Hellenic Navy

Hellenic Navy
Ελληνικό Πολεμικό Ναυτικό
Hellenic Navy seal
Founded1821 (de facto)
1828 (official)
Country Greece
RoleNational defense
Sizec. 30,000 active personnel
120 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 ships
3 memorial ships
27 aircraft
Part ofHellenic Armed Forces
PatronSt. Nicholas
Motto(s)Μέγα τὸ τῆς θαλάσσης κράτος
"Great is the dominion of the sea"[1]
ColorsBlue, white & gold
March"The Aegean Sailor"
EngagementsGreek 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
WebsiteHellenic 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 ensignborderless
Naval jackborderless
Pennantborderless

The Hellenic Navy (HN; Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, romanizedPolemikó 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)
  1. ^ a b Thucydides (1910). "1.143.5". The Peloponnesian War. London; New York: J. M. Dent; E. P. Dutton. At the Perseus Project.
  2. ^ Thucydides (1942). "1.143.5". Historiae in two volumes (in Greek). Oxford: Oxford University Press. At the Perseus Project.
  3. ^ Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War, 1.143.

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