The Polish Navy 1918–45

From the Polish-Soviet War to World War II

The Polish Navy 1918–45 cover

Description

Packed with illustrations, this is a study of the Polish warships such as the Grom-class destroyers that were developed and built in the interwar years.

Newly independent Poland's naval force was created in 1920, initially with six ex-German torpedo boats. However, after German-Soviet exercises off the Polish coast in 1924, funding for warships was hastily allocated. Two destroyers and three submarines were built in France but, disappointed with their quality, Poland ordered new ships, mostly from British and Dutch shipyards.

By summer 1939, the Polish Navy comprised four destroyers, five submarines, one minelayer, six minesweepers and a handful of lesser ships. Although the Grom-class destroyers were two of the fastest and best-armed destroyers of the war, the tiny Polish fleet would stand little chance against the Kriegsmarine, and on 30 August three destroyers were dispatched to Britain, followed by two submarines that escaped internment. The remaining Polish surface fleet was sunk by 3 September.

In exile, the Polish Navy operated not only their own ships, but also Royal Navy warships, including a cruiser, destroyers, submarines and motor torpedo boats which fought alongside the Allies in the Battle of the Atlantic, the Arctic Convoys, and at the Normandy landings. This detailed account not only describes the Polish Navy's contribution to the Allied war effort but also the episode of the Polish destroyer Piorun which took on the Bismarck in a lone gun duel leading to the sinking of the great German battleship.

Table of Contents


INTRODUCTION
Poland regains independence, 1918
THE POLISH–BOLSHEVIK WAR
1919 campaign
1920 campaign
POLISH NAVY DEVELOPMENT 1921–39
The navy from World War I remnants, 1921
The first naval programme, 1925
Between the Soviet Union and Germany
THE POLISH NAVY IN WORLD WAR II
The German–Soviet assault
Revival: the Polish naval detachment 1939
The year of dashed hopes, 1940
The Battle of the Atlantic 1940–44
The Arctic convoys
The North Atlantic
The Mediterranean 1941–44
Invasion of the continent 1944
CONCLUSION
FURTHER READING
INDEX

Product details

Published Jun 23 2022
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 48
ISBN 9781472846983
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations Illustrated throughout with 40 photos and 8pp of colour illustrations
Series New Vanguard
Short code NVG 307
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Przemyslaw Budzbon

Przemyslaw Budzbon is a naval architect who work…

Illustrator

Paul Wright

Paul Wright has painted ships of all kinds for mos…

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