On Tuesday, July 04, 2023, two of the four “ISLAND”-type coastal patrol vessels arrived at the Salamis Naval Station from the commercial port of Keratsini.

According to decision number 69, of the 24th meeting of the Supreme Naval Council’s plenary session on Monday 03 July 2023, the names of the four “ISLAND”-type Coastal Patrol Boats, which are to join the Hellenic Navy, will be as follows:

• No1: P197 – JUNIOR PETTY OFFICER B’ MADOUVALOS IOANNIS
• No2: P198 – JUNIOR PETTY OFFICER A’ GALANIS GEORGIOS
• No3: P288 – JUNIOR PETTY OFFICER B’ LIASKOS ANTONIOS
• No4: P289 – CHIEF PETTY OFFICER GIALOPSOS EKTORAS

Fallen heroes of the Hellenic Navy in World War II

Junior Petty Officer B’ (Engineer) Ioannis Mandouvalos, son of Michael (93750), was born in Ano Boularios, Laconia in 1913. He went missing on August 15, 1940, while the “ELLI” cruiser was under a torpedo attack and sank at the port of Tinos by the Italian Submarine “DELPHINO”. During the torpedo’s attack, Mandouvalos, together with 3 Sailors, was on duty/shift in the stokehold, which was immediately hit.

He was dismembered and killed instantly, declared missing, and can be considered to be the first casualty of World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (B.D.16.09.47) “for serving in the Royal Navy during the late war, he went missing on active duty”.

Junior Petty Officer B’ (Gunner) Liaskos Antonios, son of Georgios (43894), was born in Athens in 1916. He went missing on September 26, 1943, when the Destroyer “VASILISSA OLGA” was attacked by the German Air Force and sank at the port of Leros, Dodecanese.

As a Junior Petty Officer B’ and a member of the crew of the “VASILISSA OLGA” Destroyer, he demonstrated special skills as a gunner by achieving great damage to the enemy Italian Destroyer “CASTORE” since, at the most critical moment of the engagement, he was ready to disconnect his gun from the controller, with his shots rendering the vessel unable to continue fighting.

He was awarded the Medal of Outstanding Actions (B.D. 4.08.43) “for the outstanding action he demonstrated on the “VASILISSA OLGA” Destroyer during the night of 1/6/43 succeeding in sinking enemy ships and receiving the congratulations of the heads of the Greek and English Authorities.” He was promoted to Junior Petty Officer A’ by absolute election (B.D 5.08.43) “because as Chief of Gunnery C” of the VASILISSA OLGA Destroyer, he opened fire – at his own initiative – on the enemy Italian Destroyer “CASTORE”, noting two successful shots, causing its immobilization.”

He was promoted (B.D. 7.10.43) as Petty Officer “killed during the action of “VASILISSA OLGA” on 26/09/43”. He was awarded the Military Cross Class 3 (B.D. 15.10.43) “for the heroism, self-sacrifice, and bravery he displayed throughout the war, gloriously killed during the sinking of the “VASILISSA OLGA” Destroyer on 26/9/43 in Leros bay under German aircraft”.

Junior Petty Officer A’ Galanis George, son of Stylianos (10839), was born in Plomari, Lesbos in 1915. He went missing on October 22, 1943, when the destroyer “ADRIAS”, operating in the Dodecanese region near Kalymnos, collided with a mine and the explosion cut off its bow. As a Junior Petty Officer A’ and a member of the “ADRIAS” crew, he demonstrated self-sacrifice during his engagement with enemy Torpedo Boats, while he was also the ship’s oldest Petty Officer who fell during the fatal impact of the ship.

He was awarded the Distinguished Actions Medal (B.D. 5.10.43) “for the exceptional conduct and heroism he demonstrated during the engagement of the “ADRIAS” after enemy torpedoes on the night of 20-21/07/1942.” He was promoted (B.D. 4.12.43) to the rank of Chief Petty Officer who “lost his life during the explosion that took place due to the collision of “ADRIAS” on a mine on 21/10/1943”.

Fallen in Imia (1996)

The Chief Petty Officer Gialopsos Ektoras, son of Vassilis (AM Y-1581), was born in Athens in 1966. He enlisted in the Petty Officer Academy of the Hellenic Navy (SMYN) as a Probationary Non-Commissioned Officer on 9/9/1985. He was named Cadet Petty Officer on 11/7/86, Petty Officer on 9/9/88, Petty Officer on 26/9/90, and Chief Petty Officer on 26/9/93. He received an AN AQS-13B Helicopter Maintenance and an Operator Certificate on 20/3/95.

Ektoras Gialopsos was a member of the three-member crew of the 212 Agusta Bell aircraft, which crashed during the events of Imia on January 31, 1996.

He was promoted to the Rank of Warrant Officer 188020 (Law 1911/90 par. 2, article 22 in conjunction with article 7 of Legislative Decree no. 445/74) “as he lost his life during the fall of the Helicopter in the sea area of ​​the Eastern Aegean.” He was promoted to the Rank of Captain (Government Gazette 514/07-07-02009) “since he manifestly and undeniably lost his life during the execution of high-risk service.”

Source: hellenicnavy.gr

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