The Armored Cruiser Georgios Averof, the legendary flagship, was built in Livorno, Italy, and was delivered to Greece in May 1911. She bears the name of the great benefactor Georgios Averof, who bequeathed a large sum of money to the Hellenic Navy for the construction of a warship.

During the Balkan Wars, Averof was the flagship of the Commander of the Fleet Admiral Pavlos Kountouriotis, and played a decisive role in the naval operations, establishing Greek command over the Aegean Sea. She took part in the naval operations at the end of the First World War in the Black Sea and during the expedition of Asia Minor.