Armoured Cruiser Georgios Averof to sail again?

[Killingholme]

From Ship's Monthly

 

 

Ambitious plans to restore the Greek armoured cruiser Georgios Averof to seagoing condition have been unveiled by shipowner Alexandros Goulandris. It is a massive undertaking, as the former fl eet fl agship, which is moored at Palaio Faliro near Athens, was retired from service in 1965 and has been a fl oating museum for the past 25 years. Georgios Averof was built in Livorno, mounted four 9.2in and eight 7.5in guns, and was commissioned into the Royal Hellenic Navy in May 1911. Later that year she took part in the Coronation Fleet Review for King George V at Spithead, and successful actions against the Ottoman Navy during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 won her almost legendary status. During World War II she was employed on convoy escort and patrol duties in the Indian Ocean and, in 1944, took members of the Greek Government back to Athens.

 

It's my understanding that she remained theoretically functional until the 80s, so assuming they don't achieve seaworthiness by gutting the ship of it's original features, an early 20th century cruiser in steam would be an amazing sight! 

Edited August 15, 2017 by Killingholme

[jenko]

Lets hope they do get her going. As you say it would be an amazing sight and might start a trend.

 

 

The down side it could end as a Greek Tragedy .................... ( sorry, could not help myself there)

 

[makedon]

Goulandris is not the shipowner of Averof, he sponsored the latest reconditioning of the ship . It is a ship of the Hellenic Navy.