POLISH NAVY (POLSKA MARYNARKA WOJENNA)

POST-WAR ACTIVITIES 1945-47

Click on 1945 to view post-war activities from May 1945 –	1946 The post-war activities cover not only operations, but details of the demobilisation and repatriation to Poland and to countries other than Poland of Polish Navy personnel.  Statistics on numbers opting for  repatriation and demobilisation are given.  There are also notes on morale in the Polish Navy and the organizing of educational/vocational courses.
	Polish Navy ships ORP “Piorun” (G 65) ex HMS Nerissa  - N-class Destroyer ORP “Ślązak" (L 26), ex-HMS Bedale -  Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer ORP “Garland” (H 37) ex-HMS Garland - G-class Destroyer ORP “Krakowiak” (L 115), ex-HMS Silverton - Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer ORP “Conrad” ex-HMS Danae - World War 1 D-type Light Cruiser ORP "Błyskawica" Destroyer ORP “Burza” Destroyer ORP "Dzik" - Submarine ORP "Sokół" – Submarine ORP “Wilk” - Submarine
JANUARY-FEBRUARY
In January vocational training centres and vocational training for officers was established in Britain. Demobilisation Matters In the reporting period 10th January to 10th February 1946 - (a) Settled (1) Released to Merchant Navy – 26. (b) In progress (2) partial demobilisation (outside of Poland) on the basis of the Form of Application – 247. Withdrawn at the request of the parties concerned – 10. (3) Individual exemptions – 11. Repatriation Registrations in the month of January included 82 petty officers and ratings, which increased the number of applications to 174  Of this departed to British transit camps or left for Poland (i) On 12 November 1945 – 31 (including 1 officer) (ii) On 3rd December 1945 – 20. (iii) On 11th January 1946 -24. (d) On 2nd February 1946 – 29. Total – 104 including 1 officer.	Between the 6th January and 9th February ORP “Ślązak" patrolled the eastern part of the English Channel and the northern French-Belgian coast. On the 10th January, the submarine base in Dundee was wound up.  On the 11th January,  the submarines ORP "Sokół" and ORP "Dzik" left Dundee and arrived at their temporary base at West Hartlepool. In a short time they will go on to Harwich.  The submarine group was now subordinated to Naval Command South. ORP “Burza”, currently in 2nd Reserve in Tyne to transfer shortly to Harwich where she would start in part, to serve as a base for submarine personnel, limited to 20 people. On 8th January, the cruiser, ORP “Conrad” was no longer at the disposal of the RN Flag Officer in Charge Norway and arrived at Rosyth from Oslo.  The “Conrad” remained at Rosyth during the rest of January. The destroyers, ORP "Błyskawica", ORP “Piorun” and ORP “Garland” took part in the final phase of Operation “Deadlight”. After completion of the operation "Błyskawica" and “Garland” went to Rosyth, “Piorun” to Portland. ORP “Garland” was put at the disposal of Flag Officer in Charge Norway, in place of the “Conrad”, and on 11th January left for Oslo. She returned from Oslo to Rosyth with personnel of British Land Forces, Norway for a short stopover on 28th January. On the 21st January, ORP “Ślązak", following a stopover in Sheerness, left for Cuxhaven. ORP “Krakowiak” remained during January at Sheerness.
FEBRUARY-MARCH
Demobilisation Matters In the final days of the reporting period (a) Settled (1) Released to Merchant Navy – 7 (33). (2) In progress (2) partial demobilisation (outside of Poland) on the basis of Form of Applications – 2 (249). (b) Withdrawn applications – 2 (12). (c) Individual exemptions  - (11). Note: totals given in brackets. Repatriation Applications in the month of February included 28 Petty Officers and men, which increased the number of applications to 202. Of this departed to British transit camps or left for Poland (a) in the previous reporting period – 104 (including 1 officer) (b) in February on 6th of the month – 32. Technical cooperation with British technical centers in the period 1945-1946 were as follows: Studying at British technical universities:  3 officers, 9 cadets, 125 petty officers and sailors. Spent time - practice in industry and the Royal Navy - 3 officers. Loaned to the Royal Navy for scientific and technical work - 5 officers. Numerous officers and ratings spending time in various long and short courses in the Royal Navy (from a few days to 12 month). One invention made by a petty officer has raised considerable interest in the British Admiralty, and is currently at the stage of detailed study there. Morale The current morale in the Navy is characterized by continued uncertainty about the future of Poland and personal fortunes due to the threat of demobilization and concern about the failure to find employment after demobilisation. A still yet undetermined group of people intend to return to Poland with motives in the majority of cases due to family reasons. Recent developments in international politics led to a clear improvement in morale.	On 1st February, ORP “Conrad” started its first period of repairs, which were completed on the 26th February at Rosyth. ORP “Piorun" on 13th February based with the Home Fleet in Portland went to Rosyth, where she began repairs and cleaning of her boilers. ORP "Garland" was designated as a Home Fleet Unit stationed in Norway in place of the ORP "Conrad" and on 8th February departed for Oslo.  Available to Flag Officer in Charge Norway, she was sent on 16th February from Oslo to Kristiansand and Kiel as escort for the German vessel "Buzzard."   Departed Kiel on 21st February to Bremerhaven and Copenhagen, where she provided supplies to the British Red Cross from Kiel. On 1st March, the ship returned to Oslo. ORP "Błyskawica" after a stopover in Rosyth received orders to relieve ORP "Garland" in Oslo, where she arrived on 22nd February. ORP "Krakowiak" and ORP "Ślązak" located in Sheerness.  On the 14th and 15th February, "Ślązak" undertook a service trip to Calais. ORP “Burza” was designated as a ship base for the Submarine Group and on the 27th February moved from its current location on the Tyne to Harwich. The submarines "Sokół" and "Dzik" arrived at Harwich from Hartlepool on the 28th February. ORP “Wilk” in the coming days will be towed from Plymouth to Harwich where she will join the group of submarines.
MARCH-APRIL
Demobilisation Matters Repatriation Morale TO COMPLETE	ORP “Conrad” and ORP “Piorun” based at Rosyth. ORP "Błyskawica" returns on 18th March from Oslo to Rosyth. ORP "Garland" arrives on 2nd March at Oslo from Copenhagen, whence on 7th March returned to Rosyth.  As a result of the departure of the Home Fleet on manoevers the above ships were from the 7th March now subordinated to Rosyth Command. ORP "Krakowiak" based in Sheerness. ORP "Ślązak” was in for short repairs and cleaning of her boilers at Chatham from 6th  to 16th March, following which she returned to Sheerness.  Cooperated with HMS “Ganges” in Harwich with training of Royal Navy specialists.  [During the war, HMS “Ganges” was an on-shore naval training base of the Royal Navy]. The submarines "Sokół" and "Dzik" and ORP “Burza” based at Harwich. ORP “Wilk” arrived at Harwich from Plymouth on the 11th March and joined the submarine group.
APRIL-MAY
Demobilisation Matters Repatriation Morale TO COMPLETE	During April, a group composed of OORP “Conrad”, "Błyskawica", “Piorun" and "Garland" after leaving Rosyth on the 15th April took part in a group exercise in the North Sea, whereupon on the 17th arrived at Plymouth.  During a week’s stopover at Plymouth granted holiday leave as well as changes and replenishment of the crew in connection with the repatriation action.  The group left Plymouth on the 26th April and returned to Rosyth on 28th April. OORP "Krakowiak" and "Ślązak” based at Sheerness – left for Harwich to assist with training at the RNs specialist training school. The group of submarines together with ORP “Burza” based at Harwich. ORP “Dzik” on 27th April to Portsmouth.
MAY-JUNE
TO COMPLETE
JUNE
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JULY
TO COMPLETE
AUGUST
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SEPTEMBER
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OCTOBER
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NOVEMBER
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DECEMBER
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Prepared/Revised 5 June 2013

PolishNavypostwar1946.htm

© R Ostrycharz 2013