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3 unusual facts about ORP Błyskawica


ORP Błyskawica

The ship was undergoing an emergency refit at the J. Samuel White yard where she was built and, on the night of the raid, fired repeated rounds at the German bombers from outside the harbour, her guns becoming so hot they had to be doused with water.

She was the second of two Grom-class destroyers, built for the Polish Navy by J. Samuel White, Cowes in 1935–37.

In late 1945 and early 1946, the Błyskawica along with the destroyer HMS Onslow took part in Operation Deadlight, the scuttling of over 100 German U-Boats.


Battles of Narvik

Among others, the Polish destroyers Grom, Burza and Błyskawica took part in these operations, during which Grom was sunk by German aircraft on 4 May 1940, with the loss of 59 sailors.


see also