ORP Kujawiak was a Polish torpedo boat, served from 1921 to 1939; formerly the German A 68 from World War I, one of the first ships of the Polish Navy. The vessel was acquired by the navy from the division of Imperial German Navy ships after the end of the war. Struggling with technical issues, the unit served as a training ship from 1929, and then as an auxiliary ship, and was removed from the fleet list shortly before the outbreak of the war. During the Invasion of Poland, it served as a floating reserve oil tank, was sunk by aircraft, and subsequently scrapped.
Construction, service, and acquisition by the Polish Navy The ship belonged to a series of twelve torpedo boats (A 68 – A 79) ordered by the Imperial German Navy from the Schichau-Werke shipyard in Elbląg, belonging to the . The torpedo boat, with the construction number 994, was launched on 11 April 1917. It was commissioned into service as A 68 on 13 June 1917. Due to its small displacement and draft, this type of ship was intended for operations in the coastal waters of Flanders. For quick identification, two stripes were painted on the funnel, and the white number 68 was painted on the bow. The torpedo boat served as a training ship. After the end of hostilities, based on the agreement reached on 18 November 1918 between the Triple Entente and Germany, the ship was transferred to the United Kingdom.
After the end of World War I, the German fleet was divided by the victorious powers. By the decision of the Conference of Ambassadors on 9 December 1919, despite the reluctance of the United Kingdom, Poland was allocated six torpedo boats, whose total displacement was not to exceed 1,200 t. The allocated torpedo boats were to be used exclusively for patrol service. In November 1920, the began preparations to take over the ships. Rear Admiral went to Rosyth and, on 6 November, along with the Brazilian attaché, inspected the torpedo boats there, which were then to be allocated to both navies by drawing lots. In November 1920, at the request of Rear Admiral Kłoczkowski, the Admiralty appointed a commission consisting of specialist engineers from the shipyard in Rosyth. Their task was to select the six most valuable torpedo boats to be transferred to the Polish Navy. One of the ships was A 68. The torpedo boat was moored at the Royal Navy base in Rosyth along with other ships and was in poor technical condition, making it impossible to tow it to Poland.
Description The overall length of ORP Kujawiak was 60 m, the width was 6.42 m, and the draft was 2.34 m. The ship was intended for coastal operations, hence its standard displacement was 335 t, and its full displacement was 392 t. Two Schichau steam turbines with a total power of 6,000 hp were placed in two compartments. The turbines worked directly on two three-bladed propellers with a diameter of 1.6 m, without any transmission. In the next two compartments, there were two Marine Kessel-type boilers with a pressure of 18.5 kgf/cm2. Both boilers were oil-fired, with a maximum oil reserve of 82 t. Upon entering service, the maximum speed of the ship was 26 knots. After joining the Polish Navy, the ship could reach a speed of 22 knots. The sailing range at a speed of 20 knots was 800 nautical miles. In German service, the crew of the ship numbered 55 people, including 2 officers and 53 non-commissioned officers and sailors. In Poland, the standard crew for A-type torpedo boats was 2 officers and 66 non-commissioned officers and sailors. In 1937, the crew of the torpedo boat numbered 40 people. The quick identification marks of ORP Kujawiak were two stripes on the upper part of the funnel and, additionally, from 1932 to 1937, the letters KW on the sides.
After joining the Imperial German Navy, the torpedo boat was armed with two single 88 mm L/30 guns and two single 450 mm torpedo tubes. Additionally, there were mine rails on the deck for 30 mines. After the ship was acquired by Poland, it was armed with two QF 3-pounder Hotchkiss and two MG 08 of 7.92 mm caliber. Thanks to a French loan obtained in 1925, ORP Kujawiak was rearmed with two single French 75 mm field gun. One was placed on the stern, and the other on the bow. The armament also included one double 450 mm torpedo launcher and two MG 08 of 7.92 mm caliber for anti-aircraft defense. The ship was also adapted to lay 30 mines. In 1936, the ship's armament consisted of one French 75 mm field gun and two single MG 08. In 1937, a special crane for lifting torpedoes was installed amidships. After 1936, ORP Kujawiak was painted in irregular black and white spots with straight-edged borders.
Overhaul On 10 November 1920, the British Admiralty sent the Polish side a proposal for the overhaul of torpedo boats at the state shipyard in Rosyth. According to Commander Ignacy Musiałowski, the British offer was accepted primarily for political reasons. Ultimately, with the approval of the , the overhaul of the ships began on 12 December 1920. Earlier, on 20 November, the Minister of Military Affairs sent Rear Admiral Wacław Kłoczkowski an advance payment for the overhaul of the torpedo boats amounting to 38,800 pounds and 3 shillings. The supervision of the overhaul was conducted by the Torpedo Boat Overhaul Supervision Office headed by Commander Ferdynand Dyrna, who was professionally subordinate to Rear Admiral Kłoczkowski.
Out of the six torpedo boats, four were selected and docked for overhaul, among them the future ORP Kujawiak. During the repair work, the underwater parts of the hull were cleaned and then painted. In mid-March, the shipyard workers conducted trials of auxiliary mechanisms using compressed air, as well as hydraulic tests of boilers, turbines, and condensers. The turbine bearings were also checked. At the end of March, Commander Ignacy Musiałowski, along with a representative of the Admiralty and the shipyard's foremen and managers, reviewed the progress of the work on the torpedo boats under repair. During the inspection, he noted several defects and omissions, including the lack of inspection of piping and its fittings, auxiliary boiler fittings, feed water and oil heaters, as well as flaps and valves.
After assessing the technical condition of the ship, the British set the date for the first sea trial for 16 April. However, it did not take place due to the Polish side's refusal to have the Polish crew participate in the sea trials. The second trial was scheduled for 30 May but was canceled due to a non-operational fuel feed pump. The first trial of auxiliary mechanisms was conducted on 7 June 1921 when steam was generated in the boilers. However, the trial lasted only 20 minutes and was interrupted due to boiler hatch leaks. Trials of the turbines in a moored state and the mechanisms were conducted on 14 June, during which no defects were found. On 28 June fans were delivered to the ship and installed three days later. On 22 July a five-hour sea trial was conducted, during which a maximum speed of between 17.5 and 18 knots was reached. Five days later, after minor repairs and sealing of steam and water glands, a six-hour sea trial was conducted, during which a maximum speed of 21.5 knots was achieved. Starting on 28 July, the bilges and boilers were cleaned, but according to the ORP Kujawiak's mechanic, Captain Stanisław Kamieński, the overhaul was performed unsatisfactorily. The ship was named ORP Kujawiak based on a secret order from the Minister of Military Affairs on 23 July 1921.
Transfer to Poland In September 1921, preparations began for the voyage to Poland. Earlier, on 25 August, Commander Michał Przysiecki arrived to take command of the torpedo boat. His deputy, Lieutenant , had arrived the day before. Captain Engineer Stanisław Kamieński, who boarded on 16 August, was appointed the engineer-mechanic. The crew was assembled, consisting of 3 officers and 31 non-commissioned officers and sailors. Engineer Kamieński reported the readiness of the boilers, although noting that they and the fuel tanks were not completely cleaned. The auxiliary mechanisms and turbines were operational except for the bearings. A significant problem was the limited sea experience of the crew, particularly the engine room sailors, with only 20% having relevant experience; the rest had only theoretical training. On 16 September, the day before setting sail, a briefing was held for the commanders of the three ships, chaired by Rear Admiral Kłoczkowski. It was decided that the three torpedo boats would depart for the Norwegian port of Kristiansand on 17 September at midnight. Before departure, 57 tons of fuel oil were obtained from M.P. Galloway Ltd. in Leith, although the ship could hold 72 tons.
On Saturday 17 September a ceremonial blessing of the three torpedo boats ORP Kujawiak, , and ORP Kaszub took place in the roadstead of the port of Leith. Due to a late-issued order, the departure time was not met, and the ships set off at 03:15 AM. The torpedo boats sailed at variable speeds of between 8 and 14 knots. At 1:00 PM on ORP Kaszub, fuel ran out, and at 2:00 PM, on the division commander's order, refueling from ORP Kujawiak began. They transferred from 11 to 14 tons. Due to improper hose connections, some fuel spilled into the sea. Due to ORP Kaszub's difficulty maintaining speed, the division commander decided to turn back to Aberdeen. The crew managed to increase speed, and the ships headed east again. Soon, however, the torpedo boat lost speed again and returned to Scotland. The remaining ships proceeded at an economical speed of 15 knots. At 06:30 AM the next day, ORP Kujawiak ran out of fuel. Checking the tanks revealed a layer of sludge and dirt at the bottom. The ship's commander requested fuel or a tow from ORP Krakowiak. However, due to low fuel reserves and sea conditions, ORP Krakowiak continued onward. ORP Kujawiak anchored and called for assistance. The German fishing trawler Senator Brandt responded, towing the torpedo boat to Kristiansand on 21 September at 7:00 PM.
In the second stage of the journey from Kristiansand to Copenhagen, the ship, along with ORP Krakowiak, set off on 26 September, towed by the Norwegian tug Storesand. The division commander, Commander Jacynicz, decided on towing rather than sailing under their own power for economic reasons. The towing cost 8,000 Norwegian kroner, equivalent to 1,000 dollars. The ships reached Denmark on 28 September. After refueling with 20 tons of oil, all three torpedo boats departed for Gdańsk on 30 September at 5:00 PM. They were towed by vessels from the Danish company Union Transport-og Bjergnings-Selskab. ORP Kujawiak was towed by Neva. Shortly after departure, an accident occurred. Due to a towline break and poor maneuvering, ORP Kaszub's stern damaged ORP Kujawiak's bow, forcing the team to return to Copenhagen. The division set out to sea again on 1 October at 4:00 AM. The voyage was smooth, and around midnight near the Słupsk Bank, the ships cast off the towing lines and entered the Gdańsk Bay on their own. On the morning of 3 October ORP Kujawiak and ORP Krakowiak entered the port of Gdańsk.
Service in Poland The ship arrived in Poland on 3 October 1921. Like the other torpedo boats, it required further repairs and armament. On 15 October it was incorporated into the Torpedo Boat Division. Earlier, on 5 October, it had been placed in reserve. Acceptance trials for the torpedo boat took place on 8 November and 9 December 1921. It spent the winter in the port of Gdańsk along with other units of the division.