Greek destroyer Sfendoni (1907) facts for kids
Sfendoni - Α/Τ Σφενδόνη
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Quick facts for kids History |
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 Greece |
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| Name | Sfendoni |
| Namesake | slingshot |
| Ordered | 1905 |
| Builder | Yarrow Shipbuilders, Cubitt Town, London |
| Laid down | 1905 |
| Launched | 1907 |
| Commissioned | 1907 |
| Decommissioned | 1945 |
| Fate | Decommissioned after World War II |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Thyella class destroyer |
| Displacement | Standard 350 tons |
| Length | 67.1 m (220 ft) |
| Beam | 6.2 m (20 ft) |
| Draft | 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) |
| Propulsion | 2 shafts, 6,000 hp |
| Speed | 30-knot (56 km/h) maximum |
| Complement | 70 |
| Armament | Gun 2 × 3-inch (8 cm) 12-pounder Hotchkiss Single & Gun 2 × 57-millimetre (2 in) 6-pounder 40cal Hotchkiss QF Single |
The Sfendoni (which means "Sling" in Greek) was a special type of fast warship called a destroyer. It was part of the Thyella class of ships. The Sfendoni served in the Royal Hellenic Navy (the Greek Navy) from 1907 to 1945. It was the first destroyer in the Greek Navy to have this name.
Building the Sfendoni
The Sfendoni was one of four ships ordered by Greece in 1905. It was built in the UK by a company called Yarrow Shipbuilders. The shipyard was located in Cubitt Town, London.
Serving in World War I
During World War I, Greece first tried to stay neutral. Because of this, the four Thyella class ships, including Sfendoni, were taken by the Allies in October 1916. The French Navy then used them from 1917 to 1918. By 1918, the ships were back with the Greek Navy. They helped protect other ships, mostly in the Aegean Sea. The Sfendoni also took part in the Greco-Turkish War (1919-1922).
Sfendoni in World War II
When Italy declared war in World War II, the Sfendoni was very busy. It worked in the northern Ionian Sea and the strait of Otranto. Its main job was to protect cargo ships. These ships carried important supplies like ammunition, fuel, and food for the Allied forces.
Between these escort missions, the Sfendoni also took part in small attack operations. The Greek Navy did not lose any ships during these actions. In April 1941, Germany invaded Greece. Many Greek warships were lost. However, the Sfendoni managed to escape. It sailed with other remaining Greek ships to Alexandria, Egypt. There, it served under British command for the rest of the war. After World War II ended, the Sfendoni was taken out of service.
See also
