Greek destroyer Aspis
Encyclopedia
The destroyer Aspis served in the Hellenic Royal Navy in 1907-1945.
The ship, along with her three sister ships of Niki class destroyer
s, was ordered from Germany
in 1905 and was built in the Vulcan
shipyard at Stettin.
During World War I
, Greece belatedly entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente
and, due to Greece's neutrality the four Niki Class ships were seized by the Allies in October, 1916, taken over by the French in November and served in the French Navy
from 1917-18. By 1918, they were back on escort duty under Greek colors, mainly in the Aegean Sea
.
Aspis saw action in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
in the Sea of Marmara
and the Aegean Sea
.
After the war, Aspis was refurbished from 1925-1927. She also participated in the Second World War, first carrying supplies in the Ionian Sea
and after surviving the German invasion of April, 1941, Aspis served in conjunction with the Royal Navy
based in Alexandria, Egypt. After the end of World War II, Aspis was stricken in 1945.
The ship, along with her three sister ships of Niki class destroyer
Niki class destroyer
The Niki class of destroyers were ordered by the Royal Hellenic Navy before World War I when the Greek government embarked on a naval buildup after losing the Greco-Turkish War of 1897...
s, was ordered from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1905 and was built in the Vulcan
Stettiner Vulcan AG
Aktien-Gesellschaft Vulcan Stettin was a German shipbuilding and locomotive builder company, located in Stettin . AG Vulcan Stettin played a significant role in both World Wars, building U-boats and warships for the Kaiserliche Marine...
shipyard at Stettin.
During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Greece belatedly entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente
Triple Entente
The Triple Entente was the name given to the alliance among Britain, France and Russia after the signing of the Anglo-Russian Entente in 1907....
and, due to Greece's neutrality the four Niki Class ships were seized by the Allies in October, 1916, taken over by the French in November and served in the French Navy
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
from 1917-18. By 1918, they were back on escort duty under Greek colors, mainly in the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
.
Aspis saw action in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922)
The Greco–Turkish War of 1919–1922, known as the Western Front of the Turkish War of Independence in Turkey and the Asia Minor Campaign or the Asia Minor Catastrophe in Greece, was a series of military events occurring during the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire after World War I between May...
in the Sea of Marmara
Sea of Marmara
The Sea of Marmara , also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, and in the context of classical antiquity as the Propontis , is the inland sea that connects the Black Sea to the Aegean Sea, thus separating Turkey's Asian and European parts. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Black...
and the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
.
After the war, Aspis was refurbished from 1925-1927. She also participated in the Second World War, first carrying supplies in the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
and after surviving the German invasion of April, 1941, Aspis served in conjunction with the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
based in Alexandria, Egypt. After the end of World War II, Aspis was stricken in 1945.