For other ships with the same name, see ARA Tucumán.
The ship, along with her three sister shipsIerax, Panthir and Aetos, had originally been ordered by Argentina from the English shipyard Cammell Laird in Birkenhead. Leon was originally named Tucumán. They were purchased in 1912 by Greece, ready for delivery, each for the sum of £148,000, when the Balkan Wars seemed likely.
Service historyedit
During the Balkan Wars, the Royal Hellenic Navy purchased only the minimum amount of ammunition, 3,000 rounds. Torpedoes were not available for this class of ship, and for this reason these ships were initially named 'scouts' rather than 'destroyers'. Leon was in action during the Balkan Wars under Lieutenant Commander J. Razikotsikas, also on board was Squadron Commander Lieutenant Commander D. Papachristos.
During World War I, Greece belatedly entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente and, due to Greece's neutrality the four Aetos-class ships were seized by the Allies in October 1916, taken over by the French in November, and served in the French Navy from 1917-18. By 1918, they were back on escort duty under Greek colors, and was in action blockading the coasts of the Black Sea from Bosphorus up to Trebizond.
On 22 December 1921, while moored with Ierax in Piraeus harbour they were both severely damaged by the explosion of a depth charge which the crew of Leon was transporting. Two officers, one petty officer and two sailors were killed on Leon and two sailors on Ierax. Leon completely lost her aft section up to her stern gun.[1]
After the war, Leon was refurbished from 1925–1927. She also participated in the Second World War, On 18 April 1941, during a convoy escort, she collided with the passenger ship Ardena followed by the explosion of two depth charges. As a result, her stern section was cut off and two officers were killed. She was finally sunk by German bombers on 15 May 1941, in Souda Bay (Crete) where she had been towed from Salamis Naval Base.
^. Archived from the original on 22 October 2006. Retrieved 31 October 2006.
External linksedit
A History of Greek Military Equipment (1821-today): Destroyer Leon II
January 01, 1970
greek, destroyer, leon, 1912, other, ships, with, same, name, greek, ship, leon, leon, greek, ΒΠ, Λέων, lion, aetos, class, destroyer, which, served, royal, hellenic, navy, from, 1912, 1941, destroyer, leonhistory, greece, nameleon, ΒΠ, Λέων, namesakelion, ord. For other ships with the same name see Greek ship Leon Leon Greek BP Lewn Lion was an Aetos class destroyer which served in the Royal Hellenic Navy from 1912 1941 Destroyer LeonHistory Greece NameLeon BP Lewn Namesakelion Ordered1912 BuilderCammell Laird Birkenhead Laid down1911 Launched1 July 1911 Commissioned1912 Decommissioned15 May 1941 FateSunk at Souda Bay Crete 1941 General characteristics Class and typeAetos class destroyer Displacement880 tons standard Length89 4 m 293 ft Beam8 3 m 27 ft Draft3 m 9 8 ft Propulsion5 Foster Wheeler boilers 4 coal fired and 1 oil fired replaced by Yarrow oil fired boilers in 1925 5 funnels combined Parsons and Curtis steam turbines Speed31 knots 57 km h maximum 32 knots 59 km h after 1925 Complement58 ArmamentAs completed 4 4 in 100 mm 50 guns 1 3 in 76 mm anti aircraft gun 6 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes 3 electric search lights 1925 76 2 mm gun removed 37 mm anti aircraft gun added four barrel 40 mm 1 6 in gun added 2 mortars added Modified for laying 40 mines 1942 3rd and 4th stern torpedo launchers removed 1 3 inch 76 mm anti aircraft gun added 1 20 mm Oerlikon gun added A S type 123A detection device added Contents 1 Origin 2 Service history 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOrigin editFor other ships with the same name see ARA Tucuman The ship along with her three sister ships Ierax Panthir and Aetos had originally been ordered by Argentina from the English shipyard Cammell Laird in Birkenhead Leon was originally named Tucuman They were purchased in 1912 by Greece ready for delivery each for the sum of 148 000 when the Balkan Wars seemed likely Service history editDuring the Balkan Wars the Royal Hellenic Navy purchased only the minimum amount of ammunition 3 000 rounds Torpedoes were not available for this class of ship and for this reason these ships were initially named scouts rather than destroyers Leon was in action during the Balkan Wars under Lieutenant Commander J Razikotsikas also on board was Squadron Commander Lieutenant Commander D Papachristos During World War I Greece belatedly entered the war on the side of the Triple Entente and due to Greece s neutrality the four Aetos class ships were seized by the Allies in October 1916 taken over by the French in November and served in the French Navy from 1917 18 By 1918 they were back on escort duty under Greek colors and was in action blockading the coasts of the Black Sea from Bosphorus up to Trebizond On 22 December 1921 while moored with Ierax in Piraeus harbour they were both severely damaged by the explosion of a depth charge which the crew of Leon was transporting Two officers one petty officer and two sailors were killed on Leon and two sailors on Ierax Leon completely lost her aft section up to her stern gun 1 After the war Leon was refurbished from 1925 1927 She also participated in the Second World War On 18 April 1941 during a convoy escort she collided with the passenger ship Ardena followed by the explosion of two depth charges As a result her stern section was cut off and two officers were killed She was finally sunk by German bombers on 15 May 1941 in Souda Bay Crete where she had been towed from Salamis Naval Base See also editHistory of the Hellenic NavyReferences edit HELLENIC NAVY LEON D 50 Archived from the original on 22 October 2006 Retrieved 31 October 2006 External links editA History of Greek Military Equipment 1821 today Destroyer Leon II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greek destroyer Leon 1912 amp oldid 1088327104, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
