Mavi Boncuk |Averof, built at Cantieri Orlando, Livorno, Italy in 1910-11, was a de facto third member of the Italian Pisa class, with improved protection and British-style tripod masts. She joined the Greek fleet just before the First Balkan War of 1912-13, in which she outfought the combined Turkish fleet and spearheaded a blockade of Turkish ports on the Mediterranean and the Gulf of Izmir. The Greek fleet otherwise consisted of three slow, French-built 1890 battleships and a rather good Torpido Boat flotilla.
Georgios Averof (Greek: Θ/Κ Γεώργιος Αβέρωφ) is a Greek warship which served as the flagship of the Royal Hellenic Navy during most of the first half of the 20th Century. Although popularly known as a battleship (θωρηκτό), it is in fact an armored cruiser,
During World War I, Averof did not see much active service, as Greece was neutral during the first years of the war, and in deep internal turmoil (see National Schism). After the Noemvriana riots of 1916 however, she was seized by the French, and returned only after Greece's formal entry in the war, in June 1917. After the war's end, Averof sailed with other Allied ships to Constantinople, receiving an ecstatic welcome from the city's Greeks. She continued as the flagship of the Royal Hellenic Navy
RHN under Rear Admiral I. Ipitis, participating in landings in Eastern Thrace and bombardments of the Turkish Black Sea shore during the Greco-Turkish War (1919–22) and helped in the evacuation of the refugees after the Greek Army's defeat.
The Averoff in Constantinople in 1919 by Amilios Prosalentis
Leon Kalogeropoulos (Greek, 1928 - 2002)
Battleship Averoff off Constantinople in 1918 with the allied fleet
Nicos Kalogeropoulos (Greek, 1889-1957)
BATTLESHIP AVEROFF IN CONSTANTINOPLE signed and dated 1915 lower right oil on canvas 70 by 100cm., 27½ by 39½in.
[1] IPITIS, REAR-ADMIRAL, 09/11/1920-26/04/1921