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The Polish 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 , 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 but distinct from it. Its ships served in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Arctic. Its numbers were swelled by ex-RN ships, notably the 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 class Gryf class 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 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 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/

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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

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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 , 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 in

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

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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 , 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

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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

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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

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

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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 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

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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

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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

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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. Crew: 54

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The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea”

Orzel Class Submersible

These were large ocean going boats with excellent fighting qualities. They were double hulled and thus extremely quiet, and survivable in the face of depth charging. Sep was interned in Sweden. Orzel made a dramatic escape from Tallin to reach the UK, but was sunk in the North Sea in 1940, presumably mined.

Boats of this class: Orzel, Sep

Speed: 3”/1” Turning: 3 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 3/1 Special Traits: Submersible, Silent 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. Crew: 54

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The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea”

U Class Submersible

Two boats of the RN’s highly successful U Class were transferred to the Polish navy in 1941. Urchin became Sokol, and P52 became Dzik. Both served in the U Class’ favourite hunting ground of the Mediterranean, where their successes earned them the nickname “The Terrible Twins”

Boats of this class: Orzel, Sep

Speed: 3”/1” Turning: 3 Target: 6+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 3/1 Special Traits: Submersible, Silent, Agile In Service: 1940

Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondary Armament 4” 1 1 Slow-Loading, Weak AAA 4” 1 - Forward Torpedoes - 2 4 AP, Slow-Loading

Length: 196 ft. Displacement: 732 tons Speed: 12/10 kts. Crew: 33

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The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea”

Gryf class minelayer

In common with of other nations, Gryf served mainly as a for officer cadets, her large mine laying bays converted to temporary classrooms. She was sunk during the German invasion, although some of her guns were salvaged and used as shore defences before the fall of Poland.

Ships of this class: Gryf

Speed: 6” Turning: 2 Target: 5+ Armour: 2+ Damage: 3/1 Crew: 9/3 Special Traits: Minelayer In Service: 1936

Weapon Range AD DD Special Secondaries 15” 2 1 Weak AAA 4” 2 - Mines - - - Minefield

Length: 539 ft. Displacement: 2,250 tons Speed: 28 kts. Crew: 205

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The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea”

Polish Aircraft

The following stats are for Polish built aircraft and should only be used for scenarios set during or prior to the fall of Poland. Thereafter the Poles used Allied aircraft, in particular the Spitfire, Wellington and Hurricane

PZL P.11

An unusual high wing monoplane, the P.11 suffered from low speed but enjoyed high manoeuvrability. Despite being outgunned by German aircraft they scored many successes before Poland fell in 1939. Most were destroyed in the Polish campaign, but some were transferred to Romania.

Type: Fighter Speed: 16” Target: 6+ Dodge: 2+ Dogfight: +2 Damage: 1 In Service: 1935

PZL P.7

The forerunner of the P.7, and sharing the same characteristics and flaws, although to a greater extent when compared with their German counterparts.

Type: Fighter Speed: 14” Target: 6+ Dodge: 2+ Dogfight: +1 Damage: 1 In Service: 1930

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The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea”

PZL.23 Karas

An unusually distinctive single engined and all-metallic bomber, the PZL.23 has the distinction of being the first aircraft to bomb German soil during WW2. they were rugged and effective attack aircraft, but suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the Luftwaffe’s Bf109s.

Type: Bomber Speed: 16” Target: 5+ Dodge: 3+ Dogfight: +1 Damage: 1 In Service: 1936

Weapon Range AD DD Special Bombs - 2 3 AP, One-Shot

PZL.37 Los

A fairly conventional twin-engined bomber, the Los served the well until the fall of Poland. At least 25 aircraft were handed over to the Romanian air force where they saw limited service against the USSR.

Type: Bomber Speed: 16” Target: 4+ Dodge: 4+ Dogfight: +1 Damage: 1 In Service: 1936

Weapon Range AD DD Special Bombs - 3 3 AP, One-Shot

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