The Type 214 submarines of the Hellenic Navy, such as ‘Matrozos,’ constitute its spearhead in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. [Intime News]
In Greek strategic culture, the submarine functions as a multiplier of force and a deterrent, because the country is surrounded by four seas. There is a glorious tradition that begins with the testing of the Swedish-made, steam-powered submarine Nordenfelt in 1886 and continues in 1912, when the Delfin (Dolphin) carried out the world’ s first torpedo attack against the Turkish cruiser Mecidiye near Tenedos.
This trend culminated in World War II, when the legendary Papanikolis and other Greek submarines conducted highly risky operations against enemy ships in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. HS Glafkos and HS Nirefs sailed for Cyprus one day after the Turkish invasion of 1974, but for reasons that are still unclear, they unfortunately had no military involvement.
More recently, our submarines played a crucial role in managing the 2020 Aegean crisis. With their continuous intelligence gathering and high operational readiness, they contributed decisively to avoiding a conflict.
The Eastern Mediterranean is a complex operational environment, with many state actors maintaining a strong naval presence. Surface units are, however, exposed to attacks by aircraft and unmanned systems, due to their size and the difficulty of concealment in a field of increased surveillance. In contrast, submarines continue to combine survivability, flexibility and the ability to launch a surprise attack. Technological development is rapid; they are now multi-capable combat platforms, with advanced sensor and weapon systems, which allow them to operate with great autonomy.
For Greece, in particular, submarines are an important equalizer of military power. Our seas have a diverse seabed, with seamounts and deep basins, which make them difficult to locate. The frequent uncertainty regarding the exact location of a submarine forces the adversary to commit disproportionate resources to anti-submarine defense, limiting its freedom of movement. Our submarines protect islands and islets, energy interests, underwater cables and sea lanes, while they can operate everywhere without provoking escalation. Also, the recently acquired heavyweight torpedo capability allows Greek submarines to target enemy bases and critical infrastructure. The gradual introduction and operational utilization of unmanned underwater systems is estimated to contribute even more to strengthening Greek maritime deterrence.
In a region where power is constantly projected by the opposing side, the submarine is one of the few means that can change the balance of power in favor of Greece. Our submarine fleet still remains one of the strongest in the Eastern Mediterranean, with the core of the four Papanikolis-class (Type 214/1600) submarines equipped with the anaerobic propulsion system and an extremely low acoustic footprint. However, the remaining units are approaching the end of their operational life and need to be replaced by the middle of the next decade. According to information, the Navy is already examining various proposals from European and Asian companies. For obvious reasons, experienced officers in the sector can evaluate them better than anyone and make appropriate recommendations to the political leadership.
At a strategic level, however, the new type of submarines must ensure Greek naval supremacy in the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean. In addition to high autonomy and low footprint, network-centric operations and the ability to strike with cruise missiles are required. This is the only way that national security and Greek interests will be protected. The decision on the next generation of submarines must therefore not be delayed due to political or economic circumstances. Remaining faithful to the naval tradition, we must stand strong in our seas.
Manos Karagiannis is professor of international relations at the University of Macedonia and a reader in international security at King’s College London.