Elli-class frigate

The Elli-class frigates are a series of frigates operated by the Hellenic Navy. The ships are of Dutch origin and are also known as Kortenaer-class or Standard-class or S-class frigates. The first two ships (Elli and Limnos), which have lengthened hangars and different armament were built specifically for the Hellenic Navy. The remaining ships are ex-Royal Netherlands Navy S-frigates of the Kortenaer class transferred to the Hellenic Navy in the 1990s and early 2000s. These robust and reliable ships constitute the backbone of the Greek Navy. Elli, for which the class is named, is itself named after two famous Greek cruisers, one of which was sunk during World War II.

HS Kanaris (ex HNLMS Jan Van Brakel)
Class overview
Operators:  Hellenic Navy
Completed: 10
Active: 9
Retired: 1
General characteristics
Type: Frigate
Displacement:
  • 3,500 tons standard
  • 3,800 tons max
Length: 130 m (430 ft)
Beam: 14.5 m (48 ft)
Draft: 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 20 knots (37 km/h) cruising
  • 30 knots (56 km/h) maximum
Range: 4,700 nmi (8,700 km) at 16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement: 176-196
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 2 helicopters (AB-212)

Mid-life modernization project

There was a mid life modernization programme for six of the ten Greek ships which started in 2004 and was completed in 2009. The program was performed at Hellenic Shipyards and the upgraded frigates were the following: Kountouriotis (F-462) , Adrias (F-459), Navarinon (F-461), Limnos (F-451), Elli (F-450), and Aegaeon (F-460).

The main modernization work included the following:

  • Replacement of the combat management system with the Thales TACTICOS
  • Installation of new sensors, like the Thales Mirador electro-optical target tracker
  • Installation of Thales Scout MkII LPI navigation radar
  • Overhaul and improvement of radars (WM25 and LW08 long range air-search radar)
  • Installation of EDO (now part of Harris Corporation) CS-3701 ESM system[1]
  • Replacement of navigation systems and upgrade of communications systems
  • Replacement of propulsion control system and of defined platform systems.

Bouboulina (F-463) was decommissioned on 18 February 2013. It will be used as a source for spare parts.

Incidents at sea

On 2 November 2017 Kanaris ran aground near the islet Atalanti, southwest of Psyttaleia in the Saronic Gulf, on the way back to the Salamis Naval Base.[2] There were no personnel injuries and no fuel leak but there were serious hull damages which according to news reports affected the SONAR shell. After 8 months of absence for repairs the ship was again operational in July 2018 using the SONAR and dome from decommissioned Bouboulina (F-463).[3]

Ships[4]
ShipNamesakeCommissioning date into the Royal Netherlands NavyCommissioning into the Hellenic NavyStatus
Aigaion (F-460) Φ/Γ Αιγαίον Aegean Sea29 October 19801993In service (2020)
Adrias (F-459) Φ/Γ Αδρίας Adriatic Sea26 July 19791994In service (2020)
Bouboulina (F-463) Φ/Γ Μπουμπουλίνα Laskarina Bouboulina1 October 198314 December 2001Decommissioned (18 February 2013)
Elli (F-450) Φ/Γ Έλλη Naval Battle of Elli1981In service (2020)
Kanaris (F-464) Φ/Γ Κανάρης Constantine Kanaris14 April 198329 November 2002In service (2020)
Kountouriotis (F-462) Φ/Γ Κουντουριώτης Pavlos Kountouriotis26 October 19781997In service (2020)
Limnos (F-451) Φ/Γ Λήμνος Naval Battle of Lemnos1982In service (2020)
Navarinon (F-461) Φ/Γ Ναυαρίνον Battle of Navarino24 April 19801995In service (2020)
Nikiforos Fokas (F-466) Φ/Γ Νικηφόρος Φωκάς Nikephoros II25 November 19822003In service (2020)
Themistoklis (F-465) Φ/Γ Θεμιστοκλής - Themistocles2 December 19812002In service (2020)

Four Elli-class frigates stood in for Hydra class frigates with the fictitious names Demeter, Nereus, Proteus and Triton in the season 4 [5] of the post-apocalyptic action drama TNT series The Last Ship. Although called Hydra class, the ships shown are clearly Elli class frigates (mast construction with specific WM25 radar is a clear distinction).[6]

  • HS Adrias (F-459) anchored in the old (north) port of Patras, Greece (June 2020)
  • HS Kanaris (F-464)
  • HS Limnos (F-451)
  • HS Nikiforos Fokas (F-466) at sea in August 2014
  • HS Themistocles (F-465)

References
  1. EDO Corporation has been awarded a contract to supply six CS-3701 Electronic Support Measures systems for use on S-class frigates under the Hellenic navy’s mid-life modernization program, EDO Corp., issued Nov. 19, 2003
  2. Frigate ‘Kanaris’ stuck in shallow waters, article in Greek Observer (02/11/2017)
  3. Kanaris operational again, article in Greek Newspaper "Proto Thema" (05/07/2018) (in Greek)
  4. Standard Class Frigates, hellenic Navy official website
  5. "The Last Ship, (season 4 2017)
  6. "The Last Ship" Detect, Deceive, Destroy (TV Episode 2017), retrieved 2018-02-23
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