 knots speed.

d. Destroyers KERAVNOS - NEA GENEA. They were constructed for the german Navy between 1911-1912 in STETINO shipyards. The rise of the greek flag occurred in the 10 th of October 1912 , when they were bought with greek errands from abroad, that happened from SPIRO MATSOUKA as well as from the contribution of the National fleet Bank. They were the first ships of the fleet that had gas turbines. The organization of the Destroyer's fleet is as below:

During the Balkan war the greek fleet was separated into the Aegean Division, under the command of the Captain (later Admiral) P. KOYNTOYRIOTIS and into the Ionian Unit under the command of the Captain I. DAMIANOS. The destroyer fleet belonging to the Aegean fleet having as base MOUDRO of LIMNOS, contributed to the safe military forces' transfer and to the control of Dardanelia passage,securing the sea domination of Greeks in the Aegean . Important facts are the destruction of the Turkish fleet in ELLIS and LIMNOS battles as well as the liberation of all islands of North and North-East Aegean by the attacking groups of the ships and parts of the military forces. All the above mentioned became more important considering the low training level in subjects of material knowledge because of the necessity for immediate placement and operational use of new ships of the fleet . At the beginning of the First World War and the incidents of national internal conflicts, England proceeded to undertaking of the under construction Battleships and Destroyers which were situated in English shipyards. So the fleet's formation in destroyers remains the same. However, naval operations were executed in Aegean by the side of the allies after 1916 which were mainly patrols and escorts of ship-groups. After enpeacement the Greek and allies' fleet arrived in Propondida, anchored in Constantinople and Nikomidia and participated in operations in Russia . Later, with the help of allies and mainly that of Britain , the Greek fleet continued the operations. After the unfortunate outcome of the campaign in M. Asia (1922), effort was made to advance most of the naval units. So, four (4) of the destroyers were advanced in England while the rest remained in Greece . From 1928 during the presidence of E. VENIZELOS, the general peace-friendly guiding of the Middle war period was consolidated with the undisputable abandoning of THE GREAT IDEA and the sensial reduction of funds for the defence. So in 1933 the fleet owned the destroyers KOYDOYRIOTIS, YDRA, SPETSAI, PSARA, AETOS, IERAX , LEON , PANTHER, ASPIS, NIKI, THIELA, SFEDONI. In 1940 Fleet's configuration was almost the same, two (2) English construction destroyers were added, VASILEYS GEORGIOS AND VASILISSA OLGA.

The beginning of the Second World War as far as the Hellenic Navy is concerned is signaled by the bombardment of the Attack Ship ELLI in harbor of Tinos in 15 August 1940.

During the Albanian events in 1940-1941 Destroyers operated in the area of North Ionian and the strait of Otrado by executing escorting missions and cargo ships protection, which carried ammunition, fuel and food on behalf of military forces. In-between attack operations of limited scale were planned and executed precisely and what is more without any losses.

However this situation was radically changed on the outbreak of German attack and as LUFTWAFFE exterminated the Hellenic Fleet by sinking 25 ships of each category from 4 to 25 April 1941. In order to continue the fight the removal of the Fleet in Alexandria of Egypt was considered necessary. The six (6) Destroyers which were left along with the other ships of the Fleet (1 Battle Ship, 3 Torpedo Ships, 5 Submarines and 2 Auxiliaries), were under the British command executing ship escorting missions, patrol harbor and straights checks in Mediterranean, in Atlantic and in Indian Ocean .

During the war there was a huge evolution of the operational training of the crews, due to the constant participation in operations and real combat conditions. In adddition the Flotilla of the Destroyers was greatly enforced by new Navy units given from the English, mainly by Escort Destroyers. What is also memorable is:

a. The action of Destroyer V. OLGA, which had become the most successful Ally-ship of its kind in the Mediterranean, before it was finally sunk by German Bombing Units in LAKI of LERO in 26 September 1943.

b. The unprecedented achievement of Destroyer ADRIAS which after having her bow severed on a mine-crash while patrolling in Dodecanese Islands in autumn of 1943, managed to cover 370 nm sailing astern, in order to arrive in Alexandria base on 23 October 1943. An achievement which brought cheering and honors from crews of the other Ally-ships nearby.

c. The participation of the Corvettes KRIEZIS and TOBAZIS in the historical amphibious operation of Normandy in June 1944, which determined the final outcome of the War.

At the end of the Second World War the Destroyer Flotilla had become stronger. In 1944 the Fleet included the following ships:

a. Destroyer type HUNT II (THEMISTOKLIS-CRETE): Were lent by British Navy in 1942 and 1943.

b. Destroyer type HUNT III (ADRIAS-KANARIS-MIAOULIS-PINDOS):

The first three (3) were lent by British Navy in 1942, while PINDOS in 1943.

c. Corvettes (SAHTOURIS-APOSTOLIS-KRIEZIS-TOBAZIS-GEORGIOS B'): The first four (4) (type FLOWER) were lent by British Navy in 1942 -1943, while GEORGIOS B' was lent by U.S.A in 1943.

d. Destroyer type SALAMIS : Was lent by British Navy in 1944.

e. Destroyer typeNAVARINON: Was lent by British Navy in 1944.

In addition the old Destroyers KOUNTOYRIOTIS-SPETSAI-AETOS-IERAX-PANTHER remained in the Fleet.

The ships above formed the Fleet which accompanied by the Command Battle Ship AVEROF transported the government of the National Union lead by G. PAPANDREOU at Faliro on 17 October 1944 in order to take political control after the liberation from Germans.

The after-war period between 1944 and 1949 was characterized by the civil war.

Their missions were mainly patrolling and supporting military operations. In 14 April 1945 the fleet was reorganized to ADA . This formation remained until November 1947, except for a three-month period which was temporarily renamed as DMA\T. Until late 50's is named ADES, including all Destroyers, Corvettes and PGMS Patrol Ships.

Until late 40's and 1946 in particular, the following material changes take place:

a. The Destroyer type HUNT III ADRIAS was lent by British Navy which replaced the older same type one.

b. The Destroyer type HUNT III ASTIGS was also lent by British Navy.

c. The old Destroyers SPETSAI-AETOS-IERAKS-PANTHER were disarmed.

In the early 50's Escorting Destroyers type BOSTWICK known asAETOS-IERAX-LEON-PANTHER as well as Destroyers type GLEEVES NIKI and DOXA are obtained from the U.S.A. as a result of an American help.

In late 50's and early 60's the following changes of the Destroyers' Fleet, as far as formation and organization are concerned, are made:

a. The type HUNT II and HUNT III Destroyers as well as the four (4) type FLOWER Corvettes are returned to the British Navy.

b. The Destroyers SALAMIS and NAVARINON and the corvette GEORGIOS B' are disarmed.

c. Destroyers type FLETCHER SFEDONI-VELOS-ASPIS-LOGHI is obtained from U.S.A in 1959-1960 and later THIELA-NAVARINON in 1962.

d. The Replenishment Ships ARETHOUSA and ARIADNI are obtained by the U.S.A

e. On 14 th January 1959 the AAP-AKIP is founded and as a result the ships are divided in two Headquarters under the command of DES\1and DES\2. The above command formation will remain for almost one decade.

So in the decade of 1960 the Fleet includes 6 Destroyers type FLETCER (VELOS-ASPIS-SFEDONI-LOGHI and THIELA-NAVARINON), 4 Escort type Destroyers BOSTWICK (AETOS-IERAX-LEON-PANTHER) and two Destroyers type GLEEVES (NIKI-DOXA) all of which are constructed in U.S.A.

On the 3 rd January 1968 the Fleet is reunited altering its name to DAK-SANT, a name which will remain until the middle of the following decade.

In the decade of 70's the Destroyers type FRAM II (THEMISTOKLIS, MIAOULIS) and FRAM I (KANARIS, KOUNTOURIOTIS, SAXTOURIS, TOMBAZIS) are obtained, while in 1972 the Destroyers type GLEEVES are disarmed. Also in 1976, one Escort-Auxiliary type RHEIN Destroyer was given from the German Navy which was named AIGAION. On the 2 nd of August 1976 Destroyers Command is formed, descendant of the former DAK-SANT, whose ships are divided in two squadrons for commanding agility reasons.

At the early 80's two more Destroyers type FRAM I (APOSTOLIS-KRIEZIS) are obtained from USA while the type FLETCHER THIELA and NAVARINON are disarmed. The same period the first two Frigates type STANDARD ELLI and LIMNOS are bought from Holland . So in the decade of '80 the Destroyers Command formation is as follows:

a. Two Frigates type S (ELLI, LIMNOS ).

b. Eight type FRAM Destroyers (THEMISTOKLIS, MIAOULIS, KANARIS, KOYNTOYRIOTIS, SAHTOURIS, TOMBAZIS, APOSTOLIS and KRIEZIS).

c. Four Destroyers type FLETCHER (ASPIS, BELOS, SFENDONI and LOGHI).

d. Four Escort type BOSTWICK Destroyers (AETOS, IERAKS , LEON and PANTHER).

e. One Escort-Auxiliary type RHEIN Destroyer AIGAION.

f. Two Replenishment Ships (ARIADNI and ARETHOUSA).

At the beginning of the 90's type BOSTWICK FLETCHER and FRAM Destroyers (except for KOYNTOYRIOTIS-TOMBAZIS which were decommissioned in the middle 90's) as well as the Destroyer AIGAION are disarmed. Also the Auxiliary ships AXIOS and ALIAKMON are obtained from the German navy. At the same period the type ADAMS Destroyers and the type KNOX FRIGATES are gradually obtained from the USA . All of them remained in use for almost one decade. At the same time the Command is enforced with modern ships such as the type MEKO 200 Frigates, which are designed in German but mainly constructed in Greece in the period 1992 to 1998 (YDRA, SPETSAI, PSARA, SALAMIS), and also with the supply of seven secondhand type S Frigates from Holland in the period 1993 to 2004 (AIGAION, ADRIAS, NAVARINON, KOYNTOYRIOTIS, MPOYMPOYLINA, KANARIS, THEMISTOKLIS).

As far as the Support Ships are concerned, one Replenishment Ship PROMETHEUS was constructed in Elefsina Ship Yards in 2003, while the Replenishment Ship ARIADNI was disarmed a year before. On the 27 of June 2002 the Command was renamed to Frigate Command.

The biggest allying-multi-national operations in which the Frigates have taken part are the following:

a. Operation DESERT STORM for the liberation of Kuwait from the illegal Iraqi possession with patrols of Frigate ELLI and LIMNOS, in RED SEA during the years 1990-1991.

b. Operation SHARP GUARD for the application of the embargo penalty in war materials which was imposed from the safety commission of UN in the countries of the former Yugoslavia , with patrols of Frigates and Destroyers in Adriatic Sea during years 1992-1996.

c. Operation ENDURING FREEDOM for the countering of global terrorism with patrols of Frigates type S and MEKO 200 in the Persian Gulf during the years 2002-2003.

d. Operation STANAVFORMED with constant presence of one naval unit from 1990 up to today as part of the permanently formed Nato Naval Force, which operates in the Mediterranean, with operations that contribute in the stability and peace.