Greece modernizing her navy according to the Dutch magazine Marineblad dated 1911-1912 no. 7

The Hydra

The Psara. With thanks to Andreas Kendristakis

An item reported that just like Turkey Greece huge funds spent to strengthen the since a long time neglected navy. The British advisors pointed out that the available coastal defence ships needed as soon as possible a stronger armament. Conform the advice of the leader of the British naval commission Tufnell (1) decided the Greek minister to a complete modernisation of the Hydra (3) Spetsai and Psara (4) including a stronger armament. Total costs 7-8 million drachmes.

Notes
1. The commission lead by rear admiral Tufnell arrived on 11 April 1911. Lionel Grant Tufnell (27 October 1857-11 August 1930), on the retired list on 1 January 1919 admiral. In 1911 was he appointed as commander in chief of the Greek navy.
2. Greek minister of navy at that moment was Eleftherios Venizelos (23 August 1864 Mournies near Chania then Ottoman Cret-18 March 1936 Paris, France), also prime minister between 1910-1920 and 1928-1933.
3. The Hydra was ordered at the French Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire shipyard at St. Nazaire in 1885, launched on 15 May 1889, handed over 3 years later, decommissioned in 1918, stricken a year later, plans to sell her to be broken up in 1921 were cancelled, naval artillery school ship 1922-1929 and finally broken up in 1929. With a displacement of 4,808 metric tons/4,732 long tons/5,300 short tons were her dimensions 102,01 (between perpendiculars) x 15,80 z 5,5 (mean) metres or 334’8”x 51’10”x 18. Her two steam engines supplying 6,700 ihp allowed a speed of maximum 17 knots. Her crew numbered 400 men. She was armed with 3x1-10.8”, 5x1-5.9” guns,4-3.4” guns, 4-3pdr guns, 4-1pdr guns, 6-1pdr revolver guns and 3-14” torpedo tubes (between 1908-1910 was one tube replaced by a 15”). The armour consisted of a 12” belt while the barbettes were protected by maximum 14” thick armour.
4. The Psara was ordered and laid down in 1885 at the French Société Nouvelle des Forges et Chantiers de la Méditerranée shipyard in Graville although not earlier launched as 5 years later on 20 February and in the same year commissioned, in 1912 all ready considered as being obsolete, around 1920 decommissioned used as school for quartermasters and in a later period as a school ship for junior boys at Poros and finally sold to be broken up in 1932. With a displacement of 4,885 (standard) tons were her dimensions 103 x 15,8 x 6,4 metres. Her speed was 20 knots. The armament consisted of 3-26,9 cm (10.6”) guns and 5-15cm (5.9”) guns. The armour consisted of a 7cm thick deck while the hull was protected by 10-28cm.