Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat explained

The Osprey HSY-56A-class gunboat (also known as Machitis-class gunboat)^[1] ^[2] is a class of naval vessel currently in service in the Hellenic Navy. These ships are similar to and were also built by Hellenic Shipyards (HSY). They are the most modern patrol vessels of Hellenic Navy. The first ship of the class named Machitis (pronounced "Makhitis") was commissioned on 29 October 2003.^[3] In 2018 all of the four ships of the class are in active service.

Incidents at sea

On 17 January 2018 the second ship of the class Nikiforos was bumped by a Turkish Coast Guard patrol boat while patrolling in the Aegean Sea close to the Imia islets. The Turkish patrol boat was conducting dangerous manoeuvres having as a result a slight collision of the two vessels.^[4] ^[5] ^[6] Turkish media reported the incident too but without highlighting the bumping of the Greek ship.^[7]

Ships

Ship	Builder	Commissioned	Status
P266 Machitis Μαχητής	Hellenic Shipyards S.A.	October 29, 2003	In active service (2018)
P267 Nikiforos Νικηφόρος	Hellenic Shipyards S.A.	March 30, 2004	In active service (2018)
P268 Aittitos Αήττητος	Hellenic Shipyards S.A.	August 5, 2004	In active service (2018)
P269 Krataios Κραταιός	Hellenic Shipyards S.A.	October 20, 2005	In active service (2018)

Notes and References

http://www.hellenicnavy.gr/en/fleet/gunboats.html Hellenic Navy official website, Information and specifications of the gunboats of Hellenic Navy
http://www.dellner-brakes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/CS-021-2-EA-Hellenic-Greek-Navy-gunboats.pdf Swedish company Dellner Brakes has delivered complete brake systems for the gunboats of the Hellenic Navy
Web site: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό - Επίσημη Ιστοσελίδα - Κ/Φ ΜΑΧΗΤΗΣ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H48yThoK2Kc Video of the incident as it was filmed by a crew member of the Turkish coast guard patrol boat (17/01/2018)
https://neoskosmos.com/en/111008/turkish-vessel-bumps-greek-navy-gunboat-near-imia-islet/ Article about the incident in Greek-Australian newspaper "Neos Kosmos"
http://www.ekathimerini.com/224988/article/ekathimerini/news/turkish-patrol-boat-bumps-into-greek-gunboat-off-imia Turkish patrol boat bumps into Greek gunboat off Imia, Article in the English version of Greek daily newspaper KATHIMERINI (17/01/2018)
http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/video/greek-turkish-patrol-ships-collide-near-disputed-islets-40713868 Turkish patrol ships collide near disputed islets, Website of Hürriyet.com