Greece’s poseidon submarine decommissioned after maintenance, sparking debate
The decommissioning of the Type 209–class submarine POSEIDON, part of the Hellenic Navy’s fleet, following an extensive maintenance and overhaul period, has sparked widespread debate in Greece.
The POSEIDON submarine was taken out of service by a sudden decision after nearly 18 months of comprehensive maintenance and repair work at the Souda Bay Naval Base in Crete. Opposition figures and military sources have drawn attention to the lack of a clear public explanation for the decision, particularly given that it came immediately after a costly modernization process.
Under Greek regulations, decisions to decommission warships are made by the Supreme Naval Council and approved by the Minister of National Defense, while procedural details are governed by standing orders of the Hellenic Navy General Staff.
Public debate has intensified over why POSEIDON was retired following such a lengthy repair process. Critics argue that valuable resources—both in terms of personnel and technical capacity, as well as funds drawn from a limited defense budget—may have been wasted.
According to Defence Review GR, POSEIDON belongs to the Type 209/1200 class and, despite being among the older platforms of the Hellenic Navy, remained in active service until the 2023–2024 period. The cost of the maintenance work in Crete is reported to be approximately €1 million. During the repair process, the Navy Command, General Staff, and relevant technical units were reportedly informed through official reports every three months. Nevertheless, the decision to decommission the submarine shortly before the completion of the work has prompted criticism over a “lack of foresight.”
Another controversial point is that the submarine, despite being deemed “seaworthy,” was transferred from Crete to the Salamis Naval Base after the decommissioning decision. This has raised questions about the technical and operational consistency of the move. Some observers have also speculated about the possibility of POSEIDON being sold or transferred to another country, though these claims have not been confirmed by official sources.
According to Defence Point GR, the issue has also been brought before the Greek Parliament. PASOK–KINAL MP Mihalis Katrinis submitted a parliamentary question to Defense Minister Nikos Dendias, asking why POSEIDON was decommissioned despite undergoing repairs, the total cost of the maintenance process, whether the decision complies with the existing legal framework, and whether other submarines are in a similar situation. He also questioned whether the submarine might be sold or transferred abroad and whether the decision could accelerate plans for the procurement of new submarines under Greece’s long-term defense strategy.
Source: DefenceTurk
