This article is about the naval forces of modern Greece. For information on naval warfare in ancient Greece, see Hellenistic-era warships.
Hellenic Navy
Ελληνικό Πολεμικό Ναυτικό
Hellenic Navy seal
Founded
1821 (de facto) 1828 (official)
Country
Greece
Role
National defense
Size
c. 30,000 active personnel120 warships & auxiliary boats, including: 13 frigates 10 submarines 19 missile boats 10 gunboats 9 tank-landing ships 6 patrol boats 7 SOC (Special Ops) 48 fleet support & other auxiliary ships3 memorial ships27 aircraft
Part of
Hellenic Armed Forces
Patron
St. Nicholas
Motto(s)
Μέγα τὸ τῆς θαλάσσης κράτος "Great is the dominion of the sea"[1]
Colors
Blue, white & gold
March
"The Aegean Sailor"
Engagements
Greek War of Independence Greco-Turkish War (1897) Balkan Wars World War I Russian Civil War Greco-Turkish War (1919–1922) World War II Operation Golden Fleece UNIFIL Operation Desert Storm Operation Desert Shield Operation Sharp Guard Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Active Endeavour Operation IFITOS Operation Atalanta Operation Ocean Shield 2011 military intervention in Libya Operation Aginor War on Terror Operation Irini Operation Aspides
Website
Hellenic Navy
Commanders
Chief of the Navy General Staff
Vice Admiral Dimitrios E. Kataras
Notable commanders
Admiral Andreas Miaoulis Admiral Konstantinos Kanaris Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis Vice Admiral Ioannis Demestichas
Insignia
Identification symbol
ΠΝ
Naval ensign
Naval jack
Pennant
Military unit
The Hellenic Navy (HN; Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, romanized: Polemikó Naftikó, lit. 'War Navy', 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.[citation needed]
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.[2][3] This has been translated as "The rule of the sea is a great matter".[1] The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem.
"The Navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."
— Greek Government (1866)
^ abThucydides (1910). "1.143.5". The Peloponnesian War. London; New York: J. M. Dent; E. P. Dutton. At the Perseus Project.
^Thucydides (1942). "1.143.5". Historiae in two volumes (in Greek). Oxford: Oxford University Press. At the Perseus Project.
^Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.143.
The HellenicNavy (HN; Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, romanized: Polemikó Naftikó, lit. 'War Navy', abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the...
They consist of the Hellenic Army, the HellenicNavy, and the Hellenic Air Force. The civilian authority overseeing the Hellenic Armed Forces is the Ministry...
The HellenicNavy is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of Greece. As of 2024, the Navy operates a wide variety of warships including:...
The history of the HellenicNavy (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό) begins with the birth of modern Greece, and due to the maritime nature of the country, this...
the French Navy, with the lead ship being named Amiral Ronarc'h, and an additional three, more heavily armed vessels, for the HellenicNavy, with the lead...
rest at the Hellenic Shipyards Co. in Skaramangas, Greece. The HellenicNavy named them the Papanikolis class. The Republic of Korea Navy has ordered...
Chung King (1948) - ex-HMS Aurora of the Royal Navy, sold on 19 May 1948 to the Nationalist Chinese Navy. Defected to Chinese Communists and then sunk...
also constituted by the Hellenic Air Force (HAF) and the HellenicNavy (HN). The army is commanded by the chief of the Hellenic Army General Staff (HAGS)...
vehicles, buildings etc.). This flag also used as a Rank flag in the HellenicNavy's ships mainmast when the President of the Republic is aboard (according...
Cross of Saint George with a stylized Canadian red maple leaf. In the HellenicNavy, the commissioning pennant (Greek: Επισείων Πολεμικού Πλοίου, means...
class — 3 ships Jurua class — 6 ships ordered but requisitioned by the Royal Navy as Havant class Acre class — 6 ships Pará class — 7 ships, ex-Fletcher class...
Osprey 55". HellenicNavy. 2008. Archived from the original on 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2008-07-15. "Gunboats Class Osprey HSY-55". HellenicNavy. 2008. Archived...
This article contains the rank insignia of the Royal HellenicNavy (until 1973). 1 The rank was instituted in 1939 for King George II, and was held only...
and support to the Hellenic Army and the HellenicNavy, and to provide humanitarian aid in Greece and around the world. The Hellenic Air Force includes...
Ναύσταθμος Κρήτης, Nafstathmos Kritis) is a major naval base of the HellenicNavy and NATO at Souda Bay in Crete, Greece. Formally known in NATO as Naval...
responsibility to educate and suitably train competent Naval Officers for the HellenicNavy. Founded in 1845, the academy is one of the oldest educational institutions...
the lead ship of the Greek Hydra-class frigate and flagship of the HellenicNavy. The ship was built in the same shipyard as the Blohm + Voss MEKO 200...
The HellenicNavy General Staff (Greek: Γενικό Επιτελείο Ναυτικού, abbr. ΓΕΝ) is the general staff of the HellenicNavy, the naval component of the Greek...
coast guards, it is a paramilitary organization that can support the HellenicNavy in wartime, but resides under separate civilian control in times of...
Naval Automation System, Nautos. The four Hydra-class frigates of the HellenicNavy of Greece are 3,200-ton frigates of the MEKO 200HN design. The first...
The Hellenic National Defence General Staff (Greek: Γενικό Επιτελείο Εθνικής Άμυνας, abbr. ΓΕΕΘΑ) is the senior staff of the Hellenic Armed Forces. It...
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