Recognition Guide Warships of the Second World War
Hellenic Navy — Destroyer

Greek destroyer Vasilefs Georgios

G and H-class destroyer

Displacement
1,349 long tons (1,371 t)
Length
97.5 m (319.9 ft)
Beam
9.7 m (31.8 ft)
Speed
36 knots (66.7 km/h, 41.4 mph)
Complement
162
Main gun
127 mm (5 in)

Service

  1. Hellenic Navy as Vasilefs Georgios (ΒΠ Βασιλεύς Γεώργιος)15 February 1939 — 20 April 1941597 days of the war
  2. Kriegsmarine as ZG321 March 1942 — 7 May 1943412 days of the war
G and H-class destroyer Particulars
Name
Vasilefs Georgios
Namesake
King George I of Greece
Builder
Yarrow & Company, Scotstoun
Ordered
29 January 1937
Laid down
February 1937
Launched
3 March 1938
Commissioned
15 February 1939
Fate
Scuttled, 7 May 1943
Salvaged, 1943, then scrapped after 1945 (1943)
Status
Wreck

Specifications

Displacement, standard
1,349 long tons (1,371 t)
Displacement, full load
1,849 long tons (1,879 t)
Length
97.5 m (319.9 ft) OA
Beam
9.7 m (31.8 ft)
Draught
2.7 m (8.9 ft)
Speed
36 knots (66.7 km/h, 41.4 mph)
Range
3,760 nmi (6,964 km)
Complement
162
Main gun
127 mm (5 in)

Vasilefs Georgios was a G and H-class destroyer of the Hellenic Navy. She was named for King George I of Greece. Her keel was laid at Yarrow & Company, Scotstoun in February 1937. She entered service on 15 February 1939, having been launched on 3 March 1938.

23 ships of the class were built. The class followed the E and F-class destroyer and was succeeded by the I-class destroyer.

Displacement was 1,349 long tons standard and 1,849 long tons at full load. She measured 97.5 m (320 ft) long with a beam of 9.7 m (32 ft). Her designed speed was 36 knots, and she carried a complement of 162.

Her main battery was four 127 mm (5 in) guns. Her machinery developed 34,000 shp through two shafts.

She served with the Hellenic Navy as Vasilefs Georgios (ΒΠ Βασιλεύς Γεώργιος) until 20 April 1941. She then passed to the Kriegsmarine, serving as ZG3 from 21 March 1942. She was in commission for 1,009 days of the Second World War.

She was scuttled on 7 May 1943, at 36°46′N 10°21′E. The wreck survives.

Written from the harvested record. Every figure above is sourced; the wording is this site's own.

Armament and machinery

Armament and machinery
Propulsion
  • 2 shafts; 2 geared steam turbines
Power
  • 34000 shp
  • 3 Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Armament
  • 4 × single 12.7 cm guns
  • 4 × single 3.7 cm AA guns
  • 2 × quadruple 1.27 cm AA machine guns
  • 2 × quadruple 53.3 cm torpedo tubes
  • 2 × depth charge launchers and 1 depth charge rack

Sister ships

Sources