The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". 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. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.

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This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Sunday, August 16, 2009

British killed in Afghanistan since 2001[ 339 ]

British death toll in Afghanistan passes 200

KABUL, Afghanistan (CNN) -16-08-09

Two soldiers wounded by explosions in southern Afghanistan have died , bringing to 201 the number of British troops killed in the country since 2001, officials said Sunday.

A casket containing the body of a British serviceman is carried at a ceremony in the UK.

A casket containing the body of a British serviceman is carried at a ceremony in the UK.

The first soldier, who was wounded while on car patrol in Helmand province on Thursday, died at a hospital in Britain, the Ministry of Defence said Sunday. He was a member of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh.

The second soldier was with the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers. He was killed while on foot patrol in Helmand, officials said.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth called the number a "grim" milestone.

"We mourn every single one of them, as we mourn the lives of those from our partners within NATO and the Afghan national Security Forces," Ainsworth said.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown also pledged to push on with the "vital" mission, calling the death toll "deeply tragic".

"In these moments of sorrow and sadness, we must never forget why we are in Afghanistan and why people are making the sacrifice that they are making," he said, according to the UK Press Association.

"Three-quarters of the terrorist plots that hit Britain derive from the mountain areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan and it is to make Britain safe and the rest of the world safe that we must make sure we honor our commitment to maintain a stable Afghanistan."

British troops have been in Afghanistan since the U.S.-led invasion started in 2001.

This summer has been the bloodiest in the country, particularly in troubled Helmand province, where United States, British and Afghan troops have been fighting Taliban militants. Security in the area has been bolstered ahead of the August 20 presidential election.

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