“Great is the nation that controls the sea” is the English translation deriving from the greek maxim “
Μέγα τὸ τῆς θαλάσσης κράτος” emanating from the time of the Peloponnesian War back in antiquity, an account by Thucydides on Pericles’ oration on the eve of that great war, comes a couple of thousand of years plus before the “Britannia Rules the Waves” appeared, so you all understand its importance of this maxim.
With Anny Zade, being exceptionally this time of the year in Greece, we paid tribute on the eve of Greece’s second most important National Day / Holiday, that of the 28th of October 1940, when our forefathers and foremothers resisted the Axis powers of Darkness and responded simply with a “NO” (OXI in Greek), down town Piraeus at the Cruise Terminal / Customs area, to the Heroic Greek Navy.
Three of its ships were berthed, the missile boat “Karathanasis”, the Meko Frigate “Psara” and the submarine S -121 “Pipinos” all built in Greece’s shipyards!
We were amongst the 2,500 or so fortunate visitors who paid tribute these three days 26, 27 and 28 October whilst the ships were there..
The state of art 214 sub “Pipinos” was indeed a surprise for its “Shipshape and Bristol fashion” state/condition, as well as with its well trained and educated officers and crew, amongst them four females.
After going down the manhole (small open hatch) one the subs deck, we were guided by the second in command officer who saw us all the equipment and crew quarters. As mentioned above, a state of the art submarines built in Greece’s Hellenic Shipyard, Skaramanga Yard.
Afterwards we interviewed three members of the crew including its commander Lieutenant Commander HN Konstantinos Matzouris.
Here we go with the first interview, that of petty officer ms Anastasia Kyriakopoulou:
then another petty officer Ms Maria Rizouli:
and finally, the sub’s commander, LC HN Konstantinos Matzouris:
Afterwards, a small guests/visitors reception took place, good for networking with visitors, members of her crew and officers of the Hellenic Navy including Captain HN Nikolaos Filias, Commander of the Hellenic Navy’s Submarine Command (SBC).
And the message is clear: Training and Diversity here at its best and we shall be more than pleased to see more women in the Hellenic Navy!
Long Live Greece, Long Live the Heroic Greek Navy!
