Current Title:	Limeniko Soma
Title in English:	Hellenic Coast Guard Aviation
Abbreviation:	LS

Narrative Summary:
The Hellenic Coast Guard was officially formed in 1919, to regulate shipping activity in Greek waters. In 1982 a small air unit was formed to assist the surface fleet in operational tasks.

Key Dates:
1919		Coast Guard first established.
1982		Air unit formed.

Current Status:
Hellenic Coast Guard esponsibilities include law enforcement at sea, maritime pollution detection and prevention, Search and Rescue (SAR) and fishery patrol.

Future Plans:
No procurement plans known.

National Insignia:

       
      Main markingFin Flash
The service insignia is a pair of crossed anchors, carried on the fin or fuselage sides. A fin flash is also displayed. Aircraft and helicopters carry the service title in English as HELLENIC COAST GUARD on the port side and in Greek as LIMENIKO SOMA on the starboard side.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Hellenic Coast Guard aircraft and helicopters carry one or two-digit serials prefixed by AC- for fixed-wing aircraft and HC- for helicopters, eg: Trinidad AC-4.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:

Aircraft Type	Total Del'd	Total Now	Role	Origin
Aerospatiale AS 365N3 Dauphin II	6	6	Coastal Patrol	France
Cessna 172RG Cutlass	2	2	Utility Transport	USA
Cessna F406 Caravan II	3	3	Coastal Patrol	USA
SOCATA TB.20 Trinidad	2	2	Utility Transport	France

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
Aerospatiale AS 365N3 Dauphin II	6	2004	current	France
Cessna 172RG Cutlass	2	1982	current	USA
Cessna F406 Caravan II	3	2001	current	France
SOCATA TB.20 Trinidad	2	1988	current	France

Aircraft NOT Used:
No false reports known.

Main Headquarters:
Limeniko Soma, Gr. Lambraki 150, GR-18515 PIRAEUS.

Current Organisational Structure:
All aircraft operate from Tatoi-Dekelia. In addition, four AS.332C-1 are operated by 358 Mira of the Air Force on behalf of the Coast Guard.

Current Order of Battle:
Not applicable.

Historical Orders of Battle:
To be added.

All-Time Flying Units List:
To be added.

Current Air Bases:
All aircraft operate from Tatoi-Dekelia.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
To be added.

Books:

None known.

Magazines:

World Air Power Journal No.19 p.146
Scramble No.210 (November 1996)

Websites:

Official Coast Guard webpage

wikipedia: Hellenic Coast Guard

Airliners.net

wikipedia: Aircraft of the Hellenic Coast Guard