HS RITSOS is the fifth ROUSSEN class ship in a row built at the Elefsis shipyard under the supervision of the British company VOSPER. The ship launched on 09 October 2006 ,hoisted flag on 30 January 21015 and joined fleet headquarters on 19 October 2015.

It is the first ship of the fleet to bear this name, which it received in honor of the Lieutenant junior grade  Nikolaos  Ritsos  HN of  Antonios who was born in Monembasia of the prefecture of Laconia in 1887.

On September 10, 1900 he was assigned to the Naval  Academy ,from which he graduaded on July 10, 1904 with the rank of Ensign. On March 29, 1910 he was promoted to the rank of the Lieutenant junior grade . On November 16,1912 participating as commander of marine corps in the early landing for the liberation of Chios (by Lieut. I Demestihas), he was killed in action during the attack to seize  Aipos mountain range along with the fourth class cadet I.Pastrikakis. By royal degree of November 29 , 1945 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.