Navy: | ORP = Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej |
Type: | Destroyer |
Class: | Wicher { Wicher means strong wind in English. } |
Pennant: | W |
Built by: | Chantiers Navals Francais (Caen, France) |
Laid down: | 19 Feb, 1927 |
Launched: | 08 Jul, 1928 |
Commissioned: | 13 Jul, 1930 |
Lost: | 03 Sep, 1939 |
History: |
Sunk by 4/Trägergrubbe 186 Ju-87 Stukas at Hel (the minelayer Gryf and some other smaller vessels are also sunk. |
Events:
|
1 Sep, 1939 In the afternoon Wicher was ordered to cover the minelaying Operation Rurka conducted by Gryf. The operation was canceled, but nobody informed the commanding officer of Wicher about this fact. At 22.00hours the Polish destroyer spotted two German destroyers(most likely the Richard Beitzen and Georg Thiele) at distance of about 4500 meters. There was excellent opportunity for gun or torpedo attack but the Wicher didn't open fire, because she was ordered to attack only when the enemy spots the Gryf (which stayed in harbor!). A few minutes later another German ship appeared this one wasn't attacked too. It was most likely another German destroyer. Wicher's crew claimed her as cruiser, but this was impossible, because German crusiers were positioned in a different area. 2 Sep, 1939 3 Sep, 1939 |