Greece Submarine Capabilities

The Hellenic Navy presides over an archipelago of about 2,000 islands. The Navy is chiefly concerned with the security of Greek’s sea lines of communication (SLOC) since a significant share of Greek commerce is maritime-oriented. Its headquarters is at Salamis, near Athens.¹ The Navy currently employs a flotilla of eleven Type 209/1100, Type 209/1200, and Type 214 vessels, all of which were ordered from Germany’s Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).

Total Submarines in Fleet: 11

• Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBNs): 0
• Nuclear-Powered attack submarines (SSNs): 0
• Diesel-electric attack submarines (SSKs): 11
• Air-independent propulsion (AIP) enabled: 5/11

Submarines

The German company, HDW, constructed the Glavkos-class of three Type 209/1100 diesel-electric submarines and delivered the vessels to the Hellenic Navy between 1971 and 1973.² In 1991, after almost 20 years of service, Greece initiated the Neptune I program to modernize the boats with advanced sonar and Harpoon missile technology.³ The first Glavkos-class was retrofitted in Germany from 1991-1993, while the others underwent renovations at the Salamis Naval Base in Greece at two- to three-year intervals terminating in 2000.⁴ In May 2011, reports stated the Hellenic Navy had decommissioned its first Type 209/1100 vessel, the HS Glavkos.⁵

In 1998, Greece ordered four new Papanikolis-class submarines. The first of the new class was built in Kiel while the others were constructed at Hellenic Shipyards. The Papanikolis-class submarines all feature air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems.⁶ In 2004, Greek navy experts found many technical issues with the Papanikolis such as excessive rolling when the submarine surfaced in high seas. HDW adjusted the Papanikolis but the Greek government refused to accept the fixed submarines in what some claim was a bid to renegotiate the initial purchase price of the vessels.⁷ Ultimately, in 2010 Greece agreed to accept the Papanikolis and to order two additional Type 214 submarines.⁸

In 2002, the Hellenic Navy initiated the Neptune II program to modernize their Type 209 submarines. The Hellenic Navy was able to upgrade the HS Okeanos but in 2009 terminated the Neptune II because of a dispute with Germany company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS).⁹ In 2014, the Hellenic Navy further modernized the HS Okeanos by adding an AIP system and an Integrated Sensor Underwater System (ISUS) combat management system.¹⁰ In December 2018 the Hellenic Armed Forces’ Council of Chiefs of the General Staff approved two programs to acquire 36 533-millimeter heavyweight torpedoes for the four Papanikolis-class submarines and the HS Okeanos.¹¹ From 2023 to 2025, the Navy plans to equip the four Papanikolis-class and the sole Okeanos AIP submarines with new Seahake Mod 4 torpedoes and their Leonardo decoy launching systems for self-protection against threats.¹²

In May 2011, HDW cancelled the contract for the additional two Type 214 vessels in response to bribery allegations involving Abu Dhabi Mar, the majority shareholder of Hellenic Shipyards since 2010, and Germany Company Ferrostaal. HDW still delivered the three vessels that had already been completed; the Pipinos, Matrozos, and Katsonis.¹³ The bribery allegations were found to be true and as of March 2019, eight individuals including Greek Defence Minsiters and Ferrostaal employees have been sentenced for money laundering and accepting bribes.¹⁴

Ship Biographies

Glavkos-Class (Type 209/1100) and Poseidon-Class (Type 209/1200)

Greece possesses three Glavkos-class and Poseidon-class diesel-electric attack submarines. Both classes of submarine are 55.9 meters long with a 6.2-meter-wide beam and can travel up to 21.5 knots when submerged. They can remain submerged for about 50 days without surfacing. Their weapons system can fire anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.¹⁵

Okeanos-Class

The Poseidon-class submarine HS Okeanos (S118) was originally a Type 209 vessel. However, after extensive Neptune II upgrades, the HS Okeanos more closely resembles the physical dimensions of the Papanikolis-class vessels and thus is now in its own separate class of submarines.¹⁶

Papanikolis-Class (Type 214)

Greece possesses four Papanikolis-class diesel-electric attack submarines. These submarines are 65 meters long with a 6.3-meter-wide beam and can travel up to 20 knots when submerged. They can remain submerged for about 50 days without surfacing and feature Air-Independent Propulsion (AIP) system. Their weapon systems include anti-ship missiles and torpedoes.¹⁷

Imports

Greece’s submarine fleet was imported from Germany’s Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW).

Exports

While Hellenic Shipyards is owned by HDW, Greece is not an exporter of submarines.