The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea”
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The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Bohaterowie Morza Baltyckiego! The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Despite ambitious programmes in the 1920s the Polish Navy entered the 1930s as a small force of less than 20 vessels. Increasing militarism in Germany saw a revitalisation of Polish defence, with new destroyers, submarines and coastal craft ordered. However, the programme started too late and by the outbreak of war the Polish navy comprised a mere 4 destroyers, 5 submarines and assorted small craft. The German onslaught of September 1939 by land and sea could not be resisted an as many ships as could be made mobile escaped to Britain in Operation “Peking” to form the Polish Navy in exile. The Polish Navy remained a sovereign force, working with the Royal navy but distinct from it. Its ships served in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Arctic. Its numbers were swelled by ex-RN ships, notably the cruisers Dragon and Danae (renamed Conrad).Although small, the Polish Navy made a vital contribution to the war effort. Perhaps the best tribute to their service can be found in a quote from the British First Sea Lord, Sir Dudley Pound, said in 1942 when decorating Polish submariners. "Last night I asked my Chief of Staff to give me a list of all Polish warships fighting alongside the Royal Navy. I was shocked to learn how few they are because in all despatches of naval operations and major engagements I almost always find a name of a Polish ship that distinguished itself." The Polish Navy Fleet List The following forms the entire fleet list for the Polish Navy. Priority Level: Patrol U class submersible Grom class destroyer Gryf class minelayer Wicher class destroyer PZL P.11 (three flight) G class destroyer PZL P.7 (four flights) N class destroyer PZL 23 (three flights) Ouragan class Destroyer PZL 37 (three flights) M class destroyer Hunt class destroyer escort Priority Level: Skirmish Wilk class submersible Danae class cruiser Orzel class submersible Special Rules Crew Quality Polish Navy ships may be added to any RN force. Due to their extreme professionalism Polish ships are always treated as Veteran or Elite. Observation Aircraft Although none of the ships of the Polish Navy could operate aircraft the Polish Navy did have an air arm equipped with Lublin R-XIII observation aircraft. A Polish fleet in 1939 can have two aircraft of this type on table at the start. The Lublin R-XIII is treated in all respects as a normal observation aircraft. References Most of the data for this article has come from Conways “All the Worlds Warships 1922-1946”. For excellent online references for the WW2 Polish navy I would recommend the following: http://www.polishnavy.pl/enemy/ http://www.ostrycharz.free-online.co.uk/polish_navy.html http://www.polish-navy.org/ Page 1 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Danae Class Cruiser Dragon was transferred to the Polish Navy in 1943. She served in British waters until 1944, when she was torpedoed by a German “Neger” mini-sub off the Normandy beaches. She was replaced by the cruiser Danae which was renamed Conrad. Ships of this class: Dragon, Conrad Speed: 6” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 3+ Damage: 6/2 Crew: 19/7 Special Traits: In Service: 1916 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 20” 3 1 Weak AAA 5” 3 - Port Torpedoes - 3 4 AP, One-Shot Starboard Torpedoes - 3 4 AP, One-Shot Length: 445 ft. Displacement: 5,925 tons Speed: 29 kts. Crew: 469 Page 2 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Grom Class Destroyer When built these British-build destroyers were the fastest ships of their type in the world. Only the first two were completed. The second pair were ordered and were to be built in Poland, but construction had not begun by the time of the start of the war. They fled to Britain and were extensively refitted. Grom was sunk off Narvik in 1940, but Blyskawica still survives, as a museum ship in Gdynia Ships of this class: Grom, Blyskawica, Huragan, Orkan Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 4/2 Crew: 7/2 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1935+ Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 2 1 Weak AAA 5” 2 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 3 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 374 ft. Displacement: 3.383tons Speed: 39 kts. Crew: 180 Page 3 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Wicher class Destroyer Ships of this class: Wicher, Burza These destroyers were based on the French Bourrasque class, but were extensively improved. Wicher was sunk by the Luftwaffe during the invasion of Poland, but Burza escaped to Britain. The stats below reflect the ships as delivered. The Post Refit weapon stats reflect Burza as modernized by the RN and optimized for convoy escort. Speed: 7” Turning: 3 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 7/3 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1930 “As Built” Armament Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 6” 1 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 3 3 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Post Refit Armament Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 6” 2 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 2 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 8 2 Slow-Loading Length: 352 ft. Displacement: 1,920 tons Speed: 33 kts. Crew: 150 Page 4 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” G class Destroyer Garland was the first ship transferred to the Polish Navy by the RN. She was a G Class destroyer and retained her old name after transfer. Ships of this class: Garland Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 8/2 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1935 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 5” 1 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 4 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 323 ft. Displacement: 2,095 tons Speed: 36 kts. Crew: 190 Page 5 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” N Class Destroyer The N Class destroyer Nerrisa was handed over to the Polish Navy in compensation for the destroyer Grom, which was sunk off Norway Ships of this class: Piorun Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 7/2 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1938+ Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 5” 1 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 5 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 357 ft. Displacement: 1,690 tons Speed: 36 kts. Crew: 183 Page 6 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Ouragan class Destroyer Ships of this class: Ouragan A former French destroyer, the Ouragan was seized after the fall of France and temporarily given to the Polish Navy until 1941, when she was returned to the RN and eventual Free French service. Speed: 7” Turning: 3 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 6/2 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1930 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 1 1 Weak AAA 6” 1 - Port/STarboard Torpedoes - 3 3 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 347 ft. Displacement: 1,298 tons Speed: 33 kts. Crew: 145 Page 7 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” M class Destroyer The ex-Royal navy Myrmidon, transferred to the Polish Navy in 1942. She was sunk in the following year by an acoustic homing torpedo. Ships of this class: Orkan Speed: 7” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 9/3 Special Traits: Agile In Service: 1940 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 2 1 Weak AAA 5” 1 - Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 4 4 AP, One-Shot Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 362 ft. Displacement: 2,840 tons Speed: 36 kts. Crew: 226 Page 8 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” “Hunt” Class Destroyer Escort (Type 2) Three ships of the RN’s “Hunt” Class were transferred to the Polish Navy, the Silverton, Oakley and Bedale became the Krakowiak, Kujawiak and Slazak respectively. Kujawiak was mined of Malta and sunk, but the others survived the war. Ships of this Class: Krakowiak, Kujawiak, Slazak Speed: 5” Turning: 2 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 7/3 Special Traits: Agile, Sub Hunter, Radar In Service: 1941+ Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 12” 2 1 Weak AAA 5” 2 - Depth Charges 3” 4 2 Slow-Loading Length: 264 ft. Displacement: 1,625 tons Speed: 27 kts. Crew: 168 Page 9 of 15 The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Wilk Class Submersible Good sea boats, but noisy and prone to leaving traces of oil in their wakes. Rys and Zbik were interned in Sweden, whilst Wilk made it to Britain. Unfortunately she was in a poor condition when she arrived and spent the war serving as a training boat (nevertheless a valuable and important duty) Boats of this class: Rys, Zbik, Wilk Speed: 3”/1” Turning: 3 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 3/1 Special Traits: Submersible In Service: 1929 Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 4” 1 1 Slow-Loading, Weak AAA 4” 1 - Forward Torpedoes - 2 4 AP, Slow-Loading Port/Starboard Torpedoes - 1 4 AP, One shot Length: 257 ft. Displacement: 1,250 tons Speed: 14/9 kts.