MKF8-2003 POLSKI TORPEDOWIEC ORP "ŚLĄZAK"

ORP Ślązak was a German, and later Polish torpedo boat from the First World War and the interwar period. The keel for this vessel was laid in 1917, the launch took place in March of the same year, and entry into service in Kaiserliche Marine took place in June 1917. The length of the ship was 61.1 meters and a width of 6.4 meters. Full displacement reached approx. 380 tons, and maximum speed - approx. 21-22 knots. Weapons - in 1937 - consisted of 1 75mm gun and 2 machine guns. ORP Ślązak was originally called A-59 and was built at the AG Vulcan shipyard in Szczecin. He served in the German Navy until the end of World War I, but did not take a very active part in it. In 1919, together with such ships as ORP Podhalanin or ORP Krakowiak, it was awarded - as part of the Kaiserliche Marine division - to the Polish side. She was one of the first ships on which the Polish flag was raised after regaining independence - it happened in October 1921, and two years later she was assigned to the Torpedo Squadron. Withdrawal from service took place in 1938, and the unit did not actively participate in the September campaign and was taken over by the Germans after it ended. Sunk while being towed for scrap metal.