20 March 2026 | Defence
The Hellenic Navy frigate Themistokles (F465) was officially decommissioned on Friday, marking the end of an operational career spanning 45 years at sea.
Originally launched as Philips van Almonde, the ninth vessel of the Dutch-built Kortenaer-class, the ship was acquired by Greece in 2003 from the Royal Netherlands Navy. She was commissioned into Hellenic Navy service the same year and renamed Themistokles, continuing a long tradition of naming warships after historic Greek figures.
Over the decades, Themistokles played a key role in safeguarding Greece’s maritime interests, operating extensively in the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. The frigate also contributed to several international missions, including KEDROS and MAROPS in Lebanon, NATO’s Operation Allied Provider off the coast of Somalia, and the European Union’s Operation IRINI enforcing the arms embargo on Libya.
Naval officials highlighted the vessel’s longevity and operational contribution, noting that it served during a period of evolving regional security challenges and increasing demands on naval forces.
The decommissioning comes as part of the Hellenic Navy’s broader modernization program. Themistokles is being replaced by the new Kimon-class frigate, which arrived in Greece in early January and has already commenced operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, including deployments around Cyprus.
The retirement of Themistokles marks the closing of a significant chapter in the Hellenic Navy’s history, as one of its longest-serving frigates passes into legacy status.
greekcitytimes.com.
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