Greek submarines are an important weapon against Turkey in the "chessboard" of the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean.
In total, Greece has 11 submarines. Six older types, a modernized type 209 and four type 214, also known as Papanikolis, which are considered silent and therefore "invisible."
Turkey, which continued to challenge Greece last week, has one more submarine in total, but not to the same standard.
The difference between submarine type 214 is that they have technology that allows them to remain for long distances below sea level. This makes them difficult to be detected by enemy radar. In addition, they have a special "silent" propulsion system so that they are not perceived by aircraft, helicopters or surface ships.
Greece showed its superiority at the bottom of the sea when the Turks "lost" the positions of the Greek submarines, which, in vain, they tried to find for 34 days! A few days later, in order to boost their morale, the Turks released videos of the alleged location of the Greek submarines, when they, of course, were on the surface.
Characteristics of the submarines "Papanikolis"
According to the Navy, the submarines type 214 ("Papanikolis") have a length of 65.3 meters and can move 10.5 knots on the surface and 21 knots underwater.
The main characteristics of the four "invisible" submarines of Greece are the following:
Propulsion
Propulsion is achieved with a 3,900 kW electric motor in combination with the anaerobic propulsion system (AIP), ie the production of electricity from liquid fuel cells. This system relieves this type of submarines (whenever operationally required) from the process of running a respirator to charge its batteries, a process that makes submarines vulnerable to detection by anti-submarine units.
Communication
Class 214 substations are fully equipped with the antennas, transmitters and receivers that are necessary for their communications.
Shipping
The Navy class 214 submarines carry the integrated ISUS weapon system from the ATLAS ELEKTRONIK company, whose consoles with the possibility of interchangeable functions, will be the necessary naval search systems, such as RADAR, ESM, GPS and PERISCOPE. Of course, many modern technological achievements, such as OPTRONIC tissues with many imaging possibilities, will be important shipping and business aids.
Armor
In the ISUS weapon System, both the torpedoes and the SUBHARPOON Directed Missiles, are used.
Sonar
The same weapon system incorporates passive SONAR medium and low frequencies, SONAR shipping/mine detection, active SONAR and other auxiliary functions to target and solve a firing problem.
Staff
The personnel of the submarine "PAPANIKOLIS" consists of 6-7 Officers and a crew of 28-30 men (Permanent NCOs and Professional service people)
Support
The "PAPANIKOLIS" substations can transport sufficient food and drinking water for a voyage of up to 50 days, while there is no problem with the supply of fuel.
What are the four submarines that Turkey fears
Pipinos:
The PIPINOS submarine is an offshore submarine (Ocean Going) and designed to carry out operations with the least possible exposure to active/passive detection by unfriendly forces. It has the ability to detect, monitor and solve the problem of firing and attacking surface targets.
It can operate for long periods of time with the help of an anaerobic propulsion system (AIP).
Papanikolis:
Today's PAPANIKOLIS submarine is the third in the history of the Navy with this name. The first was of French design and shipbuilding and had been received by the Navy in 1927. It operated during World War II, conducting a total of fourteen war patrols in the Adriatic and Aegean Seas, from 28 October 1940 to 13 October 1944.
During its patrols, it sank enemy ships. It was decommissioned in 1945, due to age.
The second was an American-designed and shipbuilding class GUPPY IIA, which was received in 1972 and remained in service until 1993, when it was decommissioned.
The PAPANIKOLIS Submarine (S -120) is a conventional Submarine Type 214, first in the series of 6 "PAPANIKOLIS" type Submarines ordered by the Navy. Made at HDW Shipyards in Kielo, Germany. It was launched on April 22, 2004. On December 21, 2010 it sailed to the Salamis Naval Base and joined the Submarine force.
Matrozos:
In February 2014, the submarine MATROZOS (S-122) was launched. The launch took place at the HSY facilities in Scaramanga. The works and the in-sea tests for the certification and the operational integration of the submarine in the Fleet are in progress.
Katsonis:
In June 2015, the KATSONIS submarine was launched (S-123). The launch took place at the HSY facilities in Scaramanga. The works and the in-sea tests for the certification and the operational integration of the submarine in the Fleet are in progress.
This article first appeared in iEfimerida.