Greek frigate Limnos

Limnos (F451) is an Elli-class frigate of the Hellenic Navy, and the third Greek warship to bear the name. The class is based on the Royal Netherlands Navy's Kortenaer class and was built in a Dutch shipyard; however, unlike later members of her class in the Hellenic Navy, she was not originally in Dutch service, but was sold directly to Greece. Limnos was constructed in Vlissingen, Netherlands, along with her sister ship Elli. The contract for her construction was signed in Athens in July 1981 and her commissioning took place on 18 September 1982. After commissioning, Limnos joined the Hellenic Fleet on 5 November 1982 and since then she has actively participated in its activities.[1]

For other ships with the same name, see Greek ship Lemnos.

History
Greece
NameLimnos
NamesakeLemnos island and the Battle of Lemnos (1913)
Laid down13 June 1978
Launched27 October 1979
Commissioned18 September 1982
StatusIn active service
General characteristics
Class and typeElli-class frigate
Displacement3,500 tons (3,800 t max)
Length130 m (426 ft 6 in)
Beam14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)
Draft6.2 m (20 ft 4 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 30 knots (56 km/h; 35 mph) maximum
  • 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) cruise
Complement196
Armament
Aircraft carried2 AB 212 ASW helicopter or 1 Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk

Service history

Limnos took part in several operations including Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and 1991. She was part of the security arrangements for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens as part of Operation Ifitos, and with Operation Ocean Shield, the NATO contribution to the anti-piracy initiative, in 2009.[1] In 2011 she deployed with Operation Unified Protector, the NATO operation to enforce United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding the Libyan Civil War, and with Operation Active Endeavour, an anti-terrorism mission in the Mediterranean.[1]

August 2020 collision with TCG Kemal Reis

On 13 August 2020, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that any attack on the Turkish research vessel Oruç Reis will incur a "high price" and suggested that Turkey had already acted on that warning. This came after unconfirmed reports that Limnos collided with the frigate Kemalreis, one of the ships of the Turkish Navy that were escorting Oruç Reis, which resumed drilling operations southeast of the Greek island of Kastellorizo on 10 August, after suspending its work in July.[2][3][4][5]

On the following day, the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence released a date stamped photograph of Limnos conducting joint drills with four other Greek frigates and two units of the French Navy in that same area.[6] According to unnamed "Greek defense sources", the Greek frigate manoeuvred to avoid a head-on collision, after Kemalreis attempted to "block" Limnos path and in the process its bow touched the rear of the Turkish frigate.[7] Initially, the Turkish frigate's fate remained unconfirmed, despite reports that mentioned it was deemed non-operational due to propeller damage, requiring return to port for repairs. Later on the same day and in response however, the Turkish Ministry of Defense released a video of the ship in social media, declaring that Kemalreis was also fully operational and its condition was unchanged, normally continuing its original mission. As a response to the Turkish President's statements, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, announcing that the Greek Foreign Minister would brief in detail his European counterparts on the operational and technical details of that incident.

On 19 August, Greek newspaper Kathimerini published a photograph depicting the damage sustained to the right side of the stern of the Turkish frigate during the collision.[8] Several Turkish newspapers published a video showing Kemalreis was not damaged at the bow.[9][10][11]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the ship is a copy of the battleship Lemnos's coat of arms. It depicts the lyra of the ancient poet and kitharode Arion and dolphins in waves.[1]

Citations
  1. "HS Limnos". hellenicnavy.gr. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  2. "Erdogan says Greece attacked Oruc Reis, 'got their first answer today'". Kathimerini. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. "Turkey's Erdogan threatens Greece over energy dispute in Mediterranean". DW News. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  4. "Erdogan says attack on Turkish ship in Mediterranean dispute will exact 'high price'". NBC News. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. "Tensions in the Aegean: Greek frigate rams and damages Turkish war ship". Greek City Times. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  6. "Joint Naval Exercise of Greece – France". Hellenic National Defence General Staff. 14 August 2020.
  7. "Greek and Turkish warships in 'mini collision,' says defense source". Kathimerini. 14 August 2020.
  8. "After collision, Athens plans next steps". Kathimerini. 19 August 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  9. "İște Çarpişma Anı Videosu". Yerelinsesi.com (in Turkish). 14 August 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  10. "Yunan Gemisine Kemal Reis Darbesi". bihavdis.com (in Turkish). 14 August 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  11. "Son Dakika: Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan: Kemal Reis, Yunan gemisine gereken cevabı verdi". SonDakika.com (in Turkish). 14 August 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2021.

References
  • Baker, A. D., ed. (1998). The Naval Institute Guide to Combat Fleets of the World 1998–1999. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-111-0.
  • Friedman, Norman (1997). The Naval Institute Guide to World Naval Weapon Systems 1997–1998. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-268-1.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chumbley, Stephen, eds. (1995). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-55750-132-5.
  • Moore, John, ed. (1979). Jane's Fighting Ships 1979–80. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 978-0-354-00587-6.
  • Saunders, Stephen, ed. (2002). Jane's Fighting Ships 2002–2003. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2432-1.
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