USS Charrette, Naval museum ship in Palaio Faliro, Greece.

The HNS Velos is a Fletcher-class destroyer 114.6 metres long and 12 metres wide, with a displacement of 2,100 tons. Its grey hull carries two tall funnels, a lattice mast forward, tiered superstructures amidships and aft, and a single large gun turret on the rear deck. White characters "480" appear near the stern.

Built at the Boston Navy Yard and launched on 3 June 1942, the ship was commissioned as USS Charrette on 18 May 1943 and served in the US Navy's Pacific campaign, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Transferred to Greece on 16 July 1959, it was renamed Velos (D16). On 25 May 1973, under commander Nikolaos Pappas, it defected to Fiumicino, Italy, during a NATO exercise. Decommissioned on 26 March 1991, it became a museum ship in 1994.

The ship stands as a symbol of resistance in modern Greek history. Displays show how crew members took a stand against military rule in 1973, with photographs and belongings that tell their story of defiance.

The ship is moored at Pier 1 of the Port of Thessaloniki, not in Athens; it is open as the Museum of the Anti-Dictatorship Struggle. Access is via the port's passenger area, and the visit crosses several decks by steep ladders and narrow passages, so wear firm shoes. Storm damage in 2023 was repaired, but check locally before travelling.

The command center retains its original layout from the 1970s with analog navigation and communication instruments still in place. This unchanged configuration gives visitors a rare view of how warship technology actually worked during that era.