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The Chelidon (Χελιδών, meaning 'Swallow' in Greek, also spelled in English as Helithon ) was the first airplane developed by the Greek EAF (KEA) aircraft factory with management provided by Blackburn Aircraft Limited at the time. As mentioned in the contemporary Jane's edition, it was designed largely by Greeks (under the supervision of Mr. Charles H. Lowe-Wylde), according to Greek Navy specifications. The development of the Chelidon was completed in the virtually record time of eight weeks, and the first flight was made on 20 February 1927, as a two-seater military biplane designed for advanced training and other roles including reconnaissance and could also be transformed into a hydroplane. Powered by a 120 hp (89 kW) Salmson 9AC engine, (future variants were to use the Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engine), and had a maximum speed of 150 km/h (93 mph; 81 kn).

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128-697: An order was originally placed in December 1926, by the Greek Navy , for 18 aircraft but no further production followed, as, after the three-month test flight period, it was considered inferior to alternative proposed models. The example built was used for technical personnel training at KEA and was probably scrapped in 1938. Data from KEA Chelidon General characteristics Performance Greek Navy The Hellenic Navy ( HN ; Greek : Πολεμικό Ναυτικό , romanized :  Polemikó Naftikó , lit.   'War Navy', abbreviated ΠΝ )

256-576: A magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck offshore near the island, triggering a tsunami. The earthquake and tsunami resulted in two deaths and several injured in Samos, and 117 deaths and 1632 injured in Turkey. The earthquake also caused damage to a number of buildings in Vathy, Karlovasi, and their vicinities; these included residential buildings, public buildings (schools, halls, etc.), religious buildings (churches),

384-810: A base for the Egyptian fleet of the Ptolemies ; at other periods, it recognized the overlordship of Seleucid Syria. In 189 BC, it was transferred by the Romans to their vassal, the Attalid dynasty's Hellenistic kingdom of Pergamon , in Asia Minor . Enrolled from 133 in the Roman province of Asia Minor, Samos sided with Aristonicus (132) and Mithridates (88) against its overlord, and consequently forfeited its autonomy, which it only temporarily recovered between

512-585: 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

640-541: 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." The history of the Hellenic Navy begins with the birth of modern Greece , and due to

768-608: A distinct province. Locally, the Ottoman authorities were represented by a voevoda , who was in charge of the fiscal administration, the kadi (judge), the island's Orthodox bishop and four notables representing the four districts of the island ( Vathy , Chora , Karlovasi and Marathokampos ). Ottoman rule was interrupted during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–1774 , when the island came under Russian control in 1771–1774. The Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca that concluded

896-620: A few days in April 1941. It was then decided to shift the remaining fleet (one cruiser – the famous 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

1024-466: 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

1152-473: A hot-summer Mediterranean climate ( Köppen climate classification : Csa ), with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. The highest temperature ever recorded is 43.0 °C (109.4 °F) while the lowest is −3.4 °C (25.9 °F). July is the hottest and driest month followed by August while February is the coldest month and December records the highest amount of precipitation. Samos receives about 705 millimetres (27.8 in) of rainfall annually while

1280-649: A length of over 1 km (0.6 mi), Eupalinos's subterranean aqueduct is today regarded as one of the masterpieces of ancient engineering. The aqueduct is now part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site , the Pythagoreion . After Polycrates's death, Samos suffered a severe blow when the Persian Achaemenid Empire conquered and partly depopulated the island. It had regained much of its power when in 499 BC it joined

1408-460: 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

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1536-653: 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 (640 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

1664-668: A number of destroyers. However, with the outbreak of the First World War , construction of the dreadnoughts stopped. Initially during the war, Greece followed a course of neutrality, with the Prime Minister Eleftherios Venizelos favouring the Entente and pro-German King Constantine I advocating neutrality. This dispute eventually led to a deep political conflict, known as the " National Schism ". In November 1916, in order to apply pressure on

1792-576: A population of some 10,000 in the 17th century, which was still concentrated mostly in the interior. It was not until the mid-18th century that the coast began to be densely settled as well. Under Ottoman rule, Samos ( Ottoman Turkish : سيسام Sisam ) came under the administration of the Kapudan Pasha ' s Eyalet of the Archipelago , usually as part of the Sanjak of Rhodes rather than as

1920-561: A portion of the Byzantine Empire , Samos became part of the namesake theme . After the 13th century, it passed through much the same changes of government as Chios , and, like the latter island, became the property of the Genoese family Giustiniani (1346–1566; 1475 interrupted by an Ottoman period). It was also ruled by Tzachas between 1081–1091. Samos came under Ottoman rule in 1475 or c.  1479 /80, at which time

2048-635: A serious step towards modernization. The outbreak of war in Europe, however, allowed only two to be delivered. Greece entered World War II with a navy consisting of two battleships, one armoured cruiser, one protected cruiser, fourteen destroyers, and six submarines. During the Greco-Italian War , the Navy took over convoy escort missions in the Ionian Sea and even embarked on three raids against

2176-517: 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

2304-412: A tunnel through Mount Kastro to build an aqueduct to supply the ancient capital of Samos with fresh water, as this was of the utmost defensive importance (since being underground, it was not easily detected by an enemy who could otherwise cut off the supply). Eupalinos's tunnel is particularly notable because it is the second earliest tunnel in history to be dug from both ends in a methodical manner. With

2432-472: A while. There was a school of sculptors and architects that included Rhoecus , the architect of the Temple of Hera (Olympia) , and the great sculptor and inventor Theodorus , who is said to have invented with Rhoecus the art of casting statues in bronze . The vases of Samos were among the most characteristic products of Ionian pottery in the 6th century. For some time (about 275–270 BC), Samos served as

2560-487: 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 ten 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

2688-399: Is 43 km (27 mi) long and 13 km (8 mi) wide. It is separated from Anatolia by the approximately 1-mile-wide (1.6 km) Mycale Strait . While largely mountainous, Samos has several relatively large and fertile plains. A great portion of the island is covered with vineyards , from which Muscat wine is made. The most important plains other than the capital, Vathy , in

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2816-571: Is a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea , south of Chios , north of Patmos and the Dodecanese archipelago, and off the coast of western Turkey , from which it is separated by the 1.6-kilometre-wide (1.0 mi) Mycale Strait . It is also a separate regional unit of the North Aegean region. In ancient times , Samos was an especially rich and powerful city-state , particularly known for its vineyards and wine production. It

2944-504: 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". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of

3072-512: 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. Samos Samos ( / ˈ s eɪ m ɒ s / , also US : / ˈ s æ m oʊ s , ˈ s ɑː m ɔː s / ; Greek : Σάμος , romanized :  Sámos , Greek pronunciation: [ˈsa.mos] )

3200-546: 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

3328-450: 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 Hydra class (Type: Meko-200HN ) and

3456-598: Is home to Pythagoreion and the Heraion of Samos , a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes the Eupalinian aqueduct , a marvel of ancient engineering. Samos is the birthplace of the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras , after whom the Pythagorean theorem is named, the philosophers Melissus of Samos and Epicurus , and the astronomer Aristarchus of Samos , the first known individual to propose that

3584-477: 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

3712-637: 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

3840-598: 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

3968-570: Is the larger of the two and occupies the centre of the island, rising to 1,095 metres (3,593 ft). Mt. Kerkis, though smaller in area, is the taller of the two, and its summit is the island's highest point, at 1,434 metres (4,705 ft). The mountains are a continuation of the Mycale range on the Anatolian mainland. Samos is home to many species including the golden jackal , stone marten , wild boar , flamingos and monk seal . Samos has

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4096-624: The Elli class (Type: Kortenaer ). 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

4224-682: 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

4352-530: The Delian League , Samos held a position of special privilege and remained actively loyal to Athens until 440 BC, when a dispute with Miletus , which the Athenians had decided against them, induced them to secede. With a fleet of sixty ships, they held their own for some time against a large Athenian fleet led by Pericles himself, but after a protracted siege, they were forced to capitulate. Samos

4480-649: The Earth revolves around the Sun . Samian wine was well known in antiquity and is still produced on the island. The island was governed by the semi-autonomous Principality of Samos under Ottoman suzerainty from 1835 until it joined Greece in March 1913. Strabo derived the name from the Phoenician word 𐤔𐤌𐤌 ( smm ) ' high ' . The area of the island is 477.395 km (184.3 sq mi), and it

4608-550: 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

4736-664: The French Republic ), introduced to Samos the progressive ideas of the Age of Enlightenment and of the French Revolution , and led to the formation of two rival political parties, the progressive-radical Karmanioloi ("Carmagnoles", named after the French Revolutionary song Carmagnole ) and the reactionary Kallikantzaroi (" goblins ") who represented mostly the traditional land-holding elites. Under

4864-627: The Greco-Turkish War of 1919–1922 in Asia Minor. After Greece's defeat, the 1920s and early 1930s were a politically turbulent period, with the economy in a bad state, so the Navy received no new units, apart from the modernization of four destroyers and the acquisition of six French submarines in 1927 and four Italian destroyers in 1929. In 1938, Greece ordered four modern Greyhound -class destroyers in British shipyards, making

4992-596: 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

5120-570: 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

5248-528: The Peloponnese and the Ionian Islands , as well as the descendants of the original inhabitants who had fled to Chios , were attracted through the concession of certain privileges such as a seven-year tax exemption, a permanent exemption from the tithe in exchange for a lump annual payment of 45,000 piastres , and a considerable autonomy in local affairs. The island recovered gradually, reaching

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5376-509: 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 Elli class ). 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

5504-637: 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

5632-461: 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

5760-550: The Aegean Sea was secured for Greece. The Balkan Wars were followed by a rapid escalation in 1914 between Greece and the Ottoman Empire over the status of the islands of the eastern Aegean. Both governments embarked on a naval armaments race, with Greece purchasing the battleships Lemnos and Kilkis and the light cruiser Elli as well as ordering two dreadnoughts , Vasilefs Konstantinos and Salamis and

5888-610: The Allied defeat in the Battle of Leros and a fierce aerial bombardment of Vathy and Tigani, the island was abandoned by most of the ELAS members, the anti-fascist Italians and the Allied troops and taken over by Germans without a fight. The Germans then destroyed the harbours of Karlovasos and Ormos Marathokampos with explosives. On 15 September 1944, an Allied aerial bombardment destroyed the German ship "Aslan" along with three support ships in

6016-665: The Athenian fleet . At the end of the Peloponnesian War, Samos appears as one of the most loyal dependencies of Athens, serving as a base for the naval war against the Peloponnesians and as a temporary home of the Athenian democracy during the revolution of the Four Hundred at Athens (411 BC), and in the last stage of the war was rewarded with the Athenian franchise. This friendly attitude towards Athens

6144-515: The British military who provided them with material support. In spring 1943, the Cuneo Division launched an unsuccessful, two-month-long counter-insurgency operation in Karvouni. In June 1943, ELAS came into contact with the anti-fascist organisation within the Cuneo Division resulting in an unofficial two-month truce between the two sides. After the Fall of the Fascist regime in Italy on 25 July, Pietro Badoglio replaced division commander Mario Soldarelli with Lieutenant General Pierola and reinforced

6272-482: 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 [1] came to fruition after an agreement signed in June 2020, with exclusive production in Greece. Frigates are

6400-572: 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 [2] TDR-10A and TDR-300 systems. The fleet also consists of ten gunboats . With

6528-433: The Greek flagship Hellas , to take up the throne as King George I of Greece . During the 1866 Cretan revolt, the Royal Hellenic Navy ships were in no condition to support it. Such failure led to the government awakening to the problem of naval insufficiency and the adoption of a policy stating that: "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory." Because of this,

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6656-425: 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

6784-414: The Hellenic Royal Navy's participation in World War II include the operations of the 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

6912-460: 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

7040-402: The Italians during World War II. During the course of the Greek Civil War , Samos became one of the biggest centres of DSE resistance outside of the Greek mainland. The last DSE unit surrendered in Kerkis on 26 August 1949, the defeat of the communist resistance was followed by a celebratory visit of the Greek royal family on 15 October 1949. A total of 197 Samiot DSE fighters were killed during

7168-400: 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

7296-419: 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

7424-425: The Samos garrison with 1,500 Blackshirts . Pierola then launched another counter-insurgency operation in Kerkis, which resulted in the death of 40 resistance members. Following the Italian surrender in September 1943, the Cuneo Division joined forces with ELAS in arresting local collaborationists and freeing jailed resistance fighters. Samos was briefly taken over by the Sacred Band and British forces, but following

7552-407: The Sultan called upon his strongest subject, Muhammad Ali of Egypt , for aid. Plagued by internal strife and financial difficulties in keeping the fleet in constant readiness, the Greeks failed to prevent the capture and destruction of Kasos and Psara in 1824, or the landing of the Egyptian army at Modon . Despite victories at Samos and Gerontas, the Revolution was threatened with collapse until

7680-429: 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

7808-422: The United States and Germany, lasted for months after France was eventually awarded the contract. He also announced the immediate upgrade of all four 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

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7936-448: The Vathy camp held 6,800 migrants, ten times the number it was originally designed for. The presence of large numbers of migrants on the Greek islands has caused tensions and some civil unrest on the part of island residents and migrants being kept in camps. In 2020, the Greek government announced a new closed reception centre will be built near the village of Zervou to replace the current temporary open camps by 2021. On 30 October 2020,

8064-516: The Vathy harbour. Upon the departure of the Germans, ELAS and a 120-man unit of the Sacred Band forced the remaining 1,000 Blackshirts to surrender; ending the island's occupation on 5 October 1944. Many of the Samiot ELAS members that abandoned the island following its occupation by the Germans, enlisted in the Greek Armed Forces in the Middle East , participated in the communist-led 1944 Greek naval mutiny and were subsequently imprisoned in British prison camps. Approximately 4,500 of them returned to

8192-410: 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

8320-416: The area of Faneromeni of Salamis and a few years later it was transferred to the area of Arapis where it remains today. At the same time the Naval Academy was founded and Ilias Kanellopoulos was made Director. A French naval mission , headed by Admiral Laurent Joseph Lejeune  [ fr ] , introduced a new, advanced naval organization and the methodological training of enlisted personnel through

8448-412: The average annual temperature is 18.4 °C (65.1 °F). Humidity is lowest during the summer and highest at the end of autumn. In classical antiquity, the island was a centre of Ionian culture and luxury, renowned for its Samian wines and its red pottery (called Samian ware by the Romans). Its most famous building was the Ionic order archaic Temple of goddess Hera —the Heraion . Concerning

8576-407: The capital was moved to Vathy, at the head of a deep bay on the North coast. This became the residence of the prince and the seat of government. Since then a new town has grown, with a harbour. The island was united with the Kingdom of Greece in March 1913, five months after the outbreak of the First Balkan War . Although other Aegean islands had been quickly captured by the Greek Navy , Samos

8704-645: 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. [REDACTED] The Hellenic Navy's fleet of warships and auxiliary boats

8832-429: The course of the civil war. On August 3, 1989, a Short 330 aircraft of the Olympic Airways (now Olympic Airlines ) crashed near Samos Airport ; 31 passengers and the crew died. A substantial migrant camp has been developed on the island at the site of a Greek military camp at Vathy to cope with the influx of migrants crossing the strait between the island and the Turkish mainland. It is estimated that in April 2020

8960-404: The earliest history of Samos, literary tradition is singularly defective. At the time of the great migrations, it received an Ionian population which traced its origin to Epidaurus in Argolis : Samos became one of the twelve members of the Ionian League . By the 7th century BC, it had become one of the leading commercial centres of Greece. This early prosperity of the Samians seems largely due to

9088-457: 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

9216-452: 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

9344-459: The establishment of a training school in the old building of the naval base in Poros. During the government of Charilaos Trikoupis in 1889, the fleet was further increased with the acquisition of new battleships: Hydra , Spetsai , and Psara from France. Thus, when Greece went to war in the Greco-Turkish War in 1897, the Hellenic Navy established its dominance in the Aegean Sea. However, it

9472-407: 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

9600-618: 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

9728-403: The fleet was supplied with new and bigger ships, reflecting a number of innovations including the use of iron in shipbuilding industry and the invention of the torpedo; with these advances, the effectiveness and the appearance of the Hellenic Navy changed. Meanwhile, after 1878, because of the Russo-Turkish War and the need to expand the Greek navy, a new and larger naval base was established in

9856-524: The four districts of the island: Vathy, Chora, Marathokampos, and Karlovasi. The legislative power belonged to a chamber of 36 deputies, presided over by the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan. The seat of the government was the port of Vathý. The modern capital of the island was, until the early 20th century, at Chora, about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the sea and from the site of the ancient city. After reconsidering political conditions,

9984-649: The general revolt of the Ionian city-states against Persia; but owing to its long-standing jealousy of Miletus, it rendered indifferent service, and at the decisive battle of Lade (494 BC), part of its contingent of sixty ships was guilty of outright treachery. In 479BC, the Samians led the revolt against Persia, during the Battle of Mycale, which was part of the offensive by the Delian League (led by Cimon). In

10112-459: The height of its prosperity. Its navy not only protected it from invasion but also ruled supreme in Aegean waters. The city was beautified with public works, and its school of sculptors, metal-workers and engineers achieved high repute. In the 6th century BC, Samos was ruled by the famous tyrant Polycrates . During his reign, two working groups under the leadership of the engineer Eupalinos dug

10240-401: 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

10368-652: The intervention of the Great Powers in the Battle of Navarino in 1827. There the Egypto-Ottoman fleet was decisively defeated by the combined fleets of the Britain , France and the Russian Empire , effectively securing the independence of Greece. When Ioannis Capodistrias became governor of newly liberated Greece in 1828, the Greek fleet consisted of few remaining ships, which had participated in

10496-592: The island after the end of the war. The anti-communist persecutions that came in the aftermath of the Treaty of Varkiza led many former ELAS members to create self-defence militias which gradually evolved into the Samos branch of the Democratic Army of Greece (DSE). The Samiot DSE drew manpower from nearby Icaria which was a notable place of internal exile for Greek communists, it was also able to capture large quantities of weapons and ammunition abandoned by

10624-521: 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

10752-653: The island became formally incorporated into the Hellenic State under Governor Ioannis Kapodistrias , as part of the province of the Eastern Sporades , but the London Protocol of 1830 excluded Samos from the borders of the independent Greek state. The Samians refused to accept their re-subordination to the Sultan, and Logothetis declared Samos to be an independent state, governed as before under

10880-525: The island of Samos became the territory of the Principality of Samos , a semi-independent state tributary to Ottoman Turkey, paying the annual sum of £2,700. It was governed by a Christian of Greek descent though nominated by the Porte, who bore the title of "Prince." The prince was assisted in his function as chief executive by a 4-member senate. These were chosen by him out of eight candidates nominated by

11008-659: The island was occupied by the Italians in May 1941, with the 6th Infantry Division "Cuneo" being stationed on the island. During the winter of 1941–42 Samos was affected by the Great Famine which killed 2,000 Samiots and forced thousands more to flee the island for the Middle East. In December 1942, local communists founded a branch of ELAS resistance organisation, the following month the resistance came into contact with

11136-579: The island was practically abandoned due to the effects of piracy and the plague. The island remained desolate for almost a full century before the Ottoman authorities, by now in secure control of the Aegean, undertook a serious effort to repopulate the island. In 1572/3, the island was granted as a personal domain ( hass ) to Kilic Ali Pasha , the Kapudan Pasha (the Ottoman Navy 's chief admiral). Settlers, including Greeks and Arvanites from

11264-705: The island's position near trade routes, which facilitated the import of textiles from inner Asia Minor, but the Samians also developed an extensive oversea commerce. They helped to open up trade with the population that lived around the Black Sea as well as with Egypt, Cyrene (Libya), Corinth, and Chalcis. Among the colonies the Samians founded, most of them in the sixth century BC, were Bisanthe , Perinthus , and Samothrace (northern Aegean Sea ), Cydonia (Crete), Nagidos and Kelenderis (southern Anatolia ), Dicaearchia (Italy), and Oasis Polis (Egypt). The trade caused them to become bitter rivals with Miletus . Samos

11392-478: The island. At the same reform, the regional unit Samos was created out of part of the former Samos Prefecture . The municipality of East Samos consists of the following municipal units (former municipalities): The municipality of West Samos consists of the following municipal units: Samos has a sister town called Samo , which is located in Calabria , Italy . The province of Samos ( Greek : Επαρχία Σάμου )

11520-498: The leadership of Lykourgos Logothetis , in 1807 the Karmanioloi gained power in the island, introducing liberal and democratic principles and empowering the local popular assembly at the expense of the land-holding notables. Their rule lasted until 1812, when they were overthrown by the Ottoman authorities and their leaders expelled from the island. In March 1821, the Greek War of Independence broke out, and on 18 April, under

11648-506: The leadership of Logothetis and the Karmanioloi , Samos too joined the uprising. In May, a revolutionary government with its own constitution was set up to administer the island, mostly inspired by Logothetis. The Samians successfully repulsed three Ottoman attempts to recapture the island: in summer 1821, in July 1824; when Greek naval victories off Samos and at Gerontas averted the threat of an invasion, and again in summer 1826. In 1828,

11776-467: 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

11904-506: The maritime nature of the country, it has always featured prominently in modern Greece's military history. At the beginning of the Greek War of Independence , the naval forces of the Greeks consisted primarily of the merchant fleet of the Saronic islanders from Hydra , Spetsai and Poros and also the islanders of Psara and Samos . The fleet was of crucial importance to the success of

12032-404: 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

12160-619: 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

12288-476: The northeast, are those of Karlovasi , in the northwest, Pythagoreio , in the southeast, and Marathokampos in the southwest. The island's population is 33,814, which makes it the 9th most populous of the Greek islands. The Samian climate is typically Mediterranean, with mild rainy winters, and warm rainless summers. Samos's relief is dominated by two large mountains, Ampelos and Kerkis (anc. Kerketeus). The Ampelos massif (colloquially referred to as "Karvounis")

12416-439: The number of vessels of this type up to seven; The 6th ship was commissioned operational in July 2020, with the seventh 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

12544-722: 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 Charles F. Adams -class destroyers 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

12672-539: The philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras and the fabulist Aesop . In 1955, the town of Tigani was renamed Pythagoreio in honour of the philosopher. Other notable personalities include the philosophers Melissus of Samos and Epicurus , who were of Samian birth, and the astronomer Aristarchus of Samos , whom history credits with the first recorded heliocentric model of the Solar System . The historian Herodotus , known by his Histories , resided in Samos for

12800-500: The process of either being replaced by more modern and advanced designs, being refurbished, or being retired. The Navy is awaiting delivery of a three FDI Belharra frigates from France with an option for one more after the Greek Prime Minister announced the purchase from Greece of four new multirole heavy frigates in September 2020, that will replace older Elli class vessels. Deliberations with other parties, including

12928-479: The provisions of the 1821 constitution. Finally, due to the pressure of the Great Powers , Samos was declared an autonomous, tributary principality under Ottoman suzerainty . The Samians still refused to accept this decision until an Ottoman fleet enforced it in May 1834, forcing the revolutionary leadership and a part of the population to flee to independent Greece, where they settled near Chalkis . In 1834,

13056-503: The reigns of Augustus and Vespasian . Nevertheless, Samos remained comparatively flourishing and was able to contest with Smyrna and Ephesus the title "first city of lonia"; it was chiefly noted as a health resort and for the manufacture of pottery. Since Emperor Diocletian's Tetrarchy , it became part of the Provincia Insularum, in the diocese of Asiana in the eastern empire's pretorian prefecture of Oriens . As

13184-589: The revolution. Its goal was to prevent as much as possible the Ottoman Navy from resupplying the isolated Ottoman garrisons and land reinforcements from the Ottoman Empire 's Asian provinces. Although Greek crews were experienced seamen, the light Greek ships, mostly armed merchantmen, were unable to stand up to the large Ottoman ships of the line in direct combat. So the Greeks conducted the equivalent of modern-day naval special operations, resorting to

13312-741: The royal government in Athens, the French confiscated the Greek ships. They continued to operate with French crews, primarily in convoy escort and patrol duties in the Aegean, until Greece entered the war on the side of the Allies in June 1917, at which point they were returned to Greece. Subsequently, the Navy took part in the Allied operations in the Aegean, in the Allied expedition in support of Denikin 's White Armies in Ukraine , and in limited operations during

13440-405: 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

13568-656: 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 Asheville classes . 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 Osprey 55-class gunboats. The first pair

13696-411: 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

13824-411: The tower of Lykourgos Logothetis, as well as pottery collections and sculptures at some museums. Samos is a separate regional unit of the North Aegean region, and since 2019 it consists of two municipalities : East Samos and West Samos . Between the 2011 Kallikratis government reform and 2019, there was one single municipality on the island: Samos, created out of the 4 former municipalities on

13952-437: The use of fireships ( Greek : πυρπολικά or μπουρλότα ), with great success. It was in the use of such ships that courageous seamen like Konstantinos Kanaris won international renown. Under the leadership of capable admirals, most prominently Andreas Miaoulis from Hydra, the Greek fleet achieved early victories, guaranteeing the survival of the revolution in the mainland. However, as Greeks became embroiled in civil wars,

14080-461: The use of the trireme . The result of this conflict was to confirm the supremacy of the Milesians in eastern waters for the time being; but in the 6th century, the insular position of Samos preserved it from those aggressions at the hands of Asiatic kings to which Miletus was henceforth exposed. About 535 BC, when the existing oligarchy was overturned by the tyrant Polycrates , Samos reached

14208-543: The war contained clauses that enabled a great expansion of the commercial activities of the Ottoman Empire's Greek Orthodox population. Samian merchants also took advantage of this, and an urban mercantile class based on commerce and shipping began to grow. The Samian merchants' voyages across the Mediterranean, as well as the settlement of Greeks from the Ionian Islands (which in 1797 had passed from Venice to

14336-446: The war for independence. The first minister of "Naval affairs" was Konstantinos Kanaris, and the most powerful ship of the fleet at that time, the frigate Hellas , had been constructed in the United States in 1825. The Hellenic Navy established its headquarters at the island of Poros and the building of a new series of ships began at the naval base, while old ships were gradually being retired. Furthermore, continuous efforts towards

14464-411: 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

14592-669: Was able to become so prominent despite the growing power of the Persian empire because of the alliance they had with the Egyptians and their powerful fleet. The Samians are also credited with having been the first Greeks to reach the Straits of Gibraltar. The feud between Miletus and Samos broke out into open strife during the Lelantine War (7th century BC), with which a Samian innovation in Greek naval warfare may be connected,

14720-427: 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,

14848-462: Was augmented with more ships. In 1855, the first iron propeller-driven ships were ordered from England. These were the steamships Panopi  [ el ] , Pliksavra , Afroessa  [ el ] , and Sfendoni . On October 29, 1863, following an enthronement ceremony in his native Copenhagen and a tour of several of the European capitals, Prince Wilhelm of Denmark arrived aboard

14976-491: Was bought from Italy. In 1910, a British naval mission arrived, headed by Admiral Lionel Grant Tufnell , in order to recommend improvements in the organization and training of the navy. The mission led to the adoption of the British style of management, organization and training, especially in the area of strategy. Shortly before the Balkan Wars , the Navy was composed of a fleet of destroyers and battleships. Its mission

15104-501: 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

15232-559: Was for the construction in Greece of seven vessels, with an option for six 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

15360-504: Was initially left to its existing status quo out of a desire not to upset the Italians in the nearby Dodecanese . The Greek fleet landed troops on the island in March 1913. The clashes with the Ottoman garrison were short-lived as the Ottomans withdrew to the Anatolian mainland, so that the island was securely in Greek hands by 16 March. King George II visited Samos in 1937 during the 4th of August Regime . During World War II ,

15488-524: Was one of the provinces of the Samos Prefecture. It had the same territory as the present regional unit. It was abolished in 2006. The Samian economy depends mainly on agriculture and the tourist industry which was growing steadily since the early 1980s and reached a peak at the end of the 1990s. The main agricultural products include grapes , honey , olives , olive oil , citrus fruit, dried figs , almonds and flowers. The Muscat grape

15616-399: 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

15744-650: Was primarily offensive, aiming to capture the Ottoman-held islands of the Eastern Aegean and establish naval supremacy. To that end, its commander-in-chief, Rear Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis , established a forward base at the Moudros bay at Lemnos , directly opposite the Dardanelles straits. After defeating the two Turkish sallies from the Straits at Elli (December 1912) and Lemnos (January 1913),

15872-494: Was punished, but Thucydides tells readers not as harshly as other states which rebelled against Athens. Most in the past had been forced to pay tribute, but Samos was only told to repay the damages that the rebellion had cost the Athenians: 1,300 talents, to pay back in instalments of 50 talents per annum. During the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BC), Samos took the side of Athens against Sparta , providing their port to

16000-469: 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 two 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

16128-515: Was recovered by the Athenians in 366 after a siege of eleven months, and received a strong body of military settlers, the cleruchs , which proved vital in the Social War (357-355 BC) . After the Lamian War (322 BC), when Athens was deprived of Samos, the vicissitudes of the island can no longer be followed. Perhaps the most famous persons ever connected with classical Samos were

16256-474: Was the result of a series of political revolutions, which ended in the establishment of a democracy. After the downfall of Athens, Samos was besieged by Lysander and again placed under an oligarchy. In 394 BC, the withdrawal of the Spartan navy induced the island to declare its independence and re-establish a democracy, but by the peace of Antalcidas (387 BC), it fell again under Persian dominion. It

16384-550: Was unable to change the outcome of the war on land, which was a national humiliation. In 1907, the Hellenic Navy General Staff ( Γενικό Επιτελείο Ναυτικού ) was founded, with then-Captain Pavlos Kountouriotis as its first head. After the war, in 1897, the Ottoman Empire embarked on a program of naval expansion for its fleet and as a response to that, in 1909, the cruiser Georgios Averof

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