ELAN is short for Ethniki Laiko Apeleftherotiko Navtiko, or, in English: The National Popular Liberation Navy.*
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The first naval units of the ELAS appeared in March/April 1943 in Eastern Fthiotida, under Kapetan Sotiris Begnis who, on his own initiative, began to make use of a few caiques (motor-sailing vessels) and in a series of surprise attacks captured some enemy vessels in the Maliac Gulf.*
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After the Italian capitulation, in September 1943, the ELAN (the naval section of ELAS) could be organized and the first important stable bases began to appear at various coastal points. The most important of these bases were in the Maliac Gulf (under Kapetan Sotiris Begnis), Pelion (under Kapetan Pelioritis), the Northern Gulf of Euboea (under Kapetan Orestes), the south-eastern Peloponnese (under Ensign Tsoulis), the Corinthian Gulf
(under Kapetan Zacharias) and the Western Mainland (under Kapetan Yerodimos).*
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In Summer 1944, the guerilla navy developed rapidly. Initially four Groups and one independent Flotilla were formed, but in August the independent Flotilla was risen to Group and two more Groups were created in Macedonia. For tactical and command purposes all Groups were brought under the orders of ELAS divisions which had bases on the neighbouring shores.*
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The vessels used by the partisans were, initially, small boats armed with captured German guns: caiques, fishing boats and motor launches, with a speed of over 7 knots, manned by a crew of 12-18 men and typically armed with a 20mm anti-tank gun, a machine-gun, some rifles, pistols or sub-machine-guns, hand-grenades, one flare pistol and sometimes a mortar. Three such vessels formed a flotilla, two or more flotillas formed a Group.*
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Other craft not suitable for battle were formed into a reserve and carried out transport, liaison or mercantile duties. Every Group had its own fortified bases and repair workshops. Thus organized, ELAN could undertake military and mercantile duties simultaneously.*
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In November 1944, ELAN reached a strength of more than 100 motor-sailing vessels and other craft. This included one large tug, and one torpedo boat with a total displacement of more than 4,000 tons. Several ELAN vessels had a displacement of 200 tons and over. These vessels were quite heavily armed. The total strength in men amounted to approximately 1,200 officers, Kapetans and sailors.*
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During this period ELAN was substantially in control of all the Greek coasts and all movement within Greek waters was under its surveillance. During the fighting against British forces in December 1944-January 1945, ELAN carried a large proportion of the supplies for the ELAS fighting forces on the Athens front, as well as troops who were being transferred from more distant areas. It succeeded in doing this despite the presence and activities of considerable light British naval forces which proved unable to wrest control from ELAN, especially in enclosed waters.*
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The ELAN ceased to operate as a cohesive organization after February, 1945 with the British dominance of the mainland. However, some ELAN forces are kept in the game until November, 1946 to aid in representing guerilla actions and hypothetical situations.*