In June there will be an expedition to find the bell of ORP "Kujawiak"

At the beginning of June 2016, another, third expedition to the wreck of the Polish destroyer ORP “Kujawiak” will set off towards Malta. The aim of this year’s expedition will be to take up the most important artefact that every sunken vessel possesses, and which allows for one hundred percent identification – the ship’s bell. The Polish escort destroyer has been lying at the bottom since it was sunk in 1942.

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During the two-week expedition, in addition to attempting to retrieve the bell, participants will also use a remotely operated AUV-type robot to create a detailed image of the wreck and its immediate surroundings using sound waves. The collected data will then be used to create a 3D reconstruction of the vessel.

If the ‘Kujawiak’ bell is found and excavated, it will be transferred to the collection of the Maritime Museum in La Valletta, where, after a series of conservation measures, it will be displayed to the public as part of the exhibition.

On 22 September 2014, the Polish expedition “The Hunt for L72″ located and identified the wreck of the Polish destroyer ORP “Kujawiak”. On 16 June 1942, the vessel sank off the coast of Malta, where she was on escort duty. It was while protecting one of the transports that the L-72 hit a mine and went down. According to different sources 12-13 Polish seamen lost their lives that day.

Based on the findings of the expedition to the wreck of ORP “Kujawiak” a book was written by Mariusz Borowiak “Podwodni tropiciele”. It is a very interesting book, comprehensively presenting the profile of the “Polish Hunt”, as the ship was called, as well as people and events connected with it. You can find a review of the book in our pages here.

During her short service, “Kujawiak” participated in missions in the Bristol Channel and the English Channel. The last wartime touch before sinking was the big operation “Harpoon”, during which she escorted supplies to Malta.

The keel for ORP “Kujawiak” was laid on 22 November 1939 in Vickers-Armstrong shipyard, High Walker, Tyne. The Hunt II type destroyer was originally planned to enter service with the Royal Navy as HMS “Oakley”. The situation changed when the Polish government placed an order for 18 ships of this type on 4 September 1939. The order for 18 ships of this type was placed by the Polish government on 4 September 1939. “Kujawiak” was one of the three from this order that went to our Navy.

The L-72 measured 85.34m long and 9.62m wide. The displacement of the vessel was 1050t. The ship was powered by two sets of Parsons steam turbines, 19000 shp; two Admiralty type boilers and two screws. This allowed her to develop a speed of 27 knots and translated into a range of 2000Mm at 20 knots and 3700Mm at an economy speed of 14 knots.

The whole unit was armed with 6 universal guns cal. 102 mm, 4 plot guns cal. 40 mm, 2-4 plot guns cal. 20 mm, 2 machine guns cal. 7.7 mm, 1-2 launchers and 2 depth bomb throwers.

Source: gospodarkamorska.pl