HS ASTRAPI (P-63)

Crest

The vessel bears the name “Astrapí” (Lightning). In Greek mythology, “Astrapí” (along with thunder) is associated with Zeus as his weapon, responsible for carrying his lightning bolts together with Pegasus.
The name “Astrapí” has previously been assigned by Hellenic Navy to the German warship “STRAHL,” which upon her acquisition was named HS ASTRAPI. She was a “BRAVE”-type fast attack craft of British construction, powered by gas turbines. The vessel served under the Fast Boat Command and was decommissioned on January 22, 1978.

Technical Characteristics

Dimensions

24,74 /5.4 meters

Displacement

42.5 tons

Crew

Officers: 4
Non-Commissioned Officers: 3

Speed

45+ knots

Propulsion

2 main Diesel engines MTU 12V – 2000 RPM (2285 HP each)
2 KAMEWA 50S waterjet systems

Armament

4 M2 BROWNING machine guns (TAK) 0.50 caliber
Portable weapons of various calibers

History

HS ASTRAPI (Special Operations Craft – Fast Transport) was built in 1995 in the USA on behalf of the United States Navy under the codename “MK-V SOC (Special Operations Craft) 9503”, with her primary mission being the transport/extraction of U.S. Navy SEAL unconventional warfare teams. The vessel remained in storage at a Special Operations Craft facility in the United States, specifically at the Naval Air Station North Island (within the Defence Logistics Agency – DLA facilities).

In November 2016, a naval delegation inspected decommissioned U.S. Navy vessels, positively evaluating a potential acquisition. In March 2018, the procurement of four MK-V SOC vessels was decided. In March 2020, these vessels were delivered to Salamis Naval Base, where maintenance and repair work began in order to make the vessel operational for assignment to Hellenic Navy.

The vessel raised her flag on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, and was assigned to Fleet Headquarters under the Special Forces Command on Monday, November 2, 2020.

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