Hydra (F-452) (Greek Φ/Γ Ύδρα) is the lead ship of the Greek Hydra-class frigate and the flagship of the Hellenic Navy. The ship was built in the same shipyard as the Blohm + Voss MEKO 200 frigate class, on which its design was based. Three more vessels were built by Hellenic Shipyards Co. at Skaramagas in the following years. It is the fifth ship in the Hellenic Navy to bear the name Hydra.
Hydra was the first of four frigates of the MEKO 200 type (the four being Hydra, Spetsai, Psara, and Salamis) ordered by the Greek government. The ship was delivered to the Hellenic Navy on 15 October 1992 and first sailed in Greek waters on 28 January 1993. The crest of the frigate Hydra is the same as that of her predecessor. It is based on one of the flags that the ships of Hydra sailed under during the 1821 revolution.
In April 1988, the Hellenic Navy proposed and approved the four frigates of the MEKO 200 type to modernize its fleet. After a lengthy negotiation process, the following contracts were signed to fulfill the program:
- A contract with ΜΕΚΟ Consortium (MC), Blohm + Voss AG, and Thyssen Rheinstahl Technik to build the frigate in Germany.
- A second contract with MEKO Consortium to supply parts to Hellenic Shipyards to build the other three Hydra-class frigates in Scaramanga, Greece.
History
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:
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Harpoon anti-ship missiles: Eight AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles are carried in two quad-launch canisters.
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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.
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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.
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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:
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Sonar: A Thales Underwater Systems Spherion 2000 hull-mounted sonar is used for detecting submarines.
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Radar: A SMART-S Mk 2 surveillance radar is used for tracking surface targets and directing missiles.
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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.
On 12 May 2020, Hydra sailed off from her port on Salamis Island to participate in Operation Irini, however the ship was damaged due to unknown reasons and had to be replaced by another ship of the same class, Spetsai.
| History | |
|---|---|
 Greece |
|
| Name | Hydra |
| Namesake | the Hydra Island |
| Builder | Blohm + Voss |
| Launched | 25 June 1991 |
| Commissioned | 1992 |
| Status | in active service |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Hydra-class frigate |
| Displacement | 3,350 tons |
| Length | 117 m (384 ft) |
| Beam | 14.8 m (49 ft) |
| Draught | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range | 4,100 nmi (7,600 km; 4,700 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) (diesels) |
| Complement | 173 |
| Sensors and processing systems |
|
| Electronic warfare & decoys |
|
| Armament |
|
| Aircraft carried | 1 |
| Aviation facilities | Hangar for 1 Sikorsky S-70B-6 Aegean Hawk helicopter |
References
- ^ Vice Admiral C. Paizis-Paradellis, HN (2002). Hellenic Warships 1829-2001 (3rd ed.). Athens, Greece: The Society for the study of Greek History. p. 78. ISBN 960-8172-14-4.
- ^ “HS HYDRA”. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
- ^ “Η φρεγάτα “ΣΠΕΤΣΑΙ” στην Επιχείρηση IRINI… Γιατί αποχωρεί η “ΥΔΡΑ”; | Defence-point.gr”. 27 May 2020.