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Polish Navy

Era: WW2 · Source: Naval Wargames Society

Ship data for the Polish Navy, including destroyer operations in the North Sea and Mediterranean.

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The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 1 of 15 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 Grom class destroyer Wicher class destroyer G class destroyer N class destroyer Ouragan class Destroyer M class destroyer Hunt class destroyer escort Wilk class submersible Orzel class submersible U class submersible Gryf class minelayer PZL P.11 (three flight) PZL P.7 (four flights) PZL 23 (three flights) PZL 37 (three flights) Priority Level: Skirmish Danae class cruiser 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/

The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 2 of 15 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

The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 3 of 15 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

The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 4 of 15 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

The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 5 of 15 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

The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 6 of 15 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

The Polish Navy in “Victory at Sea” Page 7 of 15 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

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