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The next two halls are dedicated to the Hellenic Navy, covering the years from the establishment of the Modern Greek State to the present day.
The first attempts to organize the Hellenic Navy occurred in the years of Kapodistrias and they went on during the Regency of King Otto in order to strengthen the power of the newly founded fleet. The admirals who had fought in the naval battles of the War of Independence became the heads of the fleet. Among the museum exhibits of the dress and medal collection are parts of the uniform of the Hydriote Admiral Antonios Kriezis (1796-1865) as well as the rare Cross of the Distinction Order of the Saviour (1833-1863).
In the years between 1833 and 1838, the first three ships of the Hellenic Navy were built in the Naval Shipyard of Poros. One of them was the great corvette “Loudovikos” with a displacement of 1000 tons. The model of this ship is on display together with her shipbuilding plans which are signed by her shipwright Georgios Tobazis. “Loudovikos” went down in history mainly due to the fact that it was the first home of the “Naval Training School”, namely the first Naval Academy.
In the last decades of the 19th century the use of steam engines became more common while at this time the propeller-engine ships had an obvious advantage against the paddle steamers. In 1861 the steam frigate “Amalia” is purchased and she is then renamed to “Hellas” after the dethronement of King Otto. She was the largest ship of the fleet at the time and she played a vital role during crucial events in Modern Greek history. The new King, George I, arrived in Piraeus on board “Hellas” and this is also where the flag of the Ionian State was delivered by the British Governor, an act which signaled the incorporation of the Ionian Islands to Greece.
1866 was the year of the outbreak of the fifth and most fierce consecutive revolt in Crete which was still under the Ottoman Rule. The Greek State supported the revolt which lasted two and a half years by sending the famous “blockade runners” to supply the fighting front. One of those ships was the paddle and speed steamer “Enosis” which under the command of Captain Ν. Sourmelis completed 46 sails to Crete and took part in a conflict with a Turkish squadron off the island of Syros.
In the period between 1867 and 1868 the first two armoured Navy ships were ordered. One of them was the battleship “King George” which was built in London in 1868. She was the first ship of the Hellenic Navy and perhaps the second ship in world history to bear revolving guns. Thanks to those guns the ship did not have to turn in order to align the guns on the target. The original shipbuilding plans for this ship are displayed as part of the museum’s permanent exhibition. By the end of 19th century, the Navy was modernized through the purchase of new ships. The models of the light cruiser “Miaoulis”, the gun carrier “Amvrakia” and the battleship “Psara” present the efforts made during those years to increase the fleet power.
At the dawn of the 20th century the tension in the air above the Balkans found Greece visioning the liberation of the still unredeemed areas. New modern ships were purchased and the beginning of the Balkan Wars found the Hellenic Fleet ready to claim the rule over the Aegean Sea and the islands from the declining Ottoman Empire. The naval operations and the Greek ships of the Balkan Wars are presented through a great variety of means of display. Special attention is given to the legendary battleship “Georgios Averof” and the victorious naval battles of Elli (3 December 1912) and Limnos (5 January 1913) which are presented in the form of two very informative and impressive dioramas. It is worth mentioning that in this section of the permanent exhibition the visitor will find exquisite paintings belonging to the museum collection. They are paintings by Vasileios Chatzis, Lykourgos Kogevinas, Emilios Prosalentis and Loukas Geralis which captured in colour the glorious actions of the Hellenic Navy.
The clouds of World War II started gathering above Greece with the coward torpedoing of the light cruiser “Elli” on 15th August 1940 by the Italian submarine “Delfino”. The section of the presentation regarding the actions of the Navy during the great war of 1940-1945 starts with “Elli”. The shipwreck’s bell and part of one of the three Italian torpedoes which were shot from the submarine against “Elli” and also against the port of Tinos are placed next to the model. Photographs dating back to those days have captured the tragic scenes which took place during and after the sudden Italian attack.
The notable actions of the Navy and also the heavy losses it suffered in ammunition and staff during the War which followed on 28th October of 1940, are presented through the models of ships and submarines, photographs and press publications, multiple relics and authentic pieces of equipment as well as weapons belonging to the heroic ships. Special reference is made to the people who were distinguished for their actions during those years or sacrificed themselves for the liberation of Greece. This is in the form of portraits, photographs, medals, dresses, weapons and personal objects.
Among the many important relics, special reference should be made to the sea salt- and wind-worn flag of the legendary submarine “Papanikolis” which is part of the exhibition. The conning tower is the most impressive exhibit in the outdoors grounds of the Museum. | 
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