Built as a battleship on the yard of Chantiers de Normandie at Grand Quevilly, France for the Greece Navy.
1888 Laid down.
20 Feb. 1890, launched under the name PSARA.
Displacement 4.808 tons, dim. 102 x 16 x 6.4m (draught).
Powered by two triple expansion steam engines, 6.700 hp., twin screws, speed 17 knots.
Bunker coal capacity 400 tons, maximum 600 tons.
Armament: 3 – 10.8 inch, two on the bow and one aft. 5 – 6 inches Q.F. 1 – 4 inch Q.F. 24 smaller guns and 3 torpedo tubes, before 1914 removed.
Crew 440.
1892 Commissioned.
In the early 1880 the Greek navy had sunk in such a state that it had virtually ceased to exist. They decide to rebuild there navy and French officers were hired to reorganize the navy. First small craft were bought and used, and then the Greek government ordered three small battleships in France, one of this was the PSARA the other two were HYDRA and SPETSAI.
When in the middle of the 1890s war threatened between Turkey and Greece, the Greek decided to overhaul and modernize their three battleships by Chantiers de Med. at La Seyne, France, in 1897 the PSARA sailed to La Seyne for an overhaul.
She missed the war between Greek and Turkey, which broke out in 1897.
1898 Returned to service.
After her reconstruction she had a displacement of 4.808 tons, the main guns had remained unchanged but the smaller guns were removed and replaced by 1 – 100mm, 8 – 65mm, 4 – 47mm and 16 -37mm guns.
Her machinery overhauled and newly rated at 6.700hp., speed 17 knots.
Crew 440.
1897 Reconstructed and modernized at La Seyne.
On the stamp she is showed after modernization in 1901.
From 1910 used as school ship for firemen.
Between 1914/1915 new boilers installed.
During World War I used as guard ship, some 37mm guns and torpedo tubes removed
From 1920 used as floating gunnery school at Poros.
1928 Scrapped.
Greek 1978 4d sg1443, scott?
Source. Navicula. Jane’s Fighting Ships 1914. Warship International 31 March 1971 page 102.