Destroyer Velos

The Velos is a destroyer-class vessel that has seen action in many major events in modern Greek history. Christened as a U.S. naval destroyer during World War II, it was subsequently upgraded and given to Greece in 1959 as part of Greece’s participation in NATO, serving the Greek Navy until 1991, when it was decommissioned. Anchored at Faliro Bay from 2002 to 2019 and moored in the port of Thessaloniki since September 2019, it now operates as a museum, focusing on the struggle of the Greek people against the junta from 1967 to 1974. Following a failed coup attempt by naval officers against the junta, the situation reached a boiling point in May of 1973, when commander Nikos Pappas and the destroyer’s crew defected, striking a major blow to the junta’s prestige and power.