Greek destroyer Leon

"Leon" ( _el. ΒΠ "Λέων", "Lion") served in the Hellenic Royal Navy from 1912–1941.

The ship, along with her three sister ships of Wild Beast class destroyers "Aetos", "Ierax" and "Panthir" was ordered from England. They were purchased ready for delivery, each for the sum of £148,000, from the English shipyards Camell Laird in Liverpool, when the Balkan Wars seemed likely. These ships had originally been ordered by Argentina; "Panthir" was originally named "Tucuman".

During the Balkan Wars, the Royal Hellenic Navy purchased only the minimum amount of ammunitions, 3,000 rounds of torpedoes. Torpedoes were not available for this class of ship, and for this reason these ships were initially named 'scouts' rather than 'destroyers'. "Leon" was in action during the Balkan Wars under Lieutenant Commander J. Razikotsikas, RHN, also on board was Squadron Commander Lieutenant Commander D. Papachristos, RHN.

During World War I, Greece belatedly entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente and, due to Greece's neutrality the four Beast 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, and was in action blockading the coasts of the Black Sea from Bosphorus up to Trebizond.

On December 22, 1921, while moored with Ierax in Piraeus harbour they were both severely damaged by the explosion of a depth charge bomb which the crew of "Leon" was transporting. Two officers, one petty officer and two sailors were killed on "Leon" and two sailors on "Ierax". "Leon" completely lost her aft section up to her stern gun. [ [http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/leon12_41_en.asp HELLENIC NAVY - LEON D-50 ] ]

After the war, "Leon" was refurbished from 1925–1927. She also participated in the Second World War, On April 18, 1941, during a convoy escort, she collided with passenger ship "Ardena" followed by the explosion of two depth charges. As a result, her stern section was cut off and two officers were killed. She was finally sunk by German bombers on May 15, 1941, in Souda Bay (Crete) where she had been towed from Salamis Naval Base.

References

ee also

*History of the Hellenic Navy