Salamis Naval Base

Emblem of Salamis Naval Base

The Salamis Naval Base (Greek: Ναύσταθμος Σαλαμίνας) is the largest naval base in Greece. It is located in the northeastern part of Salamis Island (Cape Arapis) and in Amphiali and Skaramanga. It is close to the major population centres of Athens and Piraeus.

Most Hellenic Navy ships are based at Salamis, as well as many of its administrative, training and support services. The base employs approximately 10,000 naval and civilian personnel.

History

The first organized Greek Naval Base during the Greek War of Independence (1821 Revolution) was founded on Poros.[1] The facility remained in use as the main naval base of the Royal Hellenic Navy until 1881 and is still used today for naval personnel training.

Between January 1878 and April 1881, certain activities were transferred from Poros to the Faneromeni Monastery (37°59′00″N 23°26′10″E / 37.98333°N 23.43611°E / 37.98333; 23.43611) and its surrounding area, on Salamis Island.

On April 16, 1881, a Royal Decree directed that a new naval base would be built in Salamis, at a location then called Arapi, near Akra (Cape) Arapis. The Navy acquired an area of approximately 300 hectares.[2] Most of the land was donated by the Municipality of Salamis, which saw the construction of the naval base as an opportunity for employment, real estate development and business profit.

Aerial bombing of occupied Salamis Naval Dock, September 1944

Construction of the new base began in 1881 and gradually naval activities were transferred to the new buildings from Poros and Faneromeni Monastery. One of the first buildings was the church of Saint Nikolaos (1882).

The new naval base was used intensively during the Balkan Wars, the First World War and the Second World War. A suburban standard gauge light railway line (Piraeus-Perama light railway) opened in 1936, connecting downtown Piraeus with Perama and terminating inside the naval base at Amphiali. The line remained in use until 1977.

During the Second World War the naval base was occupied by the Germans and used for naval activities, including submarine operations. The Germans retreated in 1944, after causing extensive damage to the installations. In addition the sea channel was blocked by a number of naval ships sunk by the Luftwaffe in 1941, including the decommissioned battleships Lemnos and Kilkis.

Cleanup, salvage and reconstruction work began in November 1944 and the facilities were gradually restored to operational condition. Salamis Naval Base has been in continuous use by the Hellenic Navy ever since, while a second major base was constructed at Souda Bay.

Structure and activities

Salamis Naval Base dry dock facilities (1979)
Salamis Naval Base administrative area (1979)

Salamis Naval Base belongs to the Hellenic Navy Logistics Command. It consists of the Headquarters and the following services:[3]

The following commands of the Fleet Headquarters are also based within Salamis Naval Base:[4]

Other naval units in the base area include:

In addition, the Forward Operating Naval Base of Syros is controlled by Salamis Naval Base.[1]

Relations with local communities

Salamis Naval Base has established close ties with the local community. The base is a major employer for the islanders and regularly subcontracts ship maintenance to local business establishments in Salamis, Perama, Keratsini and Drapetsona. In addition it provides the local community with health services (the islanders were served by the naval hospital), vocational training for the young, and reinforcement to the national and municipal emergency services (fire and ambulance).

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Hellenic Navy Logistics Command" (in Greek). Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  2. ↑ In the Greek texts the area is stated as 3000 Greek stremmata
  3. ↑ "Naval Dock Salamis" (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  4. ↑ "Hellenic Navy Structure" (in Greek). Hellenic Navy. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  5. ↑ E. Kapetanakis; E. Daloumis; K. Lakafosis (November 1996). "A mission with Aegean Hawks". Πτήση & Διάστημα (Flight & Space) (in Greek) (126).
  6. ↑ Piet Luijken. "Hellenic Navy". Scramble Dutch aviation society. Retrieved 2008-07-08. External link in |publisher= (help)

Further reading

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Salamis Naval Base.
  • Vice Admiral Thomas Katopodis, HN (July–August 2001). "Salamina, the Love". Erevna (in Greek). 
  • Commander N.Tsaprazis, HN (1991). The Naval Station Salamina (in Greek). Hellenic Navy Historical Service. 
  • Lieutenant Commander Ath. Tsilivigos, HN (2005). Salamina, Faneromeni Monastery and the first Naval station 1878-1881 (in Greek). Ianthos Publications. 
  • P. Fimis (July–August 2001). "The Background of Naval Base Salamina". Erevna (in Greek). 
  • Naval Hospital of Salamina 1878-2003. Salamis Naval Hospital. 2003. 
  • Marco Prins & Jona Lendering. "Straits of Salamis by air" (JPEG). Livius - articles on Ancient History. Retrieved 2012-08-08. : A rare air photo of the Straits of Salamis with part of the naval base. Photographic pictures of the base are uncommon, as photography is strictly prohibited and access to the seafront is restricted to naval personnel only.
  • K. Galinsky & S. Davies. "Aerial View: Straits of Salamis" (JPEG). Retrieved 2008-07-11. : An air photo of the Straits of Salamis, with the naval base shown faintly at the background.
  • "Kilkis (Battleship, 1914-1941)". Washington, D.C.: U.S. Naval Historical Center. 2001. Retrieved 2008-07-20. : Three German Army pictures by Franz Selinger, dated 1941, showing war damage to Salamis Naval Base.
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