The future of the Hellenic Coast Guard Fleet (2020-2027)

The following article is in Greek language and analyzes the future purchases and the important issues regarding the future of the Hellenic Coast Guard ships and boats.

Από Ανώνυμος Λιμενικός και D-Mitch

Η "ναυαρχίδα" του ΛΣ-ΕΛΑΚΤ σήμερα, το ΠΑΘ Γαύδος

Στις 25 Νοεμβρίου 2022, το Λιμενικό Σώμα – Ελληνική Ακτοφυλακή (Λ.Σ.-ΕΛ.ΑΚΤ.) εκτιμώντας τις παρούσες και μελλοντικές ανάγκες της χώρας ανακοίνωσε διαβούλευση με την αγορά για προμήθεια δύο (02)  Πλοίων Ανοιχτής Θαλάσσης (ΠΑΘ) ολικού μήκους άνω των 80 μέτρων. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, το Αρχηγείο του Λ.Σ.-ΕΛ.ΑΚΤ. ανακοίνωσε τη διενέργεια ανοικτών και δημόσιων ενημερωτικών συναντήσεων, μη δεσμευτικής συμμετοχής οικονομικών φορέων (διαβούλευση-τεχνικός διάλογος), με σκοπό την ενημέρωση του Λ.Σ. / ΕΛ. ΑΚΤ., «για τις νέες τεχνολογικές εξελίξεις και τη συλλογή πληροφοριών που κρίνονται ουσιώδεις στο πλαίσιο κατάρτισης τεχνικών απαιτήσεων/προδιαγραφών για την “Προμήθεια δυο (2) πλοίων ανοικτής θαλάσσης άνω των 80 μ.” συνολικού εκτιμώμενου προϋπολογισμού 160.000.000 ευρώ». Το πρόγραμμα συγχρηματοδοτείται από την Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση (Ε.Ε.). Συνοπτικά, στις τεχνικές απαιτήσεις ζητείται η μέγιστη ταχύτητα των πλοίων να είναι 27 κόμβοι, θα δύναται αν φιλοξενήσει 40 άτομα πλήρωμα συν 30 επιβαίνοντες, θα διαθέτουν ελικοδρόμιο για την προσνήωση και εξυπηρέτηση ελικοπτέρου κατηγορίας 11 τόνων, καθώς επίσης και δύο μη επανδρωμένων ελικοπτέρων με μέγιστο βάρος απονήωσης 200 κιλών, υπόστεγο για τη φιλοξενία των μη επανδρωμένων ελικοπτέρων καθώς δυνατότητα φιλοξενίας και επανδρωμένου ελικοπτέρου της τάξεως των έξι τόνων και τέλος θα έχουν μόνιμο οπλισμό που θα αποτελείται από ένα τηλεχειριζόμενο πυροβόλο των 30 χλστ. και δύο τηλεχειριζόμενα πυροβόλα των 12,7 χλστ. (περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες εδώ). Είναι η πρώτη φορά στην ιστορία του Λ.Σ.-ΕΛ. ΑΚΤ. που συζητείται η προμήθεια πλοίων τέτοιου μεγέθους αφού μέχρι τώρα τα ΠΑΘ ήταν μικρότερα των 60 μέτρων.

Greece postpones corvette program decision to early 2023

In the first months of 2023, the Greek government will select the preferred bidder for the Hellenic Navy (HN) corvette program, between Fincantieri’s FCX30 (based on Qatar’s Doha/Al Zubarah-class variant) and Naval Group’s Gowind (based on Egypt’s El Fateh-class variant). Today, the Greek Government Council of National Security (KYSEA) under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis decided to postpone the decision on the new corvette program for early 2023. The Greek government will select the preferred bidder for the Hellenic Navy (HN) corvette program, between Italian Fincantieri’s FCX30 (Qatar’s Doha/Al Zubarah-class variant) and French Naval Group’s Gowind (UAE’s Bani Yas-class variant). Both manufacturers have submitted their final and best offers. My story for Naval News, here. 

First Greek-designed special operations craft receives its armament

Agenor, the first Greek indigenously designed and built special operations craft (SOC) becomes the first Hellenic Navy vessel to receive a remote weapon station (RWS). This is the first and sole vessel currently in the Hellenic Navy inventory carrying RWS. The new special operations craft of the Hellenic Navy’s Underwater Demolition Command (UDC) is a product of Phi-Mechaniseas, a company formed by Greek shipbuilders, engineers and naval system manufacturers led by Panagiotis Alourdas, Commodore HN (rtd), Nautical Architect and Mechanical Engineer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT. The Hellenic Shipyards SA (Skaramaga Shipyards) built the boat in close collaboration with the Navy and the design team. The aluminum for the construction of the craft was donated by ElvalHalcor, while the project was funded by the Hellenic Navy. The craft was launched on July 30, 2021 and entered service in May 2022. My story for Naval News, here.

Mine Laying Capability for All Navies by SH Defence

Mine laying, a low cost but very effective capability is making a comeback among navies worldwide in the wake of current events in the Black Sea. While few navies operate vessels with the capability to lay mines, Danish company SH Defence offers a new solution: A dedicated mine laying module. The Cube is a container-based modular payload concept that was first launched in 2020 by SH Defence. Today, the Cube portfolio consists in a range of over 300 payloads ranging from propulsion systems to decoy launchers and even search and rescue modules. The latest addition to The Cube ecosystem was unveiled during MAST Med 2020 conference and exhibition that took place in Athens, Greece in 2-4 November 2022: It is a Containerized Mine Laying System which can easily and quickly turn navy ships into mine laying platforms. My story for Naval News, here.

FLEETS #32: The French Navy, the Free French Naval Forces and French Naval Projects in WWII

The following image illustrate all warships that were in service with the French Navy, the French Naval Forces and the naval projects that were planned to materialize the period the WWII lasted. Free France (French: France Libre) was a political entity that claimed to be the legitimate government of France following the dissolution of the Third Republic. Led by French general Charles de Gaulle, Free France was established as a government-in-exile in London in June 1940 after the Fall of France during World War II and fought the Axis as an Allied nation with its Free French Forces (Forces françaises libres).

The image was created by www.naval-encyclopedia.com. In that page you can read some excellent naval history articles, to download other graphs or you can purchase the same graphs in high resolution in the online shop! More posts will follow for your collection of current naval fleets but also of fleets from the past.

The French Navy, the Free French Naval Forces and French Naval Projects in WWII

NAVAL FORCES #13: The future of the Greek naval forces by 2030

The following infographic provides an overview of the Hellenic Navy's planned procurement of naval vessels and aircraft, as well as the expected modernization and upgrade of in-service vessels. The period we are focusing in spans from July 8, 2019, when the new government under Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis was formed, to the end of the current decade. The graph illustrates the serious effort by the government and the current leadership of the Hellenic Navy to modernize the Greek naval forces after years of cutbacks and inactivity. Details of the planned procurements and upgrades in my article for Naval News site here.

 

Hull Vane B.V. presents its innovative products to the Hellenic Navy

At MAST Med 2022 conference and exhibition that took place in Athens, Greece in 2-4 November 2022, the Dutch company Hull Vane B.V. exhibited its Hull Vane solutions for naval and coast guard vessels. The Hull Vane® is a hydrodynamic wing attached to a ship’s stern. The company met also with Hellenic Navy officers at the Papagos camp (Pentagon) in Athens. Naval News attended MAST Med 2022 and interviewed Bruno Bouckaert, Sales Director at Hull Vane B.V. My story for Naval News, here.

INFOGRAPHICS #60: Future Surface Combatants Vol. V (Amiral Ronarc'h-class, Kimon-class, Anadolu-class)

Written by D-Mitch

In this post, I include some of the infographics I made and published on social media, about new surface combatants that are under construction and about to enter service in the near future. 

 

1. Amiral Ronarc'h-class (FDI) frigates of the French Navy (5 ships)

 

Amiral Ronarc'h-class (FDI) frigate of the French Navy

Hellenic Navy commissions its 7th and Final Roussen-class FACM

The Hellenic Navy (Πολεμικό Ναυτικό) named and commissioned its seventh and final Roussen-class (Super Vita) fast attack missile craft (FACM), HS Ypoploiarchos Vlahakos (P-79). The event took place at the Amfiali Naval Base on September 29, 2022 in presence of the Greek Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the President of the Parliament, the Deputy Minister of Defense, the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, the Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister, the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the Chief Hellenic Army General Staff, the Chief of Hellenic Navy General Staff , the Deputy Chief of Hellenic Air Force General Staff, the Chief in Command of the Hellenic Fleet, Members of the Parliament and other distinguished guests. The new boat was named after Lieutenant Panagiotis Vlahakos who lost his life on January 31, 1996 during the Imia crisis, when an AB 212 helicopter (PN 21) crashed into the sea. His brother Nikolaos Vlahakos christened the boat. My story for Naval News, here.