ORP Żuraw
Encyclopedia
ORP Żuraw was a of the Polish Navy
at the outset of World War II
. Żuraw
participated in the defense of Poland during the German invasion of 1939.
as a Jaskkóła (swallow) class warship minesweeper. She was named and launched on September 22, 1938.
The ship was rushed into service and developed problems with the steering gear. possibly because the ship was incomplete when it was put into service. She was under the command of Capt Mjr. Robert Kasperski and her home harbor was at Jastarnia
.
On September 1, 1939 the ship participated in the defense of the Hel
peninsula against a massive German aerial "carpet" bombing attack. On September 14, 1939 the "Żuraw" was transferred to Hel, where the ship became part of the shoreline defense fleet.
under the new German name "Oxhöft". She was initially placed in service as a trawling ship, then later converted to an auxiliary hydro-graphical service ship.
Under the German Navy the ship underwent a retrofit with modifications of the middle section, and the guard of the fight ramp was also altered. Together with three other Polish Navy trawlers that survived the war activities (OORP: ORP Mewa (1935) "Mewa"
, ORP Rybitwa (1935) "Rybitwa"
, ORP Czajka (1935) "Czajka"
), the Żuraw was in service for the auxiliary force of German trawlers. After the war ended, the ships were recovered by the Polish Government at Travemünde
and returned to service with the Polish Navy on January 25 1946. At Travemünde
, the Polish Flag was raised and the ship returned to the Polish name "Żuraw". On or about February 13, 1946, she was transferred to Kilonia
, where new armament (5 German 20 mm cannons) and trawling equipment were added.
On March 12, 1946, the trawlers, together with ORP "Żuraw", returned to Gynia Harbor, where they commenced service as the 1st Division. The warships had a mark on their sides ŻW, which was later altered to beŻR. In 1946 "Żuraw" underwent an overhall, and then became part of a November 1, 1946 mission, (the earliest of the ships class Jaskółka), assigned temporarily to group of trawlers type MT. On November 29, 1946 the ship was assigned to Świnoujście, to join the Szczecin sub-naval region. Beginning in December 1946, the ship went on multiple missions and hydro-graphical surveying. About May 14,1947 the "Żuraw" was permanently assigned to the hydro-graphic Division of Polish Navy at St. Kierzkowski as the "Kompas". At the end of 1947 the ship underwent a modification and was retrofitted for new service, with the hydro-graphical survey and a design and drafting studio.
On or about September 15, 1948 "Żuraw" was officially reclassified and converted as a hydro-graphical, ship with the destination mark: HG-11. She became the first hydrological survey ship of the Polish Navy at the end of the World War II.
On about September 1, 1951 12 members from the crew took over the ship and rerouted the ship to the harbor of Ystad
in Sweden, where they asked for political asylum to escape the newly formed totalitarian communist regime in Poland. On September 3, 1951 the ship returned to Poland with the remaining crew. This event led to a series of political trials in the Polish Navy, which ended on or about November 7, 1951 with the death penalty convictions in abstentia of the escaped crew members. Some of the members of the crew who returned to Poland were also convicted and received the death penalty for allowing other crew members to escape from the communist state.
The Polish government declared that this was an act of treason and put down the ships name and the ship was renamed "Kompas". For the ship's remaining years of the service, she served as a hydro-graphical survey and measurements laboratory.
During 1959–1963 ORP "Kompas" underwent underwent a major retrofit at the Polish Navy Shipyard.
At the end of December 1971 the ship was converted to Military hotel quarters barge BK-4 at Gdynia
shipyard
. In 1977 it was designated to salvage.
A storm on New Year's Eve
1978/1979 broke the rigging and the ship was beached at the orchestra at basin X, and removed from active service.
On or about July 16, 1981, she was towed by a tug boat (H-12) to the Hel peninsula
and the salvage operation began.
Polish Navy
The Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
at the outset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Żuraw
Common Crane
The Common Crane , also known as the Eurasian Crane, is a bird of the family Gruidae, the cranes.It is a large, stately bird and a medium-sized crane at 100–130 cm long, with a 180–240 cm wingspan and a weight of 4.5–6 kg...
participated in the defense of Poland during the German invasion of 1939.
Construction and service 1939
the Żuraw was built at the Polish Navy Shipyard (Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej) in GdyniaGdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
as a Jaskkóła (swallow) class warship minesweeper. She was named and launched on September 22, 1938.
The ship was rushed into service and developed problems with the steering gear. possibly because the ship was incomplete when it was put into service. She was under the command of Capt Mjr. Robert Kasperski and her home harbor was at Jastarnia
Jastarnia
Jastarnia is a small town in Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodship, northern Poland. It is located on the Hel Peninsula on the Baltic Sea. Popular Polish seaside resort and small fishing port....
.
On September 1, 1939 the ship participated in the defense of the Hel
Hel
Hel may refer to:* Hel , a location in Norse mythology* Hel , ruler of Hel, the location* Hel , a Swedish Viking rock band* Hel, Poland, a town on the Polish Baltic coast* Hel Peninsula, the peninsula on which the town is situated...
peninsula against a massive German aerial "carpet" bombing attack. On September 14, 1939 the "Żuraw" was transferred to Hel, where the ship became part of the shoreline defense fleet.
Continuation of service
After the capitulation of the Hel peninsula on October 2, 1939, the ship anchored at Hel harbor and was confiscated by the Germans. Following this, the ship was put in the service of the German Navy KriegsmarineKriegsmarine
The Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
under the new German name "Oxhöft". She was initially placed in service as a trawling ship, then later converted to an auxiliary hydro-graphical service ship.
Under the German Navy the ship underwent a retrofit with modifications of the middle section, and the guard of the fight ramp was also altered. Together with three other Polish Navy trawlers that survived the war activities (OORP: ORP Mewa (1935) "Mewa"
Gull
Gulls are birds in the family Laridae. They are most closely related to the terns and only distantly related to auks, skimmers, and more distantly to the waders...
, ORP Rybitwa (1935) "Rybitwa"
Tern
Terns are seabirds in the family Sternidae, previously considered a subfamily of the gull family Laridae . They form a lineage with the gulls and skimmers which in turn is related to skuas and auks...
, ORP Czajka (1935) "Czajka"
Northern Lapwing
The Northern Lapwing , also known as the Peewit, Green Plover or just Lapwing, is a bird in the plover family. It is common through temperate Eurasia....
), the Żuraw was in service for the auxiliary force of German trawlers. After the war ended, the ships were recovered by the Polish Government at Travemünde
Travemünde
Travemünde is a borough of Lübeck, Germany, located at the mouth of the river Trave in Lübeck Bay. It began life as a fortress built by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, in the 12th century to guard the mouth of the Trave, and the Danes subsequently strengthened it. It became a town in 1317 and in...
and returned to service with the Polish Navy on January 25 1946. At Travemünde
Travemünde
Travemünde is a borough of Lübeck, Germany, located at the mouth of the river Trave in Lübeck Bay. It began life as a fortress built by Henry the Lion, Duke of Saxony, in the 12th century to guard the mouth of the Trave, and the Danes subsequently strengthened it. It became a town in 1317 and in...
, the Polish Flag was raised and the ship returned to the Polish name "Żuraw". On or about February 13, 1946, she was transferred to Kilonia
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
, where new armament (5 German 20 mm cannons) and trawling equipment were added.
On March 12, 1946, the trawlers, together with ORP "Żuraw", returned to Gynia Harbor, where they commenced service as the 1st Division. The warships had a mark on their sides ŻW, which was later altered to beŻR. In 1946 "Żuraw" underwent an overhall, and then became part of a November 1, 1946 mission, (the earliest of the ships class Jaskółka), assigned temporarily to group of trawlers type MT. On November 29, 1946 the ship was assigned to Świnoujście, to join the Szczecin sub-naval region. Beginning in December 1946, the ship went on multiple missions and hydro-graphical surveying. About May 14,1947 the "Żuraw" was permanently assigned to the hydro-graphic Division of Polish Navy at St. Kierzkowski as the "Kompas". At the end of 1947 the ship underwent a modification and was retrofitted for new service, with the hydro-graphical survey and a design and drafting studio.
On or about September 15, 1948 "Żuraw" was officially reclassified and converted as a hydro-graphical, ship with the destination mark: HG-11. She became the first hydrological survey ship of the Polish Navy at the end of the World War II.
On about September 1, 1951 12 members from the crew took over the ship and rerouted the ship to the harbor of Ystad
Ystad
Ystad is a "locality", or town, and the seat of Ystad Municipality, Skåne County, Sweden, with 17,286 inhabitants .Settlement dates back to the 11th century and the town has become a busy ferryport, local administrative centre and tourist attraction...
in Sweden, where they asked for political asylum to escape the newly formed totalitarian communist regime in Poland. On September 3, 1951 the ship returned to Poland with the remaining crew. This event led to a series of political trials in the Polish Navy, which ended on or about November 7, 1951 with the death penalty convictions in abstentia of the escaped crew members. Some of the members of the crew who returned to Poland were also convicted and received the death penalty for allowing other crew members to escape from the communist state.
The Polish government declared that this was an act of treason and put down the ships name and the ship was renamed "Kompas". For the ship's remaining years of the service, she served as a hydro-graphical survey and measurements laboratory.
During 1959–1963 ORP "Kompas" underwent underwent a major retrofit at the Polish Navy Shipyard.
At the end of December 1971 the ship was converted to Military hotel quarters barge BK-4 at Gdynia
Gdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
shipyard
Shipyard
Shipyards and dockyards are places which repair and build ships. These can be yachts, military vessels, cruise liners or other cargo or passenger ships. Dockyards are sometimes more associated with maintenance and basing activities than shipyards, which are sometimes associated more with initial...
. In 1977 it was designated to salvage.
A storm on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
1978/1979 broke the rigging and the ship was beached at the orchestra at basin X, and removed from active service.
On or about July 16, 1981, she was towed by a tug boat (H-12) to the Hel peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
and the salvage operation began.
Service
- 1937 – laying the stump for the main haul
- September 22, 1938 – waterborne
- September 31, 1939(?) raising of the Polish Flag
- September 14 – lowering of the Polish Flag
- October 2, 1939-1945 – captured by Germany during World War II; in service as a German warship Oxhöft in KriegsmarineKriegsmarineThe Kriegsmarine was the name of the German Navy during the Nazi regime . It superseded the Kaiserliche Marine of World War I and the post-war Reichsmarine. The Kriegsmarine was one of three official branches of the Wehrmacht, the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany.The Kriegsmarine grew rapidly...
- since October 15 1945 – at Deutsche Mineräumdienststeilung
- January 25, 1946 – raising of the Polish Flag and return to Polish original name "ORP Żuraw".
- October 15, 1948 – retro as a hydro-graphical and drafting studio service ship.
- September 1, 1951 – detour of the craft to Sweden
- 1951 – renaming to ORP Kompas
- December - Military service quarters barge BK – 4
- 1977 – end of life service cycle with salvage destination.
- December 31, 1978/January 1, 1979 – breaking of anchors and consequent shoring.
- 1981 beginning of salvage operation.
Technical data
- DisplacementsDisplacement (ship)A ship's displacement is its weight at any given time, generally expressed in metric tons or long tons. The term is often used to mean the ship's weight when it is loaded to its maximum capacity. A number of synonymous terms exist for this maximum weight, such as loaded displacement, full load...
:- Standard – 183 tons,
- full– 203 tons (after retro. – 300 tons)
- dimensions:
- overall length – 45 m (after retro. 45.7 m)
- width – 5.5 m (after retro. 5.5 m)
- submergence – 1.7 m (after retro. 2.2 m)
- power plants: 2 8 cyl. Diesel engineDiesel engineA diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s with a combined total power of 1050 HP - reach: 4300 Mm speed 8.3 w. – after retro.
- cruising speed: 18 knots (after retro. 14.3 w)
- crew: 30 (after retro. 38)
- Armament (prior to 1939):
- 1 cannonCannonA cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
caliber 75 mm - 1 dual interlocked machine gunMachine gunA machine gun is a fully automatic mounted or portable firearm, usually designed to fire rounds in quick succession from an ammunition belt or large-capacity magazine, typically at a rate of several hundred rounds per minute....
13.2 mm HotchkissBenjamin B. HotchkissBenjamin Berkeley Hotchkiss was one of the leading American ordnance engineers of his day.-American career:... - 2 heavy antiaircraft machine guns caliber 7.92 mm
- 20 contact mines type 08/39
- 20 depth bombs
- 1 cannon
- Armament (1946–1948):
- 5 antiaircraft machine gun caliber 20 mm (one dual and one single)
- 20 nautical mine wz.08
- Armament (1948–1949):
- 2 antiaircraft machine guns caliber 20 mm (1 dual interlocked)
- after 1950 – disarmed
- trolling equipment: 2 sets (as a minesweeper)