Hellenic Navy, World War II

[Mark C. Jones]

Hello,

My interest in World War II naval history focuses on the smaller European navies that fought with the Allies. These include the Polish, Norwegian, Dutch, Free French, Yugoslav and Greek navies.

The Royal Hellenic Navy, as it was then known, lots many older ships to German air attacks in April 1941 but most of its more modern ships withdrew to Egypt to serve alongside the Royal Navy. That service loaned newly built ships to the Greeks and the RHN operated a variety of submarines and destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean.

I post a message here as finding detailed information about the RHN is quite difficult. Partly this is due to the language and alphabet differences. I welcome making contact with forum members who are knowledgeable about the RHN during the war. In particular, I am hoping to make contact with any RN veterans (or their next of kin) who served on Greek warships as liaison personnel during the period 1941-1946. I can be reached by private message on this forum.

Mark C. Jones

[dennis a feary]

Hello Mark, do not know how deep you wish to go into reasearch of Greek Navy ?? Here is photo of Kapitein-Leutnant Kleiner, who, when in command of UJ 2210 sank the Greek submarine PAPANICOLIS. In conversation with me he related this story ;
"We attacked the submarine & then ran out of depth-charges. We knew that the submarine was in difficulties so we then lobbed down grenades. The sub then surfaced & made signals of surrender. The greek crew were taken aboard, but the two British `Liaison' crew would not surrender & swam away in the direction of the shore which was about 10 miles away."
I have photo's of the U-Jager, details of the two Liaison boys that swam away, never to be heard of again (RESURGAM).
If you are doing deep research I will put all the `Bumphf' I have together for you.

Regards & Good Luck Sadsac

[Mark C. Jones]

Hello Sadsac,

I would be interested in the information you have about the Greek sub's crew and the liaison personnel. Please send it to me as a private message on this forum. I appreciate your kind assistance.

Mark C. Jones

[dennis a feary]

OK Mark, when I get myself sorted. There is much to relate.
As you were re details of U-Jager etc !!!
It was NOT U-J 2210 but U-J 2102 that sank Greek Submarine TRITON - NOT PAPANICOLIS. Put it down to age & infirmity & practically Ga-Ga.
Have you seen the book by Martin Krellenberg ??
About the Mediterranean exploits of U-J 2110 ??
The flotilla were credited with having sunk 90 British submarines !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Find here two pics of U-J 2102.
UJ2 is 2102 before conversion from yacht of King of Sweden.
UJ3 is 2102 after conversion to war ship.
Kalue GERO Kleiner was the captain of 2102.
Have put these here as TERRY seems to be interested in EVERYTHING !!

Sadsac

[astraltrader]

Great pictures Dennis. Very much appreciated.

[dennis a feary]

MARK, find here details of the `Liaison' personnel aboard Greek TRITON when she was lost. Please note ; Gero Kleiner related to me the story that when JJ2101 samk TRITON & then rescuedthe crew he saw the two RN personnel swam AWAY from the rescuers to the shore, which was some 10 miles away !! Kleiner said brave & magnificent of them, but `silly' - in true British RN tradition they were not going to be captured. It may also be that they were in posetion of secret facts / info so were fearful of being `questioned' !!

Sadsac

CARTER ALFRED SAMUEL S/LT 330689 NE SANF
SM TRITON (GREEK) 28.11.42 X NE C
PLYMOUTH 74 - 1 PLYMOUTH 2 - 104 LD
Husband of M. Carter, of Durban, Natal, South Africa.
Lost on Submarine Liaison Duty, Greek Submarine TRITON.

COLE GEORGE WILLIAM AUBREY PO TEL P/JX 130765 NE RN
SM TRITON (GREEK) 28.11.42 X 31
PORTSMOUTH 66 - 3 PORTSMOUTH 2 - 132
Son of William and Rose Cole ; husband of Amelia Helen Cole (nee Polity), of Sidi-Gaber, Egypt.
Lost in Submarine Liaison Duty - Greek Submarine TRITON.

[Mark C. Jones]

Dennis,

Thank you for this helpful information. I had contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to have them do a special search of their records for men lost while serving on liaison duty. While a few names turned up that I did not already have, no names were found for the Greek submarine Triton. The two men whose names you provided would not have turned up in the search as one was listed as the British submarine Triton and the other was listed as Royal Navy without specifying a ship. Thanks again!

Mark C. Jones

[dennis a feary]

Mark, please note re S/Lt Carter he was South African Navy NOT RN - confirmed by the fact that his family were from S.A. !!
Greek / RN TRITON - yes have come across that before - imputer not checking x 3 !!
Are you wanting further info on ALL `Liaison personnel' ??

Sadsac

[Choppy Sea]

This photo was taken in 1953 during a NATO exercise in the Med. This ship flying the Greek flag is believed to be ex-US Navy. Does anyone have any info

[astraltrader]

I must admit I cant work this one out. It doesn`t seem to tie in with any Greek warship that I know of that period. Not only that but I cant remember any Greek warship of that period using large letters on the hull[AR].

I know the Regia Marina used to??

[tjstoneman]

The ship in photo #9 matches the configuration of the Italian Navy's AVIERE and ARTIGLIERE (destroyers of the USN Benson or Livermore class, transferred to Italy post-war, ex-USS NICHOLSON and WOODWORTH). I don't have postwar details to hand, but the pre-war Italian destroyer ARTIGLIERE wore the letters AR on her bow; early postwar Italian warships also wore letters instead of pennant numbers. I don't see a Greek flag in the photo, so I suspect it shows the postwar ARTIGLIERE.

TimS

[Choppy Sea]

I must admit I cant work this one out. It doesn`t seem to tie in with any Greek warship that I know of that period. Not only that but I cant remember any Greek warship of that period using large letters on the hull[AR].

I know the Regia Marina used to??

Hi Astraltrader, I posted two photos yesterday one of the destroyer and one of on Italian Cruisers, that one has been removed. I think that tjstoneman has got it right, both these photos were taken by the Navigator of Chevron and passed on to me. Both ships were accompanying each other but on the backs are written Italian Cruiser and Greek Destroyer. Very likely both are Italian.

[astraltrader]

If you look at my post I thought it was probably Italian as well as they were the only navy I knew of who used hull lettering like the AR shown.


Anyway please call me Terry and finally I am not sure what you mean by your other picture has been removed?

If you are referring to the Italian cruiser it is here...


http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2152&page=3