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.Blogger Tips and Tricks
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, January 13, 2013

Mali Islamists' fighting strength...[ 3034 ]


France surprised by Mali Islamists' fighting strength

The pilot of a French Mirage 2000D jet sits in the cockpit at a base in Ndjamena, Chad, 12 January 
 France has deployed Mirage jets in Mali
 BBC / 13 January 2013 Last updated at 16:07 GMT

France has expressed surprise at the fighting strength of Islamists in Mali, as Paris widened its bombing of militant targets.
A presidential official in Paris said the militants were "well-trained" and "well-armed", the AFP news agency says.
The Islamists had acquired up-to-date and sophisticated weaponry after the Libya conflict, the official added.
France said the rebels had significant" casualties, as it reportedly began bombing the eastern town of Gao.
A resident of the town was quoted by the AFP agency as saying all Islamist bases in Gao had been destroyed and the militants had fled.
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Speaking Earlier, Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said attacks were continuing as part of an offensive to drive back Islamist militants who still control large swathes of northern Mali.
"There were [air strikes] last night, there are now and there will be today and tomorrow," the minister said.
France's decision to intervene took many by surprise. A UN-backed international force had not been expected to deploy in the west African state until the autumn.
But last week, the Islamist fighters pushed further south, seizing the strategically important town of Konna. The town has since been recaptured by Malian troops.
The unnamed Elysee Palace official quoted by AFP said on Sunday that French armed forces had been surprised by the fighting quality of the Islamist militants they were up against.
"What has really struck us is how up-to-date their equipment is, and the way they've been trained to use it," the official said.
"At the start, we thought they would be just a load of guys with guns driving about in their pick-ups, but the reality is that they are well-trained, well-equipped, and well-armed.
"From Libya they have got hold of a lot of up-to-date, sophisticated equipment which is much more robust and effective than we could have imagined."
The French contingent is set to be joined by troops from the neighbouring African states of Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo, some of which are expected to arrive in Mali within days.
Islamist groups are still holding several French hostages and have threatened reprisals against them and other French targets. This prompted the French government to step up security across the country on Saturday.


French hostages still held in Africa


  • Pierre Legrand, 26, Daniel Larribe, 59, Thierry Dole, 29, and Marc Feret, 43, were kidnapped in northern Niger in 2010 by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
  • Philippe Verdon and Serge Lazarevic, were kidnapped in northern Mali in November 2011 by AQIM.
  • Gilberto Rodriguez Leal, 61, was kidnapped in western Mali in November 2012 by the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao).
  • Francis Collomp, 63, was kidnapped in Nigeria by Islamist group Ansaru.
'Child deaths'
"Our intervention is ongoing and we will continue in order to make them [Islamist fighters] retreat and allow Malian and African forces to go forward and re-establish the territorial integrity of the country," Mr Le Drian said on Sunday.
A spokesman for the Ansar Dine Islamist group was quoted as saying that the French attacks had focused on three areas: Konna, Douentza and Lere.

A French soldier patrols in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Photo: 13 January 2013  
Security has been stepped up across France
Since the start of the French intervention on Friday, at least 11 Malian soldiers and a French helicopter pilot have been killed.
Human Rights Watch believes 10 civilians, including three children, died in Konna as Malian forces fought to recapture the town.
A Malian army officer said on Saturday he believed more than 100 militants had been killed.
France's military effort in its former colony has been supported by the US and UK, which is offering assistance with transport.
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