Blyskawica is apparently the oldest surviving destroyer in the world. She is still in commission with the Polish Navy, and is permanently berthed in Gdynia port, near the marina, and a short walk from down-town Gdynia.She was built in Britain shortly before WW2, after the Polish Navy experienced disappointment with the previous destroyers (which were built in France). On 31 August 1939, Blyskawica was one of three Polish destroyers that made a successful dash to Great Britain to continue the war from there – a controversial decision that was perhaps justified in retrospect when you consider the one destroyer left behind only lasted three days! Blyskawica went on to fight alongside RN forces for the duration of the war, serving with distinction in Narvik, Dunkirk and D-day. She formed an association with the destroyer HMCS Haida which continues to this day. After the war there was an issue with two different Polish Governments – one in exile based in Britain, and a Soviet dominated one at home. Eventually it was agreed that Blyskawica would return to Poland, however most of her crew elected to remain in Britain.Originally built with Bofors guns from Sweden, much of the ammunition for these was lost when her sister Grom was bombed and sunk during the Narvik campaign. She was therefore refitted with British pattern guns. Post-war the guns were retained, but the barrels were replaced with Soviet-made barrels so that Soviet ammunition could be used. To this day, she retains the British guns with Russian barrels, and you can see the different markings when you look into the rear of the mountings.Due to her still being in commission, much of the ship is still under military control – so visitors only have access to the quarterdeck, the after mess-decks (which have been converted into a museum) and the machinery spaces. However, access in the machinery spaces is superb – you can walk right through both engine rooms seeing/photographing everything, and the casing for one of the main propulsion gearboxes has perspex inserts so that you can see into it. (these gearboxes link two turbines to each of the shafts (i.e. there are four turbines for two shafts), which I think may be a relatively unusual configuration). In the boiler room they have cut access into one of the boilers so that you walk through the boiler – which is a view that you don’t normally get access to. Also, thanks to her still being in commission, she is very well maintained. They have a crew of about 40 on her doing routine maintenance, and she gets docked every couple of years. She is only 12 years from her centenary (they are already counting down to that) and will easily make that in good condition.
Links and References:
ORP BŁYSKAWICA a Real War Veteran – Muzeum Marynarki Wojennej
George, A, 2018, ORP Blyskawica: Polish Destroyer which escaped the Germans now a
Museum Ship in Gdynia, Warship World, 15 (9), pp26-27.
Kolesnik, E, 1977, Thunder and Lightning - The Polish Destroyers Blyskawica and Grom, Warship, 1 (4), pp2-11.
Smith, R, 2026, Lightning from Poland, All Hands, 135, pp21-23.