| Polish Navy | |
|---|---|
| Marynarka Wojenna | |
 | |
| Founded | 24 March 1568 (Sea Commission) 1626 (Commission of Royal Ships) 1918 (Polish Navy) |
| Country |  Poland |
| Branch | Navy |
| Size | 12,000+ (2022)[1] |
| Part of | Polish Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Gdynia |
| Engagements | Iraq War |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-Chief |  Andrzej Duda |
| Minister of National Defence |  Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz |
| Chief of the General Staff |  GeneralWiesław Kukuła |
| General Commander |  GeneralLech Majewski |
| Operational Commander |  gen. broniTomasz Piotrowski |
| Inspector of the Navy |  wadm.Jarosław Ziemiański [pl] |
| Insignia | |
| Flag[2] |  |
| Naval Ensign |  |
| Naval Jack |  |
ThePolish Navy (Polish:Marynarka Wojenna,lit. 'War Navy'; often abbreviated toMarynarka) is thenavalbranch of thePolish Armed Forces. The Polish Navy consists of 46 ships and about 12,000 commissioned and enlisted personnel. The traditionalship prefix in the Polish Navy isORP (Okręt Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, 'Warship of the Republic of Poland').
The Polish Navy has its roots in naval vessels that were largely employed on Poland's main rivers in defense of trade and commerce. During theThirteen Years' War (1454–66), a small force of ships that primarily operated on rivers and lakes saw real open sea battles for the first time. At theBattle of Vistula Lagoon, a combined fleet of theKingdom of Poland and the pro-PolishPrussian Confederation decisively defeated the navy of theTeutonic Knights, and secured permanent access to the Baltic Sea. In 1454, the maritime city ofGdańsk was re-incorporated to Poland after being previouslyoccupied by the Teutonic Knights since 1308. The reintegration was confirmed in theSecond Peace of Thorn (1466),[3] and Poland acquired the means of maintaining a large fleet on the Baltic. In 1561, following a victory over aRussian fleet in the Baltic, the Polish Navy acquired a second key port atRiga, in modern-dayLatvia.
At that time, as the Kingdom of Poland and theGrand Duchy of Lithuania (Polish–Lithuanian union) became involved inconflicts in Livonia, Polish kingSigismund II Augustus organized a Sea Commission (Komisja Morska) which operated between 1568 and 1572, and supported the operations of Polishprivateers, but that met with opposition of the Poland's primary port,Gdańsk, which saw them as a threat to its trade operations (seeHanseatic League).[4] This led to the development of a privateer port inPuck.[4] Around the start of the 17th century, Poland became ruled by theHouse of Vasa, and was involved ina series of wars with Sweden (see alsodominium maris baltici).[4] The Polish kings of the period attempted to create a proper naval fleet, but their attempts met with repeated failures, due to lack of funds in the royal treasury (Polish nobility saw little need for the fleet and refused to raise taxes for its construction, and Gdańsk continued its opposition to the idea of a royal fleet).[4] During the reign ofSigismund III of Poland, the most celebrated victory of theCommonwealth Navy took place at theBattle of Oliwa in 1627 against theSwedish Empire, during thePolish–Swedish War. The victory over the Swedish fleet secured for Poland permanent access to the Baltic, and laid the foundations for potential expeditions beyond Europe. The plans for the permanent naval fleet fell through shortly afterwards due to a badly executed alliance with theHabsburgs who in 1629 forcibly took over the fleet.[4]
The Commission of Royal Ships (Komisja Okrętów Królewskich) was created in 1625. This commission, along with the ultimate allocation of funds by theSejm in 1637, created a permanent Commonwealth Navy.Władysław IV Vasa, Sigismund's son and successor who took the throne in 1632, purchased 12 ships and built a dedicated port for the royal navy calledWładysławowo.[4] The fleet, however, was entirely destroyed in 1637 byDenmark-Norway, despite the Danish not issuing a formal declaration of war.[5] Support for the idea of a Polish-Lithuanian navy was weak and it largely withered away by the 1640s; the remaining ships were sold in the years 1641–1643, which marked the end of the Commonwealth Navy.[4] A small navy was also created byAugustus II the Strong in 1700 during theGreat Northern War.[6] The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, though the dominant force in Central and Eastern Europe during the 16th–18th centuries, never developed its navy to its full potential. The proportionally small Polish coastline and the limited access to the Atlantic never allowed for a massive buildup of naval forces to the level of maritime great powers such as theKingdom of Great Britain and theKingdom of France. ThePartitions of Poland at the end of the 18th century brought an end to the possibility of an independent Polish Navy.
FollowingWorld War I, theSecond Polish Republic on 28 November 1918, by the order ofJózef Piłsudski, commander of the Armed Forces of Poland, founded the modern Polish Navy. The small naval force was placed under the command of Captain Bogumił Nowotny as its first chief. The first ships, which included severaltorpedo boats, were acquired from the former Imperial German Navy. In the 1920s and 1930s the Polish Navy underwent a modernisation program under the leadership ofVice-AdmiralJerzy Świrski (Chief of Naval Staff) andRear-AdmiralJózef Unrug (CO of theFleet).
A number of modern ships were built inFrance, theNetherlands, and theUnited Kingdom. Despite ambitious plans (including 2cruisers and 12destroyers), the budgetary limitations placed on the government by theGreat Depression never allowed the navy to expand beyond a small Baltic force. The building of onesubmarine,ORP Orzeł, was partly funded by a public collection. One of the main goals of the Polish Navy was to protect the Polish coast against theSoviet Baltic Fleet, therefore it put emphasis on fast submarines, large and heavily armed destroyers and mine warfare. By September 1939 the Polish Navy consisted of 5 submarines, 4 destroyers, 1 bigminelayer and various smaller support vessels and mine-warfare ships. This force was no match for the largerKriegsmarine, and so a strategy of harassment and indirect engagement was implemented.
The outbreak ofWorld War II caught the Polish Navy in a state of expansion. Lacking numerical superiority, Polish Naval commanders decided to withdraw main surface ships toGreat Britain to join the Allied war effort and prevent them from being destroyed in a closed Baltic (thePeking Plan). On 30 August 1939, three destroyers, (ORP Błyskawica,ORP Grom, andORP Burza) sailed to the British naval base atLeith in Scotland. They then operated in combination withRoyal Navy vessels against Germany. Also two submarines managed to flee from theBaltic Sea through theDanish straits to Great Britain during thePolish September Campaign (one of them,ORP Orzeł, made adaring escape frominternment inTallinn,Estonia, and traveled without charts). Three submarines were interned in Sweden, while remaining surface vessels were sunk by German aircraft.
The coastal defense subordinated to the Polish Navy fought as one of the longest defending forces in Poland until October 2, 1939. During the32-day defense, theHel Fortified Area and theHeliodor Laskowski's Artillery battery were of great importance.
During the war the Polish Navy in exile was supplemented with leased British ships, including twocruisers (ORP Conrad, ex-HMSDanae;ORP Dragon, ex-HMSDragon), seven destroyers, three submarines, and a number of smaller fast-attack vessels. The Polish Navy fought alongside theAllied navies in Norway, the North Sea, the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and aided in the escort ofAtlantic andArctic convoys, in whichORP Orkan was lost in 1943. Polish naval vessels played a part inthe sinking of theGerman battleship Bismarck, and in thelandings in Normandy duringD-Day. During the course of the war, one cruiser, four destroyers, one minelayer, one torpedo boat, two submarines and some smaller vessels (gunboats, mine hunters etc.) were sunk; in total, twenty-six ships were lost, mostly in September 1939. In addition to participating in the sinking ofBismarck, the Polish Navy sank an enemy destroyer and six other surface ships, two submarines and a number of merchant vessels.
After World War II, on 7 July 1945, the new Soviet-imposed Communist government revived the Polish Navy with headquarters inGdynia. During the Communist period, Poland's navy experienced a great buildup, including the development of a separate amphibious force of Polish Marines. The Navy also acquired a number ofSoviet-made ships, including 2 destroyers, 2 missile destroyers, 13 submarines and 17 missile boats. Among them was aKilo-class submarine,ORP Orzeł and amodified Kashin-class missile destroyer, (ORP Warszawa). Polish shipyards produced mostly landing craft, minesweepers and auxiliary vessels. The primary role of theWarsaw Pact Polish Navy was to be Baltic Sea control, as well as amphibious operations along the entire Baltic coastline againstNATO forces inDenmark andWest Germany. Thecollapse of the Soviet Union, thedissolution of the Warsaw Pact, and thefall of Communism ended this stance.
Poland's entrance into theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization has greatly changed the structure and role of the Polish Navy. Whereas before, most of Naval High Command was concerned with coastal defense and Baltic Sea Operations, the current mindset is for integration with international naval operations. To facilitate these changes the Republic of Poland undertook a number of modernization programs aimed at creating a force capable ofpower projection. This included the acquisition of twoOliver Hazard Perry-class frigates from the United States. TheNaval air arm has also acquired a number ofSH-2G Super Seasprite helicopters. The Polish Navy continues to operate one Kilo-class attack submarine (ORP Orzeł).
The Polish Navy has taken part in numerous joint force operations. In 1999 the naval base at Gdynia became the home base of all NATO submarine forces in the Baltic, codenamed "Cooperative Poseidon". That same year joint American-Polish submarine training manoeuvres codenamed "Baltic Porpoise" for the first time utilized the port in a multinational military exercise.
As of the 2020s, the Polish Navy is modernizing its fleet. The work was initially planned as a 9 billion zloty project, but this was reduced in 2012 to 5 billion zloty, causing delays and cancellations in the succeeding years.[7] The navy's 2017 strategy called for spending 13 billion zloty and acquiring 22 new warships, including those completed since 2013.[8] In addition, although the force considers larger warships unsuitable for the confines of the Baltic Sea, the strategy called for extending the operational lifespan of oneOliver Hazard Perry-class frigate.[8]
12 new ships worth around 10 billion PLN were to be acquired before 2026. The plan was updated in 2017 for 2013–2022 period to be worth 13 billion zloty and called to acquire 22 new vessels.[8] These included three coast-defense vessels, code nameMiecznik, that would feature a displacement of 2600 tons; and three patrol/mine countermeasure vessels, code nameCzapla with 1700 tons displacement.[9][10] Other purchases include sixtugboats, twotankers, tworescue ships, oneELINT, one logistical support ship and onejoint support ship. However some deliveries are expected up to 2026.[8] On 2 July 2015,ORP Ślązak was christened during official launching ceremony, becoming the first new Polish-built Navy ship in 21 years.[11] In 2022, UK shipbuilderBabcock announced that the Polish Navy had selected itsArrowhead 140 design for itsMiecznik program, which will equip the navy with three new-build multi-mission frigates. The vessels are expected to be built locally in Poland.[12]
In terms of armament, the Polish Navy has acquired 36 SwedishRBS15 Mk3.[13] and 50 (50/74) NorwegianNaval Strike Missiles[14] for vessels and coastal defence units. As of 2017[update], t is planned to reinforce the Navy's helicopter fleet with four to eightASW/SAR units.[15] TheGawron-classcorvettes program was cancelled with the sole surviving unit to be built as a patrol vessel.[7] In June 2013 the Coastal Missile Division (NDR) equipped initially with 12Naval Strike Missiles and two TRS-15C radars achieved initial readiness.[16]
The main mission of the Polish Navy is the defense of Poland's territorial waters, coastline and its interests abroad. Other missions include the support of NATO allied operations, andsearch and rescue operations throughout the Baltic Sea. In addition, the Polish Navy supplies nearly 40 ships as part of the NATO Rapid Reaction Force, designed to be aforce projection and conflict response force around the world. The Polish Navy is organized into 2 separateFlotillas and a Naval Air Brigade.[17] Until January 1, 2014 the service had a Chief of the Navy (a three-starAdmirał floty) and a Naval Command. On that date the branch-specific Land Forces, Air Forces, Naval and Special Forces Commands were disestablished and combined into two new commands. The functions of the three-star Chief of the Navy were split between two two-star officers (vice-admirals in the Polish system of military ranks) - an Inspector of the Navy under theArmed Forces General Command, responsible for manpower, materiel and combat readiness and a Commander of the Seaborne Component Command, responsible for naval operations.
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| Polish Armed Forces |
|---|
| Branches |
Land Forces Air Force Navy Special Forces Territorial Defence Force |
| History |
| Timeline Wars |
| Personnel |
| Senior officers Rank insignia Awards Oaths |
| Equipment |
| Land Forces Navy |
| NATO code | OF-10 | OF-9 | OF-8 | OF-7 | OF-6 | OF-5 | OF-4 | OF-3 | OF-2 | OF-1 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Polish Navy[20] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||
| Marszałek Polski | Admirał | Admirał floty | Wiceadmirał | Kontradmirał | Komandor | Komandor porucznik | Komandor podporucznik | Kapitan marynarki | Porucznik marynarki | Podporucznik marynarki | ||||||||||||||
| NATO code | OR-9 | OR-8 | OR-7 | OR-6 | OR-5 | OR-4 | OR-3 | OR-2 | OR-1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polish Navy[20] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | No insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Starszy chorąży sztabowy marynarki | Starszy chorąży marynarki | Chorąży marynarki | Młodszy chorąży marynarki | Starszy bosman | Bosman | Bosmanmat | Starszy mat | Mat | Starszy marynarz | Marynarz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maritime patrol | |||||
| An-28 / | Poland | Maritime patrol | An-28/M28 (MPA) | 9[21] | |
| Transport | |||||
| An-28 / | Poland | Light transport | — | 5[21] | |
| Helicopters | |||||
| AW-101 | United Kingdom | ASW / Transport | Merlin Mk614[22] | 3[23] | Replacement ofMil Mi-14 1 on order[21] |
| Mil Mi-14 | Soviet Union | ASW /Search and rescue / Transport | 6[21] | ||
| PZL Mi-2 | Poland | Search and rescue | 3[21] | ||
| PZL W-3 Sokół | Poland | Search and rescue | PZL W-3WARM SAR | 8[21] | |
| Kaman SH-2 | United States | ASW | SH-2G Super Seasprite | 4[21] | |
| Model | Origin | Image | Type | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | |||||
| NSM CDS division |  Norway |  | Coastal defence missile system | 2 | 1 squadron ordered in 2008[24] 1 additional squadron ordered in 2014[24][25] Each squadron is made of 2 batteries. |
| Composition of a division | |||||
| NSM - BCV Naval Strike Missile - Battery Command Vehicle | — | Battery command | 4 | Installed on Jelcz 662D43 6×6 truck.[26] 1 per battery, 2 per squadron[27] | |
| TRS-15C - MRV Mobile Radar Vehicle | Poland | | Radar | 4 | Installed on a Jelcz P882 8×8 truck 1 per battery, 2 per squadron[27] |
| NSM - MLV Naval Strike Missile - Mobile Launch Vehicle | Norway Poland |  | Transporter erector launcher | 12 | Installed on Jelcz 662D43 6×6 truck. 4 missiles per launcher. 3 per battery, 6 per squadron[27] |
| NSM - CCV Naval Strike Missile - Combat Command Vehicle | — |  | Fire control | 12 | Installed on Jelcz 662D35 6×6 truck. 3 per battery, 6 per squadron[27] |
| NSM - MCC Naval Strike Missile - Mobile Communication Center | — | — | Mobile communication center | 4 | Installed on Jelcz 662D43 6×6 truck.[26] 1 per battery, 2 per squadron[27] |
| NSM - TLV Naval Strike Missile - Transport Loading Vehicle | — | — | Transport and loading vehicle | 2 | 1 per squadron[27] |
| NSM - MWV Naval Strike Missile - Mobile Workshop Vehicle | — | — | Mobile workshop vehicle | 2 | 1 per squadron[27] |
| NSM missile Block 1A | Norway |  | Anti-Ship Missile | 74 | 50 missiles ordered in 2008 and 2011 (including 2 for testing)[28] 24 ordered with the launchers in 2014[29] |
Two additional squadrons ofNSM CDS were ordered in 2023, with a delivery planned for 2026 - 2032.[30] Hundreds of missiles are on order.[31]
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| Reserve | National Reserve Forces |
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