Hellenic Naval Academy

The Hellenic Naval Academy has always been the cradle of systematic academic education and naval training of prospective Hellenic Navy Officers. In the brief history that follows the milestones in the historical course of the Academy from the establishment of the new Greek state to our times will be briefly mentioned. First period of the establishment and operation of the Academy (1845-1854) The beginning of the operation of the Hellenic Naval Academy dates back to the first decades after the National Restoration on 24th November 1845 aboard the corvette LOUDOVIKOS upon the decision of the 1821 sea-battle hero Admiral Konstantinos Kanaris, who was then Minister of Marine Affairs /Minister of the Navy. Unfortunately, from the very beginning there had been friction caused by a personality clash and different mentality between the Captain of the corvette Capt. Rafail and the Executive Officer, Lieut. Palaskas , both of whom were otherwise officers of great caliber. When the Ministry was informed of the problems that had arisen, it sought a solution by sending guidelines to the Captain and proceeding to the establishment of a Naval Institute under the administration of Lieut. Palaskas, a move that turned out to be fruitless. The granting of Lieut. Palaskas’ request that he be transferred led to the dissolution of the Naval Institute in 1854. The Naval Academy aboard ATHENA, MESSOLONGI and ARES (1862-1884) visional government, which was formed because of the abnormal political situation that followed King Otto’s fall and eviction, proceeded to the impromptu establishment of a Naval School aboard the steam frigate HELLAS. Lieutenant Commander Koumelas, who served at the Nafstathmos (Naval Base), was appointed Head of the School. However, the operation of the Naval School was suspended due to administrative problems. Seven months later aboard the brig ATHENA it was decided that the Naval School should resume its operation. Nevertheless, that period was characterized by serious organization deficiencies, closely related to the prevailing administrative, institutional and organizational disorder and instability of the Greek society in those times. Within this unstable framework, the Naval School was transferred to the corvette MESSOLONGI, formerly named LOUDOVIKOS, without there being room for serious organizational and administrative improvements. The Naval School stopped operating in September 1871 although there had never been a formal repeal. Ten years later, in 1882, a Naval School was re-established, this time aboard the ARES but in December 1884 it was dissolved due to the establishment of the Hellenic Naval Academy aboard the steam frigate HELLAS.