ORP „Blyskawica“ – the Polish destroyer

ORP “Błyskawica” was an interwar, WWII and post-war Polish destroyer. The keel of this ship was laid in 1935 October, launched in 1936 in October, and began serving in the Polish Navy in 1937. The length of the ship is 114 meters; the width is 11.2 meters. Displacement reached about 2150 tons, maximal speed - up to 39-40 knots. In 1945 armament consisted of 8 102 mm guns, 4 40 mm anti-aircraft guns and 4 533 mm torpedo tubes. ORP “Błyskawica” was one of two Polish destroyers of the “Grom” class, built at the British shipyard “J. Samuel White” in Cowes by order of the Polish Government. Ships of this type were characterized by a very high maximum speed, good seaworthiness and a long sailing range. They also had quite strong artillery and, as it turned out during service, were suitable for modernization. Undoubtedly, these were very successful ships, not inferior to foreign projects. Between the wars ORP “Błyskawica” made many courtesy visits, representing the Polish Navy. On the eve of the outbreak of the Second World War, in accordance with the "Beijing" plan, she went to Great Britain and there - as part of the Polish Armed Forces in the West - she continued the fight, writing a glorious page in the history of the Polish Navy. The ship participated in the Norwegian campaign (1940) and operation "Dinamo" - during the evacuation of the allied forces from Dunkirk in 1940 at the turn of May and June. ORP “Błyskawica” also fought in the Battle of the Atlantic (1940-1942), escorting convoys of ships. 1942-1943 the destroyer served in the Mediterranean Sea, participated in Operation "Torch", in 1944 the destroyer was transferred to the north to prepare for the Allied landings in Normandy, participated in the Battle of Ushant. The last operation, in which ORP “Błyskawica” participated, was Operation “Deadlight” in 1945-1946 - the destruction of surviving German submarines by sinking them. In 1947, the destroyer returned to Poland. Since 1976 ORP "Błyskawica" is moored in the port of Gdynia and functions as a museum ship. In 1987, the destroyer was awarded the Golden Cross of the "Virtuti Militari" order, and in 2012 - the "Pro Memoria" medal.

A medium-size model of a medium-size ship - moderately designed, moderately detailed, intended for medium-experienced and experienced modelers. But it is not so complicated, that it could not be assembled by a modeler with little experience, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. But it will not be easy. Beautiful spotted camouflage, no color reserves, excellent textual instructions in Polish, but the graphical ones are small, incomplete and only supplement the text ones. Antiquarian publication.