VLACHAKOS – P79

Seventh and Final Hellenic Navy Roussen / Super Vita-Class Fast Attack Missile Craft

HS VLACHAKOS (P79) is the seventh and final Roussen-class / Super Vita fast attack missile craft constructed for the Hellenic Navy.

Built at Elefsis Shipyards, the vessel entered Hellenic Navy service on:

30 August 2022.

The official naming ceremony followed on:

29 September 2022.

The ship was named in honour of:

Lieutenant Panagiotis Vlachakos

who was killed during the Imia crisis on 31 January 1996 when Hellenic Navy AB-212 helicopter PN-21 crashed while carrying out an operational mission.

Vessel Details

Name: HS VLACHAKOS

Pennant Number: P79

Type: Fast Attack Missile Craft

Class: Roussen / Super Vita

Navy: Hellenic Navy

Builder: Elefsis Shipyards, Greece

Design: Vosper Thornycroft Super Vita

Entered Service: 30 August 2022

Naming Ceremony: 29 September 2022

Length: 61.9 m

Beam: 9.5 m

Draught: 2.74 m

Displacement: 668 t

Accommodation: 45 persons

Maximum Speed: 36 knots

Main Engines: 4 × MTU 16V595 TE90

Power: 5,875 hp per engine

Current Status: Active.

Eight Exocet Missiles

VLACHAKOS carries:

8 × EXOCET MM40 Block 2 / Block 3 anti-ship missiles.

This gives a 62-metre vessel an exceptionally heavy anti-surface punch.

RAM

The vessel is also fitted with:

1 × RAM launcher carrying 21 missiles.

The Rolling Airframe Missile system provides close-range protection against:

anti-ship missiles,

aircraft,

and other aerial threats.

Gun Armament

Gun armament comprises:

1 × OTO Melara 76 mm Super Rapid

and:

2 × OTO Breda 30 mm guns.

36 Knots – Not 35

The old short description gives:

35 knots.

The Hellenic Navy's current official specification gives:

36 knots.

That should be corrected in the updated page.

Final Roussen-Class Vessel

VLACHAKOS completed a Greek programme that ultimately produced seven ships:

ROUSSEN,

DANIolos,

KRYSTALLIDIS,

GRIGOROPOULOS,

RITSOS,

KARATHANASIS,

and:

VLACHAKOS.

The class today represents the most powerful missile-craft component of the Hellenic Navy.

PiraeuShips Record

VLACHAKOS (P79) was recorded by PiraeuShips during the early career of the seventh and final Roussen-class fast attack missile craft of the Hellenic Navy. Built at Elefsis Shipyards to the Vosper Thornycroft Super Vita design and commissioned in August 2022, the 61.9-metre vessel combines a maximum speed of 36 knots with an unusually heavy weapons fit for her size: eight Exocet MM40 anti-ship missiles, a 21-cell RAM close-in defence system, a 76 mm Super Rapid gun and twin 30 mm weapons. Named in honour of Lieutenant Panagiotis Vlachakos, who was killed during the Imia crisis in January 1996, P79 represents the culmination of the Hellenic Navy's modern fast-attack-craft programme.

Original video footage © PiraeuShips. All rights reserved.