The Hydra class is 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 program was authorized 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 completed in the late 1990s which also led to limiting the total number of vessels to four mainly after the acquisition of eight Kortenaer-class frigates from the Netherlands in the late 1990s.

The Hydra-class frigates, also known as the MEKO 200HN class, are a series of frigates designed and built by Blohm + Voss for the Hellenic Navy. They are designed to perform a variety of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and anti-air warfare. The ships are equipped with a variety of weapons, including Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems, and Otobreda 76 mm cannons. They are also equipped with a sonar system and a helicopter deck.

The first Hydra-class frigate, Hydra (F-452), was built by Blohm + Voss in Germany and commissioned in 1992. Three more ships were built in Greece by Hellenic Shipyards Co. at Skaramagas in the following years: Salamis (F-453), Spetsai (F-454), and Psara (F-455).

The Hydra-class frigates are 117 meters (384 ft) long, with a beam of 14.5 meters (47 ft) and a draught of 5 meters (16 ft). They displace 3,700 tons (3,700 long tons; 3,360 short tons) at full load. The ships are powered by two General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines that produce 52,000 shaft horsepower (38,800 kW), giving them a maximum speed of 29 knots (54 km/h; 33 mph). They have a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,840 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 19 mph).

The Hydra-class frigates are armed with a variety of weapons, including:

• Harpoon anti-ship missiles: Eight AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles are carried in two quad-launch canisters.

• Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems: Sixteen Mk 41 Vertical Launch Systems are used to launch a variety of missiles, including Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSMs), Standard Missiles (SMs), and Tomahawk cruise missiles.

• Otobreda 76 mm cannons: Two Otobreda 76 mm cannons are mounted forward of the ship. These guns are used for anti-aircraft, anti-surface, and anti-missile defense.

• Stingray anti-submarine torpedoes: Two triple-tube launchers for Mark 46 torpedoes are carried for anti-submarine warfare.

The Hydra-class frigates are also equipped with a variety of sensors, including:

• Sonar: A Thales Underwater Systems Spherion 2000 hull-mounted sonar is used for detecting submarines.

• Radar: A SMART-S Mk 2 surveillance radar is used for tracking surface targets and directing missiles.

• IFF: A Digital Automatic Identification System (AIS) is used to identify other ships.

The Hydra-class frigates are the backbone of the Hellenic Navy. They are capable of performing a variety of missions and are well-equipped to defend Greece’s interests in the Aegean Sea.

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. Salamis was the first to be upgraded and, in August 2008, completed a live firing test. The other three Hydra vessels were upgraded in 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.

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. The program was finally approved by the Greek Parliament in April 2023.

Ships

Ship	Namesake	Builder	Commissioned	Status
F-452 Hydra Ύδρα	Hydra	Blohm + Voss	November 12, 1992	In service
F-453 Spetsai Σπέτσαι	Spetses	Hellenic Shipyards	October 24, 1996	In service
F-454 Psara Ψαρά	Psara	Hellenic Shipyards	April 30, 1998	In service
F-455 Salamis Σαλαμίς	Salamis	Hellenic Shipyards	December 16, 1998	In service

Class Overview
Name	Hydra, MEKO 200 HN
Builders	Blohm + Voss , Hellenic Shipyards
Operators	Hellenic Navy
In commission	1992–present
Planned	6
Completed	4
Cancelled	2
Active	4
General characteristics
Type	Frigate
Displacement	3,360 tons standard 4,000 tons full load
Length	117.5 m (385 ft 6 in)
Beam	14.8 m (48 ft 7 in)
Draught	6.0 m (19 ft 8 in)
Propulsion	2-shaft CODOG, controllable pitch propellers, 2 General Electric LM2500 gas turbines 60,656 hp (45,231 kW) 2 MTU 20V 956 diesel engines, 10,040 hp (7,490 kW)
Speed	31 knots (57 km/h; 36 mph) (gas turbine) 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) (diesel only)
Range	4,100 nmi (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph)
Complement	173 22 officers, 151 enlisted
Sensors and processing systems	Signaal MW08 air search radar Signaal DA08 air surface radar 2 Signaal STIR fire control radar Racal Decca 2690 BT navigation radar Raytheon SQS-56/DE 1160 hull-mounted and VDS sonar SLQ-25 Nixie torpedo decoy Mk XII Mod 4 IFF radar 2 Signaal Mk 73 Mod 1 radar for ESSM Signaal STACOS Mod 2 combat data system SAR-8 IR searcher
Electronic warfare & decoys	Argo AR 700 ESM system Telegon 10 ESM system Argo APECS II ECM system 4 SCLAR decoy launchers
Armament	1× Mk 45 Mod 2A 5″ gun, 2× Mk15 Phalanx 20 mm CIWS, 2 Mk141 2×4 Harpoon missile launchers, Mk 48 Mod 2 vertical launcher for 32× RIM-162 ESSM, 2 Mk32 Mod 5 2×324mm T/T for Mk46 torpedoes
Aviation facilities	Hangar for 1 Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk helicopter

References