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Coordinates: 35°53′N 14°35′E / 35.883°N 14.583°E / 35.883; 14.583
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{{other ships|ORP Kujawiak|HMS Oakley}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:ORPKujawiak1.jpg|300px]]
|Ship image=ORPKujawiak1.jpg
|Ship caption=
|Ship caption=''Kujawiak'' in 1942
}}
}}
{{Infobox Ship Career
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Hide header=
|Ship country=UK
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|UK|naval}}
|Ship flag=[[Image:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px|Royal Navy Ensign]]
|Ship name=HMS ''Oakley''
|Ship name=HMS ''Oakley''
|Ship ordered=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder= [[Vickers-Armstrongs]]
|Ship builder= [[Vickers-Armstrongs]], Tyne
|Ship laid down= 22 November 1939
|Ship laid down= 22 November 1939
|Ship launched= 30 October 1940
|Ship launched= 30 October 1940
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|Ship struck=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=
|Ship fate=Transferred to Poland 3 April 1941
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|Ship status=
|Ship honours=
|Ship honours=
|Ship notes=
|Ship notes=
}}
}}
{{Infobox Ship Career
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Hide header=title
|Ship country=Poland
|Ship country=Poland
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|Poland|naval}}
|Ship flag=[[Image:Naval Ensign of Poland.svg|54px|[[Image:BANDERA MW navy-background.png]]]]
|Ship name=ORP ''Kujawiak''
|Ship name=ORP ''Kujawiak''
|Ship ordered=
|Ship ordered=
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|Ship launched=
|Ship launched=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=June, 1941
|Ship commissioned= 17 June 1941
|Ship decommissioned=
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|Ship in service=
|Ship in service=
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|Ship struck=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=sunk by mine on 16 June 1942, near [[Malta]]
|Ship fate=Sunk by [[Naval mine|mine]] on 16 June 1942, near [[Malta]]
|Ship status=
|Ship honours=
|Ship honours=
|Ship notes=
|Ship notes=
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|Header caption=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=Hunt Type II
|Ship class=Type II {{sclass2|Hunt|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement=1050 tons standard, 1490 tons full load
|Ship displacement=*1,050 tons standard
*1,490 tons full load
|Ship length=85 m
|Ship length={{convert|85|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam=9.5 m
|Ship beam={{convert|9.5|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught=2.4 m
|Ship draught={{convert|2.4|m|abbr=on}}
⚫
|Ship propulsion=powered by 2 shaft steam turbines {{Convert|19000|hp|kW|-2|abbr=on}}
|Ship speed={{Convert|27|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship speed={{Convert|27|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship range={{Convert|2500|nmi|km|-2}} at {{Convert|20|kn|km/h|-1}}<br>{{Convert|3700|nmi|km|-2}} at {{Convert|14|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship range=*{{Convert|2500|nmi|km|-2}} at {{Convert|20|kn|km/h|-1}}
*{{Convert|3700|nmi|km|-2}} at {{Convert|14|kn|km/h|0}}
|Ship complement=160
|Ship complement=160
|Ship armament=6 102&nbsp;mm guns ( 3 twin turrets)<br>4 40&nbsp;mm Anti Aircraft cannons<br>2 to 4 20&nbsp;mm Anti Aircraft cannons<br>6 Depth charge throwers
|Ship armament=*6 × [[QF 4 inch Mk XVI naval gun|QF 4&nbsp;in Mark XVI]] guns (3 twin turrets)
*4 × 40&nbsp;mm anti-aircraft cannons
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|Ship notes=powered by 2 shaft steam turbines {{Convert|19000|hp|kW|-2|abbr=on}}
*2 to 4 [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|20 mm]] anti-aircraft cannons
|Ship honours=
*6 [[depth charge]] throwers
⚫
|Ship notes=
}}
}}
|}
|}


The '''ORP Kujawiak''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Hunt class destroyer|''Hunt''-class]] [[destroyer escort]], formerly named the '''[[Her Majesty's Ship|HMS]] ''Oakley'''''.
'''ORP ''Kujawiak''''' was a British Type II {{sclass2|Hunt|destroyer|0}} [[destroyer escort]], originally ordered as '''HMS'' Oakley'''''.


''Kujawiak'' was built by [[Vickers-Armstrongs]] at the company's [[High Walker]] yard on the [[River Tyne]]. Her keel was laid down on 22 November 1939 and she was launched on 30 October 1940. Originally commissioned into the Royal Navy, she was renamed and commissioned into the [[Polish Navy]] in June 1941.
''Kujawiak'' was built by [[Vickers-Armstrongs]] at the company's [[High Walker]] yard on the [[River Tyne]]. Her [[keel]] was laid down on 22 November 1939 and she was launched on 30 October 1940 as HMS ''Oakley'' but on completion in June 1941 she was renamed and commissioned into the [[Polish Navy]].


''Kujawiak'' was sunk on 16 June 1942 after running into a mine near [[Malta]] while participating in [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]]. 13 Polish sailors died and 20 were wounded.
''Kujawiak'' was sunk on 16 June 1942 after running into a German MT 14 minefield near [[Malta]] while participating in [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]]. 13 Polish sailors died and 20 were wounded.


==Design==
⚫
==Details of war service==
The ship was ordered under the 1939 War Emergency Programme as HMS ''Oakley'' on 4 September 1939 from Vickers-Armstrongs High Walker Yard on the Tyne who laid her down on 22 November 1939 with the yard number of J4145. Her engines were to be constructed by Parsons. She was launched on 30 October 1940 under her British name but on 3 April 1941 it was decided to transfer her together with {{HMS|Silverton|L115|6}} to the Polish Navy. On her completion on 17 June 1941 she was commissioned as ORP ''Kujawiak''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=English |first1=John |title=The Hunts |date=1987 |publisher=World Ship Society |isbn=0905617444 |pages=17 & 73}}</ref>
Details of war service for ORP ''Kujawiak'':<ref>''"Details of War Service"'' naval-history.net</ref>

⚫
==War service==


===1941===
===1941===
* '''18 Jun''' Kujawiak came under attack by German aircraft whilst on passage from Tyne to [[Scapa Flow]] to work-up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet. Fire from aircraft hit 4in ready-use ammunition which exploded causing one fatal casualty.
On 18 June ''Kujawiak'' came under attack by German aircraft whilst on passage from Tyne to [[Scapa Flow]] to work-up for operational service with ships of [[Home Fleet]]. Fire from the aircraft hit the 4-inch ready-use ammunition which exploded causing one fatal casualty. After completing her work-up on 25 July she joined the [[15th Destroyer Flotilla]] based at [[Plymouth]] for local convoy escort and patrol duties.

* '''25 Jul''' Joined 15th Destroyer Flotilla based at Plymouth for local convoy escort and Flotilla duties.
* '''23 Oct''' Deployed with Polish destroyer ORP Krakowiak for escort of inward Convoy SL89 during final stage of passage in [[Irish Sea]] from Freetown into Liverpool.
Later that year on 23 October ''Kujawiak'' deployed with fellow Polish destroyer {{ORP|Krakowiak|L115|6}} for escort of inward Convoy SL89 during final stage of passage in [[Irish Sea]] from Freetown into Liverpool. On 22 December she sailed from Scapa Flow as part of Force J to carry out landings on the [[Lofoten Islands]] as part of [[Operation Claymore]]. Two days later on 27 December the destroyer sustained slight damage from a near miss during air attacks.
* '''22 Dec''' Sailed from Scapa Flow as part of Force J to carry out landings on [[Lofoten Islands]] as part of [[Operation Claymore]].
* '''27 Dec''' Sustained slight damage from near miss during air attacks.


===1942===
===1942===
In early June 1942 ''Kujawiak'' was nominated for loan service with the Home Fleet as part of the escort for the planned relief convoy to [[Malta]] ([[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]]). On 6 June she joined military Convoy WS19S in the Northwest Approaches as part of Ocean Escort for passage to [[Gibraltar]]. She joined Force X at [[Gibraltar]] on 12 June whose task was to escort the Harpoon convoy through the [[Strait of Sicily|Sicilian Narrows]] to Malta. On 14 June the convoy came under heavy and sustained air attacks during which the cruiser {{HMS|Liverpool|C11|2}} was damaged. The following day the air attacks continued and ''Kujawiak'' was in action with Italian warships attempting to intercept and attack the convoy.<ref>{{cite web |title=ORP Kujawiak |url=https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DE-HMS_Oakley1-Kujawiak.htm |website=Naval History Net |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref>
* '''June''' Nominated for loan service with Home Fleet for escort of planned Malta Relief convoy ([[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]])
* '''6 Jun''' Joined military Convoy WS19S in NW Approaches as part of Ocean Escort for passage to [[Gibraltar]].
* '''12 Jun''' Joined Force X at Gibraltar for escort of convoy for passage to Malta through [[Strait of Sicily|Sicilian Narrows]].
* '''14 Jun''' Under heavy and sustained air attacks during which [[HMS Liverpool (C11)|HMS Liverpool]] damaged.
* '''15 Jun''' Under sustained air attacks and in action with Italian warships attempting to intercept and attack the convoy.
* '''16 Jun''' Sustained major structural damage forward after detonating a mine whilst entering [[Grand Harbor]], Malta. Ship sank before successful tow could be achieved.

==Commanding officers==
*Komandor podporucznik Ludwik Lichodziejewski

⚫
==Search for wreck==
In December 2011, marine documentary-maker [[Emi Farrugia]] announced plans to search for the wreck of the ''Kujawiak''. An approximate position given by the British Ministry of Defence gave no proper indication of the wreck's location and Farrugia stated that the search would focus on at least 8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> circling the three approximate positions that are now in hand.<ref>Times of Malta ''"Search is on for Polish wartime frigate sunk near Malta"'' 16 Dec 2011</ref>

==Discovery of Wreck==
On September 22, 2014 a team of Polish explorers and an American from the Wreck Expeditions Association discovered the resting place of the ORP Kujawiak, designated L72, not far from it's last reported location.<ref> www.orpkujawiak.com "September 22nd, ORP Kujawiak found."</ref>

The expedition team consisted of Team Leader Piotr Wytykowski, Expedition Leader Roman Zajder, Michał Szczepaniak, Robert Głuchowski, Bartek Grynda -an underwater technology and ROV specialist-, Marcin Sadowski, Agata Radecka -whose Grandmother's uncle was the commander of the Kujawiak-, and Chris Kraska of the Ohio Maritime Archaeological Survey Team -whose father was a seaman on the Kujawiak who survived her sinking. Using ROV footage and original blueprints from the Hunt Type II escort destroyer the team has ascertained that her only possible identity is the Kujawiak.<ref>http://www.pomorska.pl/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20141004/REGION/141009990 "Polish Warsip located near Malta"</ref>

The discovery has been shared with Maltese and Polish officials and but the coordinates of the wreck are being kept secret for the time being.

The team is already making plans to return to Malta in the summer of 2015 for further exploration and mapping of the wreck.





Near midnight on 16 June, while entering [[Grand Harbor]], Malta ''Kujawiak'' sustained major structural damage forward after detonating a [[Naval mine|mine]] while going to the aid of {{HMS|Badsworth|L03|2}} after she had struck a mine. ''Kujawiak'' sank before a successful tow could be achieved.


⚫
===Discovery of wreck===
[http://www.wiadomosci24.pl/artykul/natrafiono_na_wrak_orp_kujawiak_314241.html ORP Kujawiak found]


On 22 September 2014 a Polish expedition ([[Shipwreck Expeditons Association]]) discovered the location of the wreck of ''Kujawiak''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fakt.pl/gdansk/polscy-nurkowie-odkryli-wrak-orp-kujawiak,artykuly,491090.html |title=Odnaleźli wrak okrętu wojennego ORP... |language=pl |publisher=fakt.pl |date=25 September 2014 |access-date=17 February 2015}}</ref> Further dives were made in 2015 and 2017 with the latter recovering the ship's bell which has been passed to the Maritime Museum of Malta for conservation and display.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kujawiak bell recovered |url=https://dzieje.pl/artykuly-historyczne/wydobyty-przez-nurkow-dzwon-niszczyciela-orp-kujawiak-odzyskal-dawny-blask |website=Dzieje |access-date=23 November 2018 |language=pl}}</ref> The Maltese government has declared the wreck site a war grave and prohibited unauthorised diving<ref>{{cite web |title=Kujawiak |url=https://www.rp.pl/artykul/1208573-Kujawiak-pod-szczegolnym-nadzorem.html |website=Rzeczpospolilta |access-date=23 November 2018 |language=pl}}</ref>
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=242QY9mXglg&feature=youtu.be Polish News Coverage of Story]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references/>


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[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea]]
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[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1942]]
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[[Category:Ships sunk by mines]]
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[[Category:Ships built on the River Tyne]]
[[Category:Ships built by Vickers Armstrong]]

Latest revision as of 17:00, 14 November 2024

For other ships with the same name, see ORP Kujawiak and HMS Oakley.

Kujawiak in 1942
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Oakley
BuilderVickers-Armstrongs, Tyne
Laid down22 November 1939
Launched30 October 1940
FateTransferred to Poland 3 April 1941
Poland
NameORP Kujawiak
Commissioned17 June 1941
FateSunk by mine on 16 June 1942, near Malta
General characteristics
Class and typeType II Hunt-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,050 tons standard
  • 1,490 tons full load
Length85 m (279 ft)
Beam9.5 m (31 ft)
Draught2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
Propulsionpowered by 2 shaft steam turbines 19,000 hp (14,200 kW)
Speed27 knots (50 km/h)
Range
  • 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km) at 20 knots (40 km/h)
  • 3,700 nautical miles (6,900 km) at 14 knots (26 km/h)
Complement160
Armament

ORP Kujawiak was a British Type II Hunt-class destroyer escort, originally ordered as HMS Oakley.

Kujawiak was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at the company's High Walker yard on the River Tyne. Her keel was laid down on 22 November 1939 and she was launched on 30 October 1940 as HMS Oakley but on completion in June 1941 she was renamed and commissioned into the Polish Navy.

Kujawiak was sunk on 16 June 1942 after running into a German MT 14 minefield near Malta while participating in Operation Harpoon. 13 Polish sailors died and 20 were wounded.

Design

[edit]

The ship was ordered under the 1939 War Emergency Programme as HMS Oakley on 4 September 1939 from Vickers-Armstrongs High Walker Yard on the Tyne who laid her down on 22 November 1939 with the yard number of J4145. Her engines were to be constructed by Parsons. She was launched on 30 October 1940 under her British name but on 3 April 1941 it was decided to transfer her together with HMS Silverton to the Polish Navy. On her completion on 17 June 1941 she was commissioned as ORP Kujawiak.[1]

War service

[edit]

1941

[edit]

On 18 June Kujawiak came under attack by German aircraft whilst on passage from Tyne to Scapa Flow to work-up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet. Fire from the aircraft hit the 4-inch ready-use ammunition which exploded causing one fatal casualty. After completing her work-up on 25 July she joined the 15th Destroyer Flotilla based at Plymouth for local convoy escort and patrol duties.

Later that year on 23 October Kujawiak deployed with fellow Polish destroyer ORP Krakowiak for escort of inward Convoy SL89 during final stage of passage in Irish Sea from Freetown into Liverpool. On 22 December she sailed from Scapa Flow as part of Force J to carry out landings on the Lofoten Islands as part of Operation Claymore. Two days later on 27 December the destroyer sustained slight damage from a near miss during air attacks.

1942

[edit]

In early June 1942 Kujawiak was nominated for loan service with the Home Fleet as part of the escort for the planned relief convoy to Malta (Operation Harpoon). On 6 June she joined military Convoy WS19S in the Northwest Approaches as part of Ocean Escort for passage to Gibraltar. She joined Force X at Gibraltar on 12 June whose task was to escort the Harpoon convoy through the Sicilian Narrows to Malta. On 14 June the convoy came under heavy and sustained air attacks during which the cruiser Liverpool was damaged. The following day the air attacks continued and Kujawiak was in action with Italian warships attempting to intercept and attack the convoy.[2]

Near midnight on 16 June, while entering Grand Harbor, Malta Kujawiak sustained major structural damage forward after detonating a mine while going to the aid of Badsworth after she had struck a mine. Kujawiak sank before a successful tow could be achieved.

Discovery of wreck

[edit]

On 22 September 2014 a Polish expedition (Shipwreck Expeditons Association) discovered the location of the wreck of Kujawiak.[3] Further dives were made in 2015 and 2017 with the latter recovering the ship's bell which has been passed to the Maritime Museum of Malta for conservation and display.[4] The Maltese government has declared the wreck site a war grave and prohibited unauthorised diving[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ English, John (1987). The Hunts. World Ship Society. pp. 17 & 73. ISBN 0905617444.
  2. ^ "ORP Kujawiak". Naval History Net. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Odnaleźli wrak okrętu wojennego ORP..." (in Polish). fakt.pl. 25 September 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  4. ^ "Kujawiak bell recovered". Dzieje (in Polish). Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  5. ^ "Kujawiak". Rzeczpospolilta (in Polish). Retrieved 23 November 2018.

35°53′N 14°35′E / 35.883°N 14.583°E / 35.883; 14.583

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