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ORP Błyskawica

Coordinates: 54°31.171′N 18°33.071′E / 54.519517°N 18.551183°E / 54.519517; 18.551183
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ORP Błyskawica, modern view
ORP Błyskawica, modern view
History
 Poland
NameORP Błyskawica
NamesakeLightning flash
Laid downSeptember 1935
Launched1 October 1936
Commissioned25 November 1937
Decommissioned1 May 1976
Honours and
awards		Virtuti Militari, 4th Class Virtuti Militari, 4th Class
FateMuseum ship
General characteristics
Class and typeTemplate:Sclass-
Displacement1,975 tons standard
Length114 m (374 ft 0 in)
Beam11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
Draft3.3 m (10 ft 10 in)
Speed39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph)
Complement192
Armament

ORP Błyskawica is a Template:Sclass- which served in the Polish Navy during World War II and is the only ship of the Polish Navy awarded the Virtuti Militari medal. It is preserved as a museum ship in Gdynia, and is the oldest preserved destroyer in the world.

She was the second of two Grom-class destroyers, built for the Polish Navy by J. Samuel White, Cowes in 1935–37. The Polish word błyskawica translates to lightning flash, while her sister ship, grom, translates to Thunderbolt. The Grom class were two of the most heavily armed and fastest destroyers during World War II.

Construction and design

In 1934, the British shipbuilder J. Samuel White won a competition to design and build large destroyers for the Polish Navy, beating a proposal from fellow British shipbuilder Swan Hunter. (A design by the French shipyard Ateliers et Chantiers de la Loire had been rejected in 1933).[1] An order for two destroyers of the Grom class was placed on 29 March 1935.[2]

At the time of their construction, the Groms were amongst the fastest and most heavily armed destroyers to be built.[2][3] Błyskawica was 114 metres (374 ft 0 in) long overall and 109 metres (357 ft 7 in) between perpendiculars, with a beam of 11.3 metres (37 ft 1 in) and a draught of 3.1 metres (10 ft 2 in). Displacement was 2,011 long tons (2,043 t) standard and 2,520 long tons (2,560 t) full load.[4] Three 3-drum boilers fed steam to two sets of geared steam turbines which were rated at 54,500 shaft horsepower (40,600 kW), driving two propeller shafts to give a design speed of 39 knots (72 km/h; 45 mph).[3][4] Main gun armament consisted of seven 120 mm (5 in) guns (50 calibre M34/36 guns supplied by Bofors of Sweden) in three twin and one single mounts, with an anti-aircraft armament of two twin Bofors 40 mm guns and eight 13.2 mm machine guns. Six 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes were carried, compatible with the French torpedoes used by the preceding Template:Sclass-s. Anti-submarine armament consisted of two depth charge chutes with 40 depth charges, while rails were fitted to permit up to 44 mines to be carried. The ship's complement consisted of 180 officers and men.[1][3][4]

Błyskawica, the second of the two destroyers, was laid down on 1 October 1935 at J. Samuel White's Cowes, Isle of Wight shipyard, and was launched on 1 October 1936.[4] Sea trials were successful, with the ship exceeding the design speed of 39 knots.[5] Błyskawica was commissioned on 1 October 1937.[4]

Modifications

When Błyskawica and Grom arrived in the United Kingdom in September 1939, it was found that the ships, designed for operations in the sheltered Baltic, were top heavy for operations in the rougher North Atlantic, so the ships were modified to reduce topweight. A searchlight tower on top of the ship's bridge was removed, as was a deck house aft carrying a second searchlight, and the distinctive funnel cap. In addition, the aft set of torpedo tubes was removed to allow fitting of a 76 mm (3 in) anti-aircraft gun.[6][7] In December 1941, Błyskawica was rearmed, with the 120 mm guns replaced by four twin 102 mm (4 in) Mk XVI dual-purpose guns. The 13.2 mm machine guns were replaced by four Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and the second set of torpedo tubes were reinstated.[8]

Operational history

Crew cleaning a 76 mm anti-aircraft gun on ORP Błyskawica, 12 September 1940

Two days before the war, on 30 August 1939, Błyskawica withdrew, along with the destroyers Grom and Burza, from the Baltic Sea to Britain in accordance with the Peking Plan to avoid open conflict with Germany and possible destruction. Although the three destroyers were sighted by German warships, including the cruiser Königsberg on 30 and 31 August, hostilities had not yet commenced, and the Polish destroyers passed by unhindered, reaching Leith in Scotland at 17:30 on 1 September 1939.[9][10] From then on they acted in tandem with the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. On 7 September 1939, Błyskawica made contact with and attacked a U-boat from the German navy.

In early May 1940, Błyskawica took part in the Norwegian Campaign, shelling German positions and downing two Luftwaffe aircraft. Her sister ship Grom was bombed and sunk during the campaign. Later that month, she took part in covering Operation Dynamo, the successful British led evacuation from Dunkirk.

ORP Błyskawica in the Northern Atlantic during World War II

During the rest of the war, Błyskawica took part in convoy and patrol duties, engaging both U-boats and the Luftwaffe in the Atlantic and Mediterranean. In 1941 her 120 mm guns were replaced with British 102 mm (4 in) dual-purpose guns. The ship was also given escort duties for troop transports, notably RMS Queen Mary, being one of the few ships that could keep up with the liner.

On the night of 4–5 May 1942, Błyskawica was instrumental in defending the Isle of Wight town of Cowes from an air raid by 160 German bombers. The ship was undergoing an emergency refit at the J. Samuel White yard where she had been built and, on the night of the raid, fired repeated rounds at the German bombers from outside the harbour; her guns becoming so hot they had to be doused with water from the River Medina. Extra ammunition had to be ferried over from Portsmouth. This forced the bombers to stay high, making it difficult for them to target properly. The ship also laid down a smokescreen hiding Cowes from sight. While the town and the shipyard were badly damaged, it is generally considered that without this defensive action, it would have been far worse. In 2002 the crew's courage was honoured by a local commemoration lasting several days to mark the 60th anniversary of the event. In 2004 an area of Cowes was named Francki Place in honour of the ship's commander. The Isle of Wight Council approved the idea of having Błyskawica return to Cowes in 2012 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the event and the 75th anniversary of the ship's commissioning.[11] There were large celebrations commemorating the 70th anniversary of Cowes's defence in 2012 lasting several days and attended by Polish warship ORP Toruń. Another large event to commemorate Blyskawica's 75th anniversary was organised by Friends of the ORP Błyskawica Society in May 2017, the Polish Navy Minelayer ORP Gniezno arrived at the port to take part in the celebrations.[12]

In March 1943 Błyskawica replaced HMS Lightning, which was sunk by E-boats on 12 March 1943, in Cruiser Force Q based at Bône, North Africa. On 8 June 1944, Błyskawica took part in the Battle of Ushant against Kriegsmarine destroyers.

During the war, she logged 146,000 nautical miles (270,000 km) and escorted eighty-three convoys. In combat she damaged three U-boats, helped sinking other ships and shot down at least four aircraft.

Bridge of ORP Błyskawica decorated with Golden Cross of the Order Virtuti Militari

In late 1945 and early 1946 Błyskawica, along with the destroyer HMS Onslow, took part in Operation Deadlight, the scuttling of over 100 German U-boats.

In July 2006 the preserved Canadian destroyer HMCS Haida was "twinned" with Błyskawica in a ceremony in Gdynia, Poland. Both ships served in the 10th Destroyer Flotilla during the Second World War. The ceremony was attended by former crew members of both ships and the general public. The ship was visited in 2009 by Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and on 29 June 2010, at Government House in Nova Scotia, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, presented to representatives of HMCS Haida the World Ship Trust Certificate.[13]

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Friedman 2009, p. 35.
  2. ^ a b Gardiner and Chesneau 1980, p. 349.
  3. ^ a b c Whitley 2000, p. 219.
  4. ^ a b c d e Kolesnick 1977, p. 5.
  5. ^ Kolesnick 1977, p.3.
  6. ^ Whitley 2000, pp. 219–220.
  7. ^ Kolesnik 1977, p. 6.
  8. ^ Whitley 2000, p. 220.
  9. ^ Rohwer and Hümmelchen 1992, p. 1.
  10. ^ Kolesnik 1977, pp. 3–4.
  11. ^ "'Heroic' Warship set for 2012 reunion". Isle of Wight County Press. 2007-12-17. Retrieved 2013-04-06.
  12. ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-39807247
  13. ^ Government of Canada. "2010 Royal Tour > Itinerary for 2010 Royal Tour of Canada". Queen's Printer for Canada. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Sources

  • Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Barnsley, UK: Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-049-9.
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
  • Kolesnik, Eugene (1977). "Thunder and Lightning: The Polish Destroyers Blyskawica and Grom". Warship. 1 (4): 2–11. ISBN 0-85177-132-7.
  • Rohwer, Jürgen; Hümmelchen, Gerhard (1992). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945. London: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-117-7.
  • Whitley, M.J. (2000). Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia. London: Cassell & Co. ISBN 1-85409-521-8.
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54°31.171′N 18°33.071′E / 54.519517°N 18.551183°E / 54.519517; 18.551183

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