PHOTO GALLERY #25: Chios and Lesvos, tank landing ships of the Hellenic Navy

Chios and Lesvos, tank landing ships of the Hellenic Navy

On Saturday, October 27, I visited the HS Chios (L173), tank landing ship of the Hellenic Navy, which was anchored at the Port of Thessaloniki, alongside one of her sister vessels in the class, HS Lesvos (L176). I did not visit Lesvos, because it is identical to Chios except some very few differences, but I took plenty photos of her while I was aboard Chios. The Jason class Landing Ships Tank (LST) of the Hellenic Navy (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό) consists of five (5) ship in service. Lot of information about the class you can find in the article Jason class landing ships of the Hellenic Navy. The two  ships, together with the frigate HS Hydra (F-452), lead ship of the Hydra-class frigates (MEKO 200HN), were opened to the public at Thessaloniki harbor due to the forthcoming celebration of Ohi Day (anniversary of the "No") to commemorate the rejection by Greek Prime Minister Metaxas of the ultimatum made by Italian dictator Mussolini on October 28, 1940 during WWII. Enjoy my photos!

Jason class tank landing ships at the at the Port of Thessaloniki

Jason class landing ships at the at the Port of Thessaloniki

Chios and Lesvos

Chios and Lesvos

The ships with the bow ramps open

The ships with the bow ramps open

The ships with the bow ramps open

The bow ramp of Chios

Details of the bow ramp and the bow doors of Chios

The main (tank) deck of Chios

The bow ramp

The main (tank) deck of Chios

The ramp that conencts the two decks

The ramp that conencts the two decks

The bridges of the two LSTs

The bridges of the two LSTs

The bow ramp

Each LST carries one RHIB

Each LST carries one RHIB

The main weapon system of the ships, OTO Melara 3in (76.2mm)

OTO Melara 3in (76.2mm) gun

OTO Melara 3in (76.2mm) gun

OTO Melara 3in (76.2mm) gun

OTO Melara 3in (76.2mm) gun

3in (76.2mm) gun

Lesvos LST alongside Chios

Lesvos with all of its LCVP on board

The mast of Chios

The crane for launching LCVP

Another view of the main gun

The one of the two decoy launchers

Another view of the two LSTs

Mount for Stinger MANPADS

Mount and armor plate for machine gun

LCVP36

LCVP36

Davit for LCVP36

View of the upper deck

Port-side davit for LCVP36

Davit for LCVP36

The port-side Bofors 40mm gun

The starboard Bofors 40mm gun

The port-side water cannon

View of Lesvos

The heli-decks of the two vessels

Note the different 40mm gun turrets

Another view of Chios's mast

The stern ramp of Lesvos

The helicopter deck of Chios

Close-up photo of the helicopter deck of Chios

Bofors 40mm/L70 gun turret

Bofors 40mm/L70 gun turret

Bofors 40mm/L70 gun turret

One of the two water cannons

HS Lesvos was carrying two more modern LCVP36F and two old LCVP36.

The starboard davit

The bridge of Lesvos

LCVP36F

LCVP36F

LCVP36 on the upper deck

Rh202 20mm gun and Pollux FCS

Navigation radar and searchlight

The bridge of Lesvos

Atop the bridge of Chios

View of the crane and the upper deck

The upper deck of HS Chios

Rh202 20mm gun

Rh202 20mm gun

Pollux FCS and mast of Lesvos

Lesvos's bridge. Note the Furuno radar and the 20mm gun

Panda optical fire  control director

Enclosed 40mm gun turret of Lesvos

The two different gun turrets

Enclosed 40mm gun turret of Lesvos

Close-up photo of a water-cannon

The flight deck of Chios

The flight deck of Lesvos

One of the two mounts for Stinger MANPADS

The water-cannons of HS Lesvos