Links Books

HS Tolmi (P-229) preparing for underway mail transfer

Greece, surrounded by the Aegean, the Ionian seas and the East Mediterranean has a coastline of some 16600 km. and has always been a maritime nation. In Greek mythology, the Trojan War was waged against the city of Troy by the Achaeans (Greeks) after Paris of Troy stole Helen from her husband Menelaus, the king of Sparta. The war is among the most important events in Greek mythology and was narrated in many works of Greek literature, including the Iliad and the Odyssey by Homer. Those who believe that the stories of the Trojan War derive from a specific historical conflict usually date it to the 12th or 11th centuries BC. The Trojan War may have been the first Pan-Hellenic naval expedition.

The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands which fought in the Greek War of Independence (1821-1830).

During the periods of monarchy (1833-1924 and 1936-1973) it was known as the Royal Hellenic Navy.

The motto of the Hellenic Navy is from Thucydides’ account of Pericles’ oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as “Great is the country that controls the sea”. The Hellenic Navy’s emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed christian cross, symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and a trident, which is associated with Poseidon, the god of the sea, with Pericles’ words across the top.

Today, Greece is moving toward a more Blue-Water-Navy oriented approach and is a core NATO member-state, as well as supporting EU efforts including containment of illegitimate activities such as drugs and arms trafficking.

Here’s a selection of images, both historical and contemporary, of the Hellenic Navy:

			The Naval Jack of Greece
			A model of a Greek Trireme
			Spetse Ironclad warship of the Greek Navy, 1885
			Sa'ar-4 class missile boat AS-060 of the Hellenic Coast Guard
			Greek Navy frigate Navarinon comes alongside USS Mount Whitney during joint exercises
			Sailors from the Croatian coast guard perform a tactical sweep aboard the Greek navy training ship Aris during exercise Phoenix Express 2010
			Greek sailors form up after completing a fast-roping exercise from a Greek SH-60 Seahawk helicopter during exercise Phoenix Express

The Battle of Salamis: The Naval Encounter that Saved Greece -- and Western Civilization by Barry Strauss published by Simon & Schuster, 2000

The Ancient Mariners: Seafarers and Sea Fighters of the Mediterranean in Ancient Times by Lionel Casson published by Macmillan, 2004