The Polish Navy 1918-45

Σειρά NEW VANGUARD, βιβλίο No 307: The Polish Navy 1918-45 - From the Polish-Soviet War to World War II

Packed with illustrations, this is a study of the Polish warships such as the Grom-class destroyers that were developed and built in the interwar years.

Newly independent Poland's naval force was created in 1920, initially with six ex-German torpedo boats. However, after German-Soviet exercises off the Polish coast in 1924, funding for warships was hastily allocated. Two destroyers and three submarines were built in France but, disappointed with their quality, Poland ordered new ships, mostly from British and Dutch shipyards.

By summer 1939, the Polish Navy comprised four destroyers, five submarines, one minelayer, six minesweepers and a handful of lesser ships. Although the Grom-class destroyers were two of the fastest and best-armed destroyers of the war, the tiny Polish fleet would stand little chance against the Kriegsmarine, and on 30 August three destroyers were dispatched to Britain, followed by two submarines that escaped internment. The remaining Polish surface fleet was sunk by 3 September.

In exile, the Polish Navy operated not only their own ships, but also Royal Navy warships, including a cruiser, destroyers, submarines and motor torpedo boats which fought alongside the Allies in the Battle of the Atlantic, the Arctic Convoys, and at the Normandy landings. This detailed account not only describes the Polish Navy's contribution to the Allied war effort but also the episode of the Polish destroyer Piorun which took on the Bismarck in a lone gun duel leading to the sinking of the great German battleship.

Περιεχόμενα:

INTRODUCTION

• Poland regains independence, 1918

THE POLISH–BOLSHEVIK WAR

• 1919 campaign
• 1920 campaign

POLISH NAVY DEVELOPMENT 1921–39

• The navy from World War I remnants, 1921
• The first naval programme, 1925
• Between the Soviet Union and Germany

THE POLISH NAVY IN WORLD WAR II

• The German–Soviet assault
• Revival: the Polish naval detachment 1939
• The year of dashed hopes, 1940
• The Battle of the Atlantic 1940–44
• The Arctic convoys
• The North Atlantic
• The Mediterranean 1941–44
• Invasion of the continent 1944

CONCLUSION

FURTHER READING

INDEX

Συγγραφέας: Przemyslaw Budzbon

Εικονογράφηση: Paul Wright

Έκδοση: Osprey Publishing

Περιγραφή: Σελ. 48, μαλακό εξώφυλλο, 248 X 184 mm.

Κατάσταση: ΑΜΕΤΑΧΕΙΡΙΣΤΟ