Hellenic Navy

The Hellenic Navy (HN; Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, romanized: Polemikó Naftikó, lit. 'War Navy', abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece and one of three branches of the Hellenic Armed Forces where they use the prefix HS (Hellenic ship). The modern Greek navy historically hails from the naval forces of various Aegean Islands that fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the monarchic period (1833–1924 and 1936–1973), it was known as the Royal Hellenic Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ). The Hellenic Navy is a green-water navy. The total displacement of the fleet is approximately 150,000 tons. The HN also operates a number of naval aviation units. The motto of the Hellenic Navy roughly translates to "Great is the nation that controls the sea", from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. The motto is written across the top of the emblem.