Greek destroyer Aspis

The Greek Destroyer (Τορπιλλοβόλον) "Aspis" (Greek: "Τ/Β Άσπις"), named for the Greek word for shield, served in the Hellenic Royal Navy from 1907 - 1945.

The ship, along with her three sister ships of Niki class destroyers, was ordered from Germany in 1905 and was built in the Vulcan shipyard at Stettin.

During World War I, Greece belatedly entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente and, due to Greece's neutrality the four Niki Class ships were seized by the Allies in October, 1916, taken over by the French in November and served in the French Navy from 1917-18. By 1918, they were back on escort duty under Greek colors, mainly in the Aegean Sea.

"Aspis" saw action in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922) in the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean Sea.

After the war, "Aspis" was refurbished from 1925-1927. She also participated in the Second World War, first carrying supplies in the Ionian Sea and after surviving the German invasion of April, 1941, "Aspis" served in conjunction with the Royal Navy based in Alexandria, Egypt. After the end of World War II, "Aspis" was stricken in 1945.

ee also

*History of the Hellenic Navy