Summer training ship ΄Samos΄ at Corfu Port
CORFU. The gunship ΄Samos΄ is docked at Corfu Port.
The Hellenic Navy gunship L174 Samos docked at the port of Corfu on Monday, August 7th, for a brief visit to the island.
This visit is part of this year's Summer Training Cruise of the Hellenic Naval Academy's Regular Officer School, which began on Friday, July 21st, with a ceremony at the Scaramanga Naval Fortress.
A total of 145 Officer Cadets, as well as 5 students from other Military Schools (3 from the Regular Officer School and 2 from the Regular Officer School of Aviation), are on board the ship for this year's training cruise. The ship will call at various ports in the Mediterranean.
Purpose of the cruise
The Hellenic Navy General Staff announced that the purpose of the Summer Training Cruise is practical training at sea, the acquisition of maritime experience by the Officer Cadets, as well as the display of the Flag and the promotion of the Hellenic Navy at the ports of call.
The previous time that Corfu had served as a port of call for the Summer Training Cruise of the Hellenic Naval Academy's Regular Officer School was in 2019, with the gunship L175 Ikaria (sister ship of the Samos).
The vessel
The gunship L174 Samos is the first of the five ships of the "Jason" programme, which were constructed at the Elefsina Shipyards following an order from the Ministry of National Defence. It was launched on September 29, 1987, and delivered to the Hellenic Navy on May 20, 1994. Vessels of this type have been designed in Greece by the Hellenic Navy in collaboration with the National Technical University of Athens and the Elefsina Shipyards.
It has a length of 116 metres, a width of 15.3 metres, a draft of 3.4 metere and a displacement of 4,400 tons. It carries a main 76mm gun on the bow, two 40mm anti-aircraft guns and two light 20mm guns. It also features a helipad on the stern with the capability to accommodate a medium-sized helicopter. The ship is powered by two 10,000 horsepower diesel engines, allowing it to reach a maximum speed of 16 knots.
For its landing role, it can transport up to 22 battle tanks and at least 287 disembarking personnel, who can either use the ship's two landing craft or the four lower landing craft or the inflatable boats it carries. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Amphibious Forces Command.
GERASIMOS MARTINIS
Photo: Gerasimos Martinis
