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History
History
Up to 200 B.C.
The history of the Hellenic Navy does not have a concrete point of beginning.Its roots are lost in depths of centuries of history of human gender. In a geographic space within 150 km. from the sea, the Greeks from the prehistoric years developed societies as a rule coastal. There they learned they exploited the marine resources and loved the sea. Automatically, was created the need for the protection and spread of cultures that they developed, with result the progressive constitution of first organised units of the Hellenic Navy.
The Trojan War, an expedition that is lost in the dark of fable of Iliad and Odyssey, was the first Pan-Hellenic naval enterprise. Noteworthy that the camp of Aghaion was made from Greek boats pulled in the land. After the disaster of Troy and the end of the war, which lasted ten years, began the adventures of return of fearless seamen heroes back in their home grounds. It is obvious that from the Archaic Years the Greeks already had earned good experience in the shipbuilding. Thus beginning with the navigation in the Aegean Sea they accomplished they opened new horizons in unknown places: they explored all the Mediterranean Sea, set up colonies from the Irakledes Columns up to the Black Sea and vindicated their prosperity with the sovereignty on the seas.
 In the Classic Years the naval activities and arts were blossoming. Characteristically, the phrase of Pericles of "The Sea's great State", it is quoted inalterable in the emblem of modern Hellenic Navy. Remarkable the effectiveness of Athenian Fleet, with more brilliant example the famous naval battle of Salamis against the Persians. The main defence weapon of Athenians was the flexible Galley (boat with three lines oars) that destroyed the heavier and cumbersome Persian and Phoenix boats. The main naval forces were coming from Athens and were fighting the Persian imposition. During the Hellenistic Period (334 B.C.) Alexander the Great began with the infantry and his cavalry the big Eastern expedition up to the borders of India, in the return he entrusted mainly his fleet, with worthy leader the admiral Nearch. Sailing on the Indian River and the long trip from his estuaries up to the Persian Gulf constituted one of the biggest achievements of the old Hellenic Navy. Furthermore, they continued with the exploration of coasts of Arabia and Caspian Sea, while the east Mediterranean becomes Greek lake protected from the boats of Ptolemachon and Selefkidon.
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200 B.C. to 1831 A.D.
The Romans that prevailed later were continuators of the same naval traditions that rejuvenated in the Byzantine years with new achievements. New types of boats and pioneering arms, as the humid fire, they ensured in Constantinoupolis the sovereignty in the sea. Neglecting though their naval force was the main factor for the decrepitude of military supremacy of the empire. The raid of Byzantium in 1453 from the Ottomans ended a successful period for the Hellenism and sank the Greeks in the dark of slavery. However, the supremacy of Greek slaves in the naval strategy continued to give them precedence, raised their biotic level and likewise the treaty of Kiutsuk Kainardji giving freedom on the Greek seas.
During the 1821 revolution the most important role played the Navy. The Greeks lost the battle enough times in the land, but never in the sea while fearless raiders with their fleet caused heavy losses in the Turkish Navy that tried to intervenes in the Revolution. It is not accidental that the Greeks won their dependence on the sea with a famous naval battle, the naval battle of Navarino.
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From 1831 A.D. until Today
The history of the fleet of the free Greek state begins from 1828. When Capodistrias became governor of the liberated Greece , the Greek fleet was consisted of few "veteran" ships, which participated in the battle for independence. The first minister of "Naval affairs" was Admiral Constantinos Canaris. The most powerful ship of the fleet at that time, frigate HELLAS, was constructed in America during the last years of the revolution. However it was put on fire from Admiral A. Miaulis in island Poros during the defection of the people of island Idra in 1831.
During the invasion of Ottomans in Greece in 1832, the fleet consisted of 1 corvette, 3 Brigs, 6 gollettes, 2 gunboats, 2 steamboats and a few more small vessels. The naval base was located since the era of Capodistrias in Poros and head of the naval command structure was Andreas Miaulis. Despite the limited means of that time, the shipbuilding of a new series of ships began at the same naval base while at the same time old ships were gradually retiring. Furthermore continuous efforts took place for the education of officers. Young people were initially trained at the military school of Euelpides and afterwards they were transferred to the navy, as there was no such thing as a " Naval School ". The first Naval School was founded in 1846 on the Corvette Loudovikos and Leonidas Palaskas was assigned as a director.
However the inefficient training of the officers, the conflict of those who carried a modernizing spirit concerning naval art with the old tradition of experienced Sea-fighters of the struggle for independence, as well as the national problems of those times, resulted into the restricted and inefficient as well as poorly organized action of the navy, which was limited in national transports, policing of the sea and the pursuit of piracy.
Later on the fleet was reinforced with more ships and in 1855 the first iron propeller-driven ships were ordered from England . These were the steamships Panopi, Pliksavra, Afroesa, and Sfendoni.
 During the Cretan revolution in 1866 the ships of the fleet were not in the state of achieving something remarkable. Such a failure led to the awakening of those responsible and proved the right of the dogma stating that: "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece , should only be created for war and aim to war". Because of this the fleet was supplied with new and bigger ships, while from 1885 with the use of iron in shipbuilding industry, the use of steam, the use of gun-power and the invention of the torpedo, the effectiveness and the appearance of the navy changed.
Meanwhile since 1878, because of the Russian-Turkish war and for reasons of security, the naval base was established in the area of Faneromeni of Salamina and a few years later it was transferred in the area of Arapis which remained till today. At the same time the naval school of officers was founded and its director was Ilias Canelopoylos. A committee from France headed by admiral Lezen, introduced the first scientific base for the organization of the navy and the methodological training of lower personnel. Furthermore the service of draftees was established the training of which took place in the old building of the naval base in Poros, and the center was named "Central pro-gym". Under the presidency of Charilaos Trikoupis in 1889 the fleet was further reinforced with the order of the ships Idra, Spetse, and Psara from France . Therefore Greece faced the week Turkish fleet in the Greek-Turkish war in 1897 securing its dominance in the Aegean sea, being weak however to react effectively in the outcome of the war which led to national humiliation. After the war in 1897, the Turkish fleet was reinforced and as a response to that in 1909 the ship G. Aberof was bought from Italy .
In 1907 the Hellenic Navy General Staff was founded and its first chief was admiral Countouriotis. In 1910 an English committee was sent, headed by admiral Tufnel in order to contribute to the organization and training of the navy. The committee led to the adoption of the English style of management organization and training especially in the areas of strategy and marking.
 During the Balkan wars of 1912 the Greek fleet was consisted of the ship Aberof and the old ships Idra, Spetse, Psara, 8 torpedo boats (of type Thyela and Niki), 5 old German torpedo boats, 4 steamboats (type Acheloos) and other auxiliary ships. During the era of the war, 2 more torpedo boats were bought from Germany (Nea Genea, Keraunos) and 4 scouting boats from England (Aetos, Ierax, Leon, Panther). Finally the first of the 2 submarines (Delfini, Ksifias) which were ordered from France , arrived.
The Greek fleet dominated the Aegean sea and crushed the Turkish one in the naval battles of Elli and Limnos . Consequently the islands of the North and the Northeast Aegean sea were liberated under the leadership of admiral Countouriotis.
With the beginning of the 1 st World War England proceeded to the confiscation of the under-construction Turkish and Greek ships as well as torpedo ships that where in the English shipyards at that time. The Greek fleet participated in the operations in the Aegean sea a member of the allied forces, using light ships to which certain missions were assigned, such as patrolling, escorting etc. During the armistice the Greek and the allied fleet came into Propontida and anchored outside Constantinoupolis and Nicomidia and participated in the operations in Russia .
 Later on, initially with the help of the allies and especially the English, and afterwards without any help at all, the Greek fleet participated in the mission for the coverage of Thrace and the expedition in Asia . After the expedition in Asia (1922) there was an effort of renewing most of the war units. Aberof and Elli were repaired in France, the 4 torpedo ships in England and all the rest in Greece . For the first time with the addition of a commercial ship, the fleet was equipped with a sailing-repair team, which was given the name Ifestos and 6 submarines were ordered from France , from which the most notable were Papanicolis and Catsonis. The training of the officers was periodically advanced with English missions. The serving period of seamen was 18 months, and some volunteers completed the navy's force.
From 1928 under the governance of E. Venizelos, the peace orientated policy of theat era was established with the abundance of the so-called "Great-Idea" and the reduction of spending for defense. After his fall in 1932, the political turbulence of the time was interrupted by a Venizelian military movement of 1935 and of course the dictatorship of I. Metaxas which changed the military scene. Two torpedo ships were ordered from England , the B. Georgios and B. Olga, 4 minesweeper ships were bought as well as 12 water planes and 1 oil plane. At the same time plans were designed for the further reinforcement of the Hellenic navy and its preparation for the coming war. The coastal defense was organized according to the division of the coasts of the country into 6 naval defense areas, which although were poorly supported financially, managed to support air defense systems in land, organized mine fields and submarine blocks for the protection of crucial parts and bases throughout the country.
After the sinking of the ship Elli in the port of Tinos in 15-08-1940 from the Italian submarine Delfino, the Hellenic Navy General Staff decided to move towards the first stages of war. The basic tactic chosen by the navy was the confrontation of every attack made by the enemy until the arrival of the English fleet in the area. The beginning of war found the navy prepared for war actions. Initially the ships were assigned to escort suppliers for the army fighting in Albania . Additionally the Greek submarines took action against sea transportation of the enemy in the Adriatic with bright success. However when Germany initiated the plan Barbarosa the aircrafts of Luftwaffe flying from the Bulgarian Air-bases launched severe attacks against Hellenic battle and commercial ships as well as against land facilities throughout the whole country. The losses for the fleet were tragic. 25 ships sank during 4-25 th April 1941 . the leader of the Hellenic Navy General Staff admiral A. Sakelariou took the decision (following the political leaders of the country) to continue the struggle. Consequently the gradual retreat of the remaining ships began. Initially they headed to Souda of Crete and afterwards to Alexandria .
By the end of April 1941 there were 17 Greek ships (1 battle ship, 6 torpedo ships, 5 submarines and 1 auxiliary) in the bight of Alexandria , the only ones that were united with the English fleet and represented the only liberated Greek land. The Hellenic ships, all of them apart from B. Olga, as they were old and constantly used for war, needed to be preserved so they could be able to correspond to their future role. The ships of the fleet have been repaired in the English shipbuilding bases in Egypt and India and their armor has been replaced by new technology. The basic missions of the ships once again involved escorting of other ships, and patrolling in the Mediterranean as well as in the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, aiming mainly to the support of the Soviet Union . At the same time in Egypt , schools operated in order to train old members and newcomers. Missions were sent to England for the receipt of new ships. Furthermore the service that was created for the destruction of mines resulted into the creation of a whole fleet of minesweepers. The Hellenic ships resisted hard with sacrifice in the so-called battle of Alexandria , denying escaping to the red sea, even when the forces of Romel were preparing for a counter-attack. In 1942 the English delivered to the Hellenic navy a whole squad of the latest models of torpedo-boats, which were named Canaris, Miaoylis, Pindos, Andrias, as well as the corvette Sachtoyris and the submarine Matrozos. Many of the damages and the losses of the enemy occurred because of the action of the Hellenic ships, whose crews were full of courage devotion and willing to sacrifice themselves. On the other hand the contact with Greece was not lost. The Hellenic submarines were constantly patrolling the Greek coasts carrying British and Greek commandos as well as war material. They captured or sank enemy vessels, terrorized the Italians in Dodekanisa and caused many casualties to the Germans in the Aegean Sea . In 18-09-43 the B. Olga was a protagonist in all the great victories against the enemy in the Mediterranean .  Together with 2 English torpedo boats it destroyed the German enemy that was ready to unload troops in Dodekanisa. However it was sank after a severe attack of stoykas-type German aircrafts in the port of Leros . While the attacks of the other allied ships were concentrated in dodekanisa, Adrias was at the front line during the bombing of the coasts of Calimnos. The night of 22-10- 1943 its bow exploded after heating a mine. Despite the fire and its damages in his gun power, its wounded captain I. Toumpas ordered the crew to collect the castaways of an English torpedo boat and to return to the port of Alexandria . The ship and its crew were welcomed as heroes. The action of the navy was completed with the initiation of the plan "return of the navy to Greece " which defined the way of the arrival of the fleet and the government of Egypt back home. During the end of the war, the fleets ships were spread to the islands and the ports of the Aegean sea aiming to hunt down the last remaining kernels of the enemy, escort ships with supplies for civilians and the refreshing of old naval services that would in turn contribute to the establishment of the Hellenic governance. It also participated to the overthrowing of EAM-HELLAS from the coastal areas and especially from the area of Athens.
During the end of the war, the fleets ships were spread to the islands and the ports of the Aegean sea aiming to hunt down the last remaining kernels of the enemy, escort ships with supplies for civilians and the refreshing of old naval services that would in turn contribute to the establishment of the Hellenic governance. It also participated to the overthrowing of EAM-HELLAS from the coastal areas and especially from the area of Athens . Following the reconstruction of the Hellenic state, the need for renewing the ships of the fleet was more than necessary. Most of the ships were given in order to assist the American military aid. Other ships were returned to the countries they belonged and very few were bought. Most of the ships given to Greece were in bad shape and needed repairing and new armor. Few of them were really new. In 1947 6 gun ships were given to Greece from the US (Arsamogloy, Blessas, Pezopoylos, Meletopoylos, Xatziconstantis, Laskos). As an act for compensation in 1950 the ship Elli was gifted while in 1951 the torpedo-boats Doksa-Niki, the mine-boats Aktion-Ambrakia, the tanker Naykratousa and the submarine Posidon and Amfitriti were given by the US. During the period 1958-1960 6 carriers, 4 torpedo boats (fletcher-type) the Aspis, Velos, Lonchi, Sfendoni, 2 landing support ships Blachabas-Maridakis and 3 other type carriers Ikaria, Lesbos, Rodos were also given by the US . In 1964 the submarine Triena was delivered as well as 6 minesweepers Aidon, Egly, Dafny, Doris, Chicly, Kissa.
 During the dictatorship in 1967, the navy under its chief of General Staff admiral K. Egkolfopoulos who resigned expressed its opposition to the fall of democracy. In the following months 61 officers were forced to retire. The major representative of the navy's resistant democratic action was the so-called "movement of the navy" which was not executed and managed to severely damage the military regime and to force it to reverse its plans. In 25-05-73 the torpedo boat Velos entered the port of Fiumoutsino of Italy and through this escape the opposition of the majority of the armed forces to the military regime was expressed. The armed forces and the Greek people wanted to inform the global public opinion that there was an illegal violent military regime in Greece . During the invasion in Cyprus emphasis must be given to the 2 torpedo boats T1 and T3, which at dawn of 20 th of july 1974 confronted the Turkish naval force of Atilas outside Cerinia but they were defeated by the severe Turkish Air-attack. The captain of T3 E. Tsomakis was killed together with its crew. The same day the carrier Lesbos, whose captain was E. Chandrinos , bombed in Pafos the Turkish military force under the enetic fortress of the city until it surrendered. The fact that the specific boat unloaded the whole unit of the special forces (ELDYK) which had just arrived from Greece , was interpreted from the Turkish side as an attack of the Greek fleet. Therefore the Turkish aircrafts bombed and sank accidentally a Turkish torpedo boat while another suffered serious damages.
After the change of regime and especially from the end of the 80s, the navy works on new strategies concerning the defense of the country within the framework of the EU and the new structure of NATO. The new role of the navy is not only concentrated in the control of the Hellenic frontiers and borders. It is also involved into peacekeeping actions under the UN. Since 1982 the organization and the buying of military equipment was set on a 5-year base.
The role of the Navy as well as the importance of the geopolitical position of the country were emphasized in the recent gulf crisis during which in the Naval base of Souda 97 ships were conserved and 13000 tones of material where loaded and unloaded. 31000 flights were served and aircrafts were supplied with 4.500million tones of fuel. The base worked on a 24 hour basis following exhausting rhythms and being very efficient carrying out its duty. Greece participated in the NATO embargo to Iraq with its frigates Elli and Limnos . Furthermore it participated with 2 ships during the Albanian crisis in 1997 by assisting in the transportation of foreign citizens fro Aylona and from Dirachia to Greece . In 31-01-96 the navy suffered the loss of 3 officers (X. Carathanasis, P. Blaxakos, E. Gialopsos) during the Imia crisis North East of island Calimnos.
Under the change of the dogma concerning the integrated defense space of Greece and Cyprus in 1997, the navy aims to develop its power and domination into this strategically important area of the South-east Mediterranean . Its goals are to protect Hellenic rights and border integrity, protect commercial sea-lines and protect as well as cultivating a spirit of security to the Hellenic population of the Greek islands. Furthermore it has the role of a transporter of supplies for the rest of the units of the armed forces and contributes mainly through Air transport to the serving of health needs of the population of the islands. Finally the presence of the navy in the islands and especially in those of the eastern Aegean sea and the area of Corfu is constant. Greek battle ships carry out patrolling missions in order to deal with any possible external threats and to support the port police to central issues such as illegal immigration, drug trafficking etc.
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