Post by oscsusnret on Mar 17, 2021 23:25:58 GMT
LEGENDARY POLISH WWII DESTROYER TO BE RENOVATED
The legendary Polish destroyer ORP Błyskawica ('Lightning'), which had a fascinating British-Polish history during World War II, is to undergo further renovation.
The ship, which was built in the UK for the Polish Navy and commissioned in 1937, secured its place in British history when it defended the Isle of Wight town of Cowes from 160 German bombers on the night of 4-5 May 1942.
The ship had been undergoing an emergency refit at the J. Samuel White yard on the island (where she'd been built) on the night of the raid, and fired repeated rounds at the German bombers from outside Cowes harbour. Her guns became so hot they had to be doused with water from the river Medina, and additional ammunition had to be brought over from Portsmouth, on the mainland.
The actions of the Polish Navy personnel on board ORP Błyskawica forced the German bombers to stay high, making it hard for them to identify ground targets. A smokescreen was also laid by the ship, hiding the town of Cowes from sight.
Although Cowes and the shipyard were badly damaged during the bombing raids that night, the actions of those on board ORP Błyskawica are thought to have reduced the damage considerably. The ship went on to carry out many other important missions during war-time, including in 1944 forming part of the Anglo-Polish-Canadian 10th Destroyer Flotilla that battled the Navy of Nazi Germany (the 'Kriegsmarine') for control of the English Channel.
ORP Błyskawica is the only Polish Navy ship to have been decorated with the 'Virtuti Militari' - Poland's highest military order for gallantry. In 1976 she became a museum ship as part of the Naval Museum in Gdynia near Gdańsk, and the world's oldest preserved destroyer.
There have been several high profile ceremonies in Cowes in recent years honouring the ORP Błyskawica and those on board it, and an area of Cowes has been named 'Francki Place' in tribute to the ship's commander (see Comments for a photo of the commemoration plaque).
Note: Sounds like this DD needs a Anti-aircraft SA
The legendary Polish destroyer ORP Błyskawica ('Lightning'), which had a fascinating British-Polish history during World War II, is to undergo further renovation.
The ship, which was built in the UK for the Polish Navy and commissioned in 1937, secured its place in British history when it defended the Isle of Wight town of Cowes from 160 German bombers on the night of 4-5 May 1942.
The ship had been undergoing an emergency refit at the J. Samuel White yard on the island (where she'd been built) on the night of the raid, and fired repeated rounds at the German bombers from outside Cowes harbour. Her guns became so hot they had to be doused with water from the river Medina, and additional ammunition had to be brought over from Portsmouth, on the mainland.
The actions of the Polish Navy personnel on board ORP Błyskawica forced the German bombers to stay high, making it hard for them to identify ground targets. A smokescreen was also laid by the ship, hiding the town of Cowes from sight.
Although Cowes and the shipyard were badly damaged during the bombing raids that night, the actions of those on board ORP Błyskawica are thought to have reduced the damage considerably. The ship went on to carry out many other important missions during war-time, including in 1944 forming part of the Anglo-Polish-Canadian 10th Destroyer Flotilla that battled the Navy of Nazi Germany (the 'Kriegsmarine') for control of the English Channel.
ORP Błyskawica is the only Polish Navy ship to have been decorated with the 'Virtuti Militari' - Poland's highest military order for gallantry. In 1976 she became a museum ship as part of the Naval Museum in Gdynia near Gdańsk, and the world's oldest preserved destroyer.
There have been several high profile ceremonies in Cowes in recent years honouring the ORP Błyskawica and those on board it, and an area of Cowes has been named 'Francki Place' in tribute to the ship's commander (see Comments for a photo of the commemoration plaque).
Note: Sounds like this DD needs a Anti-aircraft SA
