PHOTO GALLERY #9: Roussen, fast attack craft of the Hellenic Navy

Roussen, lead ship of the Roussen class FACM

Today, December 6th of 2015, Hellenic Navy celebrates the feast day of its patron Saint, Saint Nicholas and the anniversary of the Balkan Wars (1912-13) naval battles. As such day of the year is a great opportunity for citizens of Athens and Piraeus to visit warships of Hellenic Navy that visit Piraeus for three days (Dec 4-6) to pay tribute to the patron saint of sailors and to give the opportunity to the citizens to "learn more" about their country's Navy. Once again for the second time in a row I was there! P67 Roussen, is the first boat of the Roussen class, the most modern surface combatants in service with Hellenic Navy and some of the most well armed and advanced boats in this category worldwide. The class is named after its lead ship in honor of Second Mate Nikolaos Roussen, a distinguished World War II submarine officer. Roussen fought bravely during the war but he found death in April 1944 after being mortally wounded during a naval mutiny while he was leading a naval detachment to recapture corvette Apostolis. This is the second boat of the Roussen class I have visited (Daniolos was my first!) but this time I was given the permission to have access on the upper deck. Photos of the interior of the ships are forbidden as usual. For a full analysis of the equipment and the capabilities of the class click here. Enjoy more than 35 photos of the boat!

PHOTO GALLERY #1: Daniolos, fast attack craft of the Hellenic Navy

Rainy day during my visit to Daniolos

Yesterday, Friday, October 24, I had the opportunity to visit the fast attack craft Daniolos P-68 of the Roussen class, the most modern surface combatants in service with Hellenic Navy, and the submarine Pontos S-119 of the Poseidon class (Type 209/1200). Because of the very bad weather the visit was like.. a private tour! The boats were opened to the public at Piraeus 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. To learn more about the equipment, the armament and the capabilities of Roussen class click here. I would like to thank a lot the officers and the non-commissioned officers who are real professionals, friendly, ready to explain everything in detail and with patience, they are men who love their boats and their work, they were GREAT! Enjoy the photos!

Roussen class fast attack craft of the Hellenic Navy

Written by D-Mitch

FACM of Roussen class in service with Hellenic Navy.
Photo: Hellenic Navy

The purchase agreement of the first three fast attack craft (FACs) of the Roussen class (Ρουσσέν) was signed in January 2000, and the construction took place at Eleusis Shipyards, while the Vosper Thornycroft (now BAE Systems Maritime) provided the necessary planning, logistics and equipment for the vessels. In August 2003 a contract was awarded for further two ships, Grigoropoulos and Ritsos, to be built by Elefsis. Ritsos was launched in October 2006 while the vessel was commissioned recently in 2015. A contract from the Hellenic Navy (Πολεμικό Ναυτικό) for an additional two vessels, to bring the total to seven, was placed in September 2008. The design is based on the smaller class of vessels of the Vita type serving in the Navy of Qatar and that’s why the class is named also Super Vita. The hull is made of steel while the superstructure is made of aluminum while the whole design has incorporated features for reduction of radar cross section. The first ship of the class was launched in November 2002 while three more vessels were launched the next three years. The sixth boat of the class has been reported to be named Karathanasis and it is expected to be delivered in 2017-18 while the seventh boat, Vlahakos, approximately that period as well. The class is named after its lead ship in honor of Second Mate Nikolaos Roussen, a distinguished World War II submarine officer. Roussen fought bravely during the war but he found death in April 1944 after being mortally wounded during a naval mutiny while he was leading a naval detachment to recapture corvette Apostolis.