Y-1 Katsonis (Greek: Y-1 Κατσώνης) was a Greek submarine active during the Second World War. Katsonis, together with her sister ship, Papanikolis, formed the first class of Greek submarines ordered after the First World War. The submarine was built at the Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde shipyard, in Bordeaux, between 1925 and 1927, and commissioned into the Hellenic Navy on 8 June 1928. Her first captain was Cdr Κ. Arvanitis.[1][2]
Under the command of Cdr Athanasios Spanidis, Katsonis participated in the 1940-41 Greco-Italian War, carrying out four war patrols, and sinking one vessel, the 531-ton Italian freighter Quinto, on 31 December 1940. After the German invasion of April 1941, together with the rest of the fleet, Katsonis fled to the Middle East, from where she would operate during the next years, with the British pennant number N 16. On 2 July 1942, she was damaged while exiting a dry dock at Port Said.
After overhaul, under the command of Cdr. Vasileios Laskos, she went on further three patrols in the Aegean. During these patrols, Katsonis ambushed and sank an Italian minelayer in the port of Gytheio on 2 April 1943, the Spanish 535-ton merchant vessel San Isidoro off Kythnos three days later, and the freighter Rigel near Skiathos on 29 May.[3] On 14 September however, while trying to intercept a German troop transport, she was attacked and sunk by the German submarine chaser UJ-2101 (ex Greek mine sweeper Strymon, Cdr Kptlt. Friedrich Vollheim).
After being spotted on the surface, the Katsonis dived, but after depthcharging she was forced to surface and continued fighting with her deck gun. Finally UJ-2101 rammed the submarine.[4]
32 men of the crew, including Cdr Laskos, went down with her, and 15 were captured. Among them was Konstantinos Stamoulis, a survivor who was considered dead for decades. However, Lt Elias Tsoukalas, the ship's XO, and petty officers Antonios Antoniou and Anastasios Tsigros, managed to swim for 9 hours and reach Skiathos. There they hid and managed to return to Egypt and rejoin the Greek fleet.[5]
Patrol historyedit
In all, Katsonis' career in World War II encompassed seven patrols and four ships sunk:[6]
Patrol No.
Dates
Ships sunk
Patrol area
Duration in hours (surfaced/submerged)
1
3–10 Nov 1940
Adriatic Sea
216 (132/84)
2
22 Dec 1940 – 4 Jan 1941
petrol carrier Quinto
Adriatic Sea
312 (180/132)
3
14–21 Feb 1941
Adriatic Sea
168 (108/60)
4
24 Mar 1941 – 1 Apr 1941
Adriatic Sea
216 (132/84)
5
28 Mar 1943 – 10 Apr 1943
1 German minelayer, freighter San Isidoro, 2 schooners
Aegean Sea/Crete
408 (170/238)
6
21 May 1943 – 4 Jun 1943
freighter Rigel
Aegean Sea
456 (86/270)
7
5–14 Sep 1943
Aegean Sea
212 (107/105)
Rediscoveryedit
In July 2016 the wreck was located by Greek's Navy Oceanographic vessel HS Naftilos A-478 (Υ/Γ-Ω/Κ Ναυτίλος). She lies off the coast of Skiathos at a depth of 170 m.[7]
A memorial to the submarine and its crew stands on shore at the old port in Skiathos town. Remembrance services are held annually.
Referencesedit
^Griechische Schiffsverluste, Das Historische Marinearchiv
^(in Greek)Greek submarines: 110 years of history from the ΠΤΗΣΗ magazine, issue 135, May 1996
^(in Greek)The Greek submarines in World War II, by Cdre (ret.) N. Damvergis
^"(Greek) History of Hellenic RN Submarine Katsonis. Text by Ιωάννης Σ. Θεοδωράτος (Ioannis Theodoratos) republished in onalert.gr". onalert.gr. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
^Historical summary from the Hellenic Navy website 2011-05-16 at the Wayback Machine
^(in Greek) Hellenic Navy - Y-1 Katsonis 2009-07-28 at the Wayback Machine
^"Σκιάθος: Βρέθηκε το υποβρύχιο Κατσώνης που βυθίστηκε το 1943". onalert.gr. 7 July 2016. Retrieved 2016-07-07.
External linksedit
Detailed operational record of Y-1 Katsonis
RHS Katsonis (Y-1) at uboat.net
Submarine Katsonis From the Greek's Navy website (in Greek)
March 17, 2024
greek, submarine, katsonis, other, ships, with, same, name, greek, ship, katsonis, katsonis, greek, Κατσώνης, greek, submarine, active, during, second, world, katsonis, together, with, sister, ship, papanikolis, formed, first, class, greek, submarines, ordered. For other ships with the same name see Greek ship Katsonis Y 1 Katsonis Greek Y 1 Katswnhs was a Greek submarine active during the Second World War Katsonis together with her sister ship Papanikolis formed the first class of Greek submarines ordered after the First World War The submarine was built at the Forges et Chantiers de la Gironde shipyard in Bordeaux between 1925 and 1927 and commissioned into the Hellenic Navy on 8 June 1928 Her first captain was Cdr K Arvanitis 1 2 HistoryGreeceNameKatsonis Greek Y 1 Katswnhs NamesakeLambros KatsonisBuilderForges et Chantiers de la GirondeLaid down1925Launched20 March 1926Commissioned8 June 1928FateSunk 14 September 1943NotesHistorical summary from the Hellenic Navy websiteGeneral characteristicsClass and typeKatsonis class submarineDisplacementsurfaced 576 tons submerged 775 tonsLength62 5 m 205 ft Beam5 3Draft3 6 m 12 ft Propulsionone 1 300 hp 970 kW diesel engine one 1 000 hp 750 kW electric engineSpeedsurfaced 14 knots 26 km h 16 mph submerged 9 knots 17 km h 10 mph Complement30Armament2 21 inch 533 mm internal bow T T 2 21 inch 533 mm external bow T T 2 21 inch 533 mm external stern T T 1 100 mm gun 2 MGs Contents 1 Service history 1 1 Patrol history 2 Rediscovery 3 Tradition 4 References 5 External linksService history editUnder the command of Cdr Athanasios Spanidis Katsonis participated in the 1940 41 Greco Italian War carrying out four war patrols and sinking one vessel the 531 ton Italian freighter Quinto on 31 December 1940 After the German invasion of April 1941 together with the rest of the fleet Katsonis fled to the Middle East from where she would operate during the next years with the British pennant number N 16 On 2 July 1942 she was damaged while exiting a dry dock at Port Said After overhaul under the command of Cdr Vasileios Laskos she went on further three patrols in the Aegean During these patrols Katsonis ambushed and sank an Italian minelayer in the port of Gytheio on 2 April 1943 the Spanish 535 ton merchant vessel San Isidoro off Kythnos three days later and the freighter Rigel near Skiathos on 29 May 3 On 14 September however while trying to intercept a German troop transport she was attacked and sunk by the German submarine chaser UJ 2101 ex Greek mine sweeper Strymon Cdr Kptlt Friedrich Vollheim After being spotted on the surface the Katsonis dived but after depthcharging she was forced to surface and continued fighting with her deck gun Finally UJ 2101 rammed the submarine 4 32 men of the crew including Cdr Laskos went down with her and 15 were captured Among them was Konstantinos Stamoulis a survivor who was considered dead for decades However Lt Elias Tsoukalas the ship s XO and petty officers Antonios Antoniou and Anastasios Tsigros managed to swim for 9 hours and reach Skiathos There they hid and managed to return to Egypt and rejoin the Greek fleet 5 Patrol history edit In all Katsonis career in World War II encompassed seven patrols and four ships sunk 6 Patrol No Dates Ships sunk Patrol area Duration in hours surfaced submerged 1 3 10 Nov 1940 Adriatic Sea 216 132 84 2 22 Dec 1940 4 Jan 1941 petrol carrier Quinto Adriatic Sea 312 180 132 3 14 21 Feb 1941 Adriatic Sea 168 108 60 4 24 Mar 1941 1 Apr 1941 Adriatic Sea 216 132 84 5 28 Mar 1943 10 Apr 1943 1 German minelayer freighter San Isidoro 2 schooners Aegean Sea Crete 408 170 238 6 21 May 1943 4 Jun 1943 freighter Rigel Aegean Sea 456 86 270 7 5 14 Sep 1943 Aegean Sea 212 107 105 Rediscovery editIn July 2016 the wreck was located by Greek s Navy Oceanographic vessel HS Naftilos A 478 Y G W K Naytilos She lies off the coast of Skiathos at a depth of 170 m 7 Tradition editThe submarine was named after the 18th century Greek naval hero admiral Lambros Katsonis The name Katsonis has been given to three other Greek ships a Town class light cruiser that was taken over by the Royal Navy during World War I as HMS Chester the Tench class submarine Katsonis II and the modern Type 214 submarine Katsonis S 123 III A memorial to the submarine and its crew stands on shore at the old port in Skiathos town Remembrance services are held annually References edit Griechische Schiffsverluste Das Historische Marinearchiv in Greek Greek submarines 110 years of history from the PTHSH magazine issue 135 May 1996 in Greek The Greek submarines in World War II by Cdre ret N Damvergis Greek History of Hellenic RN Submarine Katsonis Text by Iwannhs S 8eodwratos Ioannis Theodoratos republished in onalert gr onalert gr 7 July 2016 Retrieved 2016 07 07 Historical summary from the Hellenic Navy website Archived 2011 05 16 at the Wayback Machine in Greek Hellenic Navy Y 1 Katsonis Archived 2009 07 28 at the Wayback Machine Skia8os Bre8hke to ypobryxio Katswnhs poy by8isthke to 1943 onalert gr 7 July 2016 Retrieved 2016 07 07 External links editDetailed operational record of Y 1 Katsonis RHS Katsonis Y 1 at uboat net Submarine Katsonis From the Greek s Navy website in Greek Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Greek submarine Katsonis Y 1 amp oldid 1155958852, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
