Shipbucket

When searching in Russia for ships in mid to late 1990's, HCPR did found one which would become IB Hercules and looked also for a diesel IB. All they found were or in too bad condition or too large, so HCPR search for another options available. An unfinished hull finally purchased from Salide in very good price in 2001 and towed to Perama (an area near Piraeus with many shipyards) for finishing. She was completed in 2003 and commissioned in late that year, named IB Hermione Delarova II, named from the firstborn of Eustratii Delaroff four children, Hermione, who took over management of HCPR from her father in 1970 until her death by cancer in 1999.

Dimensions are identical with Salidan IB Tir Bauth and Texan IB Augustin Munoz, but displaces a bit more (13,400 tn). Except for some minor differences in aesthetics, IB Hermione has different engines (4 x 3,900 hp 8cyl Hellenic origin GENME built in Piraeus) and larger, strengthened helipad to allow landing of AS-332C1(P). Speed and range are also identical with sisters.

Why would the Greeks need an icebreaker?!

There is a research center for polar research and has research stations in Svalbard and Antarctica. HCPR means Hellenic Center for Polar Research (AU Institute, I was fascinated for Poles since I was kid) .Look in previous pages for some info.

HCPR own three ships and a fleet of fix wing aircraft and helicopters, all modified for used in extreme cold conditions.

Olympic Aviation (AU) is a subsidiary company of Olympic Airways (AU) established in 1971 -like in real life- to provide domestic flights in mainland and islands. The company used SA-321F helicopters, NAMC YS-11A, then purchased DHC Dash 7 and DHC-8-100/400. Airports were built in many islands from 1970's, divided in 2 types. The first type (large islands except Crete) has airstrip long enough for medium aircraft (e.g B737, A320 family etc) and the second (several smaller islands) is designed for smaller turboprop aircraft. Crete, although being an island, has a much larger airport designed for accepting international flights as well.

And the template with the equipment of Hellenic Center for Polar Research, including aircraft, vehicles and hovercraft.

Nice updates! Keep up the good work!

Good work. Nice to see this AU going.

With this small torpedo boat we travel back in time, in 1940. Italy had the MAS451/501 small MTB, and HLK has also an equivalent vessel, the Zeis LMTB (Light Motor Torpedo Boat). Designed by Alcibiades Zeis, was the successor of British CMB 55' MTB, of which RHN bought total 20 (10 from Grat Britain and 10 more licensed made in HLK. Zeis shipyard located in Lavrio was the larger of several small shipyards in Attica building wooden speedboats similar with US Chris Craft, Garwood etc. First appeared in 1937, the Zeis LMTB was developed to replace the CMB in RHN service. She was a bit larger than its Italian counterpart, powered by twin McDowall MachineWorks V12 petrol engines - a derivative of French Hispano Suiza 12Y aircraft engine. With 1,700 hp she reached 40 kn in trails and with 2,000 hp and different props more than 43kn. She was an all wooden vessel, with a hydroplane type hull, originally designed by Alcibiades Zeis for racing speedboats in late 1920's. RHN was indeed interested and ordered the type in 1939. An enlarged variant was developed in 1941, armed with longer torpedoes and greater range. Also range was greater than Italian MAS, due to larger fuel capacity.

1939 model (as ordered by RHN)

Dimensions 18,5 x 4,8 (m)
Displacement : 21 tn
Propulsion : 2 x 1,000 hp McDowall MachineWorks V12 petrol engines + 2 x 80 hp Ford Flathead V8 (built by Kontellis factory in Patra in V8-78 variant)
Armament : 1 x Vickers Class D 0,5" machine gun or 13,2mm Hotchkiss, 1 or 2 x 8mm machine guns, 2 x 450mm torpedoes
Speed : Max 43,5 kn (with auxiliary engines 7 kn)

1941 model

Dimensions 19,5 x 5,0 (m)
Displacement : 22,5 tn
Propulsion : 2 x 1,150-1,200 hp McDowall MachineWorks V12 petrol engines + 2 x 100 hp Ford/Jen V8 (a innovative OHC conversion)
Armament : 1 x Vickers Class D 0,5" machine gun or a 13,2 mm Hotchkiss, 1 or 2 x 8mm machine guns, 2 x 450 mm torpedoes
Speed : Max ~45 kn (with auxiliary engines 7,5 kn)

The Jen conversion was similar with the C-T/Adams Moeller and the Davies conversions (see link), but with 2 camshafts only in intake side and horizontal rods to operate the exhaust valves. In other words, similar with Alfa Romeo Busso 12-valve V-6 but upside down and with shaft drive camshafts,which originally developed before WW2 but did not raced. The Jen V8 continued in production long after the war, until well into the 1970's, but this is another story. The WW2 built Jen V8 had only a single carburetor and chain drive, while its was more efficient than the original flathead. Post war engines were also chain drive, in SOHC and DOHC variants.

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-tool ... head/30958

What class is that the original ones from Navarchos

CMB55 class were the original from Navarchos. These, although similar are quite different in detail. Both have hydroplane hull.