History
The first organized Greek Naval Base during the Greek War of Independence (1821 Revolution) was founded on Hydra Island in 1827 and soon after was relocated to Poros. The facility remained in use as the main naval base of the Royal Hellenic Navy until 1881 is still used today for naval personnel training.
Between January 1878 and April 1881, certain activities were transferred from Poros to the Faneromeni Monastery (37°59′00″N 23°26′10″E / 37.98333°N 23.43611°E / 37.98333; 23.43611) and its surrounding area, on Salamis Island.
On April 16, 1881, a Royal Decree directed that a new naval base would be built in Salamis, at a location then called Arapi, near Akra (Cape) Arapis. The Navy acquired an area of approximately 300 hectares. Most of the land was donated by the Municipality of Salamis, which saw the construction of the naval base as an opportunity for employment, real estate development and business profit.
Construction of the new base began in 1881 and gradually naval activities were transferred to the new buildings from Poros and Faneromeni Monastery. One of the fist buildings was the church of Saint Nikolaos (1882).
The new Naval Base was used intensively during the Balkan Wars, the First World War and the Second World War. A suburban standard gauge light railway line (Piraeus-Perama light railway) opened in 1936, connecting downtown Piraeus with Perama and terminating inside the Naval Base at Amphiali. The line remained in use until 1977.
During the Second World War the naval base was occupied by the Germans and used for naval activities, including submarine operations. The Germans retreated in 1944, after causing extensive damage to the installations. In addition the sea channel was blocked by a number of naval ships sunk by the Luftwaffe in 1941, including the decommissioned battleships Limnos and Kilkis.
Cleanup, salvage and reconstruction work began in November 1944 and the facilities were gradually restored to operational condition. Salamis Naval Base has been in continuous use by the Hellenic Navy ever since, while a second major naval base was constructed at Souda Bay.
Read more about this topic: Salamis Naval Base
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