Hydra-class frigate
{{Short description|Class of Greek frigates}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = Greek frigate HS Spetsai, F-453.jpg | Ship caption = HS Spetsai transits the Mediterranean Sea during Phoenix Express (2008) }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Hydra, MEKO 200 HN | Builders = Blohm + Voss, Hellenic Shipyards | Operators = {{navy|Greece}} | Class before = | Class after = | Subclasses = | Cost = | Built range = | In service range = | In commission range = 1992–present | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = 6 | Total ships completed = 4 | Total ships cancelled = 2 | Total ships active = 4 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }}{{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship type = Frigate | Ship displacement = * 3,360 tons standard
| Ship length = {{convert|117.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|14.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|6.0|m|ftin|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship power = | Ship propulsion = *2 shaft CODOG, controllable pitch propellers ,
| Ship speed = * {{convert|31|kn|lk=in}} (gas turbine)
| Ship range = {{convert|4100|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|18|kn}} | Ship endurance = | Ship complement = * 173
| Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = * Signaal MW08 air search radar
| Ship EW = * Argo AR 700 ESM system | Ship armament = *1× Mk 45 Mod 2A 5" gun,
| Ship armour = | Ship armor = | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = Hangar for 1 Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk helicopter | Ship notes = }} |
The Hydra class[http://www.seaforces.org/marint/Hellenic-Navy/Frigate/Hydra-class.htm Hydra class MEKO-200HN frigates, article with many photos in seaforces.org ][https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/hydra/ Hydra class frigates of the Hellenic Navy, presentation in naval-technology.com] are a group of four frigates in service with the Hellenic Navy. They were designed in Germany and are part of the MEKO group of modular warships, in this case the MEKO 200 design. The programme was authorised in 1988 and partially paid for with FMS aid and provisioned for the commission of six vessels. The first ship was built in Germany and commissioned in 1992 but suffered a serious fire while working up near Portland, England. Repairs were completed in 1993. The Greek built warships were delayed due to financial problems on the part of the Hellenic Shipyards completing in the late 1990s which also led to limiting the total number of vessels to four mainly after the acquisition of eight {{sclass|Kortenaer|frigate|0}} frigates from the Netherlands in the late 1990s.
Upgrade programs
In 2007, an upgrade of the STIR fire control system to allow the firing of the RIM-162 ESSM surface-to-air missile was launched. {{ship|Greek frigate|Salamis|F-455|2}} was the first to be upgraded and, in August 2008, successfully completed a live firing test. The other three Hydra vessels were upgraded during 2008.
On April 25, 2018 the Greek defense minister Panos Kammenos announced that the modernization of the four vessels is in progress but without presenting any further details about the program.[http://www.onalert.gr/stories/fregates-meko-autes-enai-oi-fregates-pou-diathetei-to-pn/65102 The 4 Hydra class frigates to be modernized, onalert.gr 25/04/2018 (in Greek)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628183550/http://www.onalert.gr/stories/fregates-meko-autes-enai-oi-fregates-pou-diathetei-to-pn/65102 |date=2018-06-28 }}.
In May 2019, the Joint Chiefs of General Staff Council (ΣΑΓΕ) decided the commencement of the modernization program for the four ships of the class.[https://www.defence-point.gr/news/elafrys-kai-tmimatikos-o-eksygchronismo-ton-meko-200hn-mod3-toy-pn Article about the modernization program of MEKO 200HN frigates in the defense online magazine "Defencepoint.gr" (in Greek) 19/05/2019] The program was finally approved by the Greek Parliament in April 2023.{{cite web | url=https://armstrade.org/includes/periodics/news/2023/0425/152072833/detail.shtml | title=ЦАМТО / / ВМС Греции намерены модернизировать фрегаты класса "Гидра" }}
Ships
| class="wikitable" border="1" |
| Ship
! Namesake ! Builder ! Commissioned !Status |
|---|
| F-452 Hydra Ύδρα
| November 12, 1992 |In service |
| F-453 Spetsai Σπέτσαι
|October 24, 1996 | In service |
| F-454 Psara Ψαρά
|April 30, 1998 |In service |
| F-455 Salamis Σαλαμίς
|December 16, 1998 |In service |
See also
- List of naval ship classes in service
- {{sclass|Vasco da Gama|frigate|1}} - built for Portugal
- {{sclass|Anzac|frigate|1}} - built for Australia and New Zealand
- {{sclass|Barbaros|frigate|1}} - Built for the Turkish Navy
- {{sclass2|Valour|frigate|1}} - MEKO A-200 frigates built for the South African Navy
Gallery
US Navy 100528-N-3136P-212 The Greek navy frigate HS Spetsai (F-453) transits alongside the Military Sealift Command container and roll-on-roll-off ship USNS LCPL Roy M. Wheat (T-AK 3016).jpg|HS Spetsai transits alongside the Military Sealift Command container and roll-on-roll-off ship {{USNS|LCPL Roy M. Wheat|T-AK 3016|6}}
File:HS Psara (F 454) 23 10 06 1138.jpg|HS Psara
File:Salamis F455.jpg|HS Salamis
File:Greek frigate Psara (F454).jpg|A view from {{USS|Seattle|AOE-3|6}}, showing HS Psara underway conducting a replenishment at sea in 2002
File:Greek frigate Hydra (F-452) underway the Ionian Sea on 17 March 2022 (220317-N-DH793-2889).JPG|HS Hydra in 2022
References
{{reflist}}
Sources
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080530180829/http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/frigates_m_en.asp Hellenic Navy website]
{{Ship classes of the Hellenic Navy}}
{{Hydra class frigate}}