In the long-lasting Hellenic Navy’s history, the submarines have played a pivotal role. A total of 31 various types submarines have been incorporated into the Hellenic Submarine Force since its foundation.

In the mid-1880s, the Hellenic Navy, aiming to keep up with the technological developments of that time and in order to maintain the Fleet’s operational capability, is one of the first navies worldwide which decides to include a submarine in its force.

That was the “NORDENFELT-I”. Built in Ekensberg, Sweden, was based on the design of the British clergyman and inventor George Garrett and financed by the Swedish weapons manufacturer Thorsten Nordenfelt, from whom its name derives.

She was an elliptical-shaped vessel, 19.5 m long and 2.75 m wide. She had a 55 tons displacement while submerged and was capable of diving to a depth of 15m. Her propulsion was provided by a 100 hp steam engine, which enabled her to develop a speed of 9 knots while surfaced and 2 knots while underwater, with a diving range of approximately 160 nautical miles. She was equipped with a single torpedo tube, which was designed to fire a 14″ torpedo at 30m distance from the target while the submarine was surfaced and also a 25.4mm calibre gun.

In January 1886 the “NORDENFELT-I” arrives in Greece dismantled. In March of the same year, she performs the first sea trials in the Faliro Bay, during which she reveals being a seaworthy vessel while surfaced, however while dived many defects related to underwater stability, watertightness and torpedo launching malfunctions occur.

The whole situation was unacceptable for the Hellenic Navy and the vessel remained inactive until 1901, when it was scrapped.

During the Balkan Wars, the new DELFIN and XIFIAS submarines were commissioned. DELFIN is the first submarine worldwide, which during a sea combat operation carried out a torpedo attack (unsuccessful) against the Ottoman Empire’s armored cruiser MECIDIYE, off the Tenedos Island. XIFIAS did not take part in any Balkan Wars operations.

In 1914, the Hellenic Submarine Command was initially established under the “Diving Station” title and at the same time assumed the “diving ships” (submarines), command and control responsibility, while in 1927 was renamed in “Submarine High Command”.

In 1916 the two submarines (DELFIN and XIFIAS) were confiscated by France and returned to Greece in 1919, however in “poor” condition. They were decommissioned in 1920.

The outburst of World War II found the Hellenic Submarine Command with 6 obsolete submarines. However, their operational action during WW-II depicts a golden page in the glorious history of the Navy. Four of these submarines (PROTEUS, GLAVKOS, KATSONIS, TRITON) were sunk with a total loss of 106 Officers, Petty Officers and Sailors.

After the war (1945) the Navy consists 6 class “V” and “U” submarines lent by the British Navy. They were returned to Britain by 1958 and replaced by 3 U.S. built ‘GATO’ class submarines.

The 1970-decade outset illustrates a new era for the Hellenic Submarine Command.

A total of 4 type “209/1100” submarines (‘GLAVKOS’ class) were ordered from W. Germany, the first of this type worldwide, while the ‘GATO’ class U.S. submarines were replaced by 2 ‘GUPPY’ class submarines.

At the sunset of the same decade and at the outset of the next, 4 new “209/1200” type submarines (“POSEIDON” class) reinforced the Submarine Command. These totally 10 submarines remained in service until 1995, when the 2 U.S.-built submarines (“GUPPY” type) were decommissioned.

Entering the 21^st century, it was decided to acquire 4 new “214/1700” type (“PAPANIKOLIS” class) submarines and to modernize the 3 “209/1200” type (“POSEIDON” class) submarines (NEPTUNE-II program).

At the end of 2010, PAPANIKOLIS, the first of the “214/1700” type submarines, was integrated in the Submarines’ flotilla, while in the summer of 2011 GLAVKOS was decommissioned. During the spring of 2022 and 2025 PROTEUS and TRITON submarines respectively were decommissioned.

Nowadays, the Hellenic Submarine Command consists of 1 “209/1100” type submarine (‘GLAVKOS’ class), 3 “209/1200” type (“POSEIDON” class), 4 “214/1700” type (“PAPANIKOLIS” class) submarines and 1 modernized “POSEIDON” class submarine (OKEANOS).