A Polish stamp which at first glance would also appear to feature a symbolic ship, actually shows a destroyer of the Polish Navy, the Blyskawica (in English, "Lightning "). She was built by J Samuel White and Co., Ltd., of Cowes, isle of Wight and completed in 1937. Her standard displacement is 2,141 tons On dimensions 374 (o.a.) x 37 x 10 ft. and she is armed with eight 4 in. A.A., four 47 m.m. A.A., four 20 m.m. A.A., four machine guns and six 21 in. torpedo tubes (tripled), She has two depth charge throwers, is fitted for minelaying and carries seven mines. Parsons geared turbines driving two screw shafts give the vessel a reported speed of 39 knots. The ship's complement is 180.
The Blyskawica saw considerable war service. After avoiding capture at the outbreak of the Second World War, she reached Rosyth on September 2, 1939. The following May she was in action at Narvik, shooting down two Nazi aircraft which tried to attack her and she played a memorable part in the Dunkirk evacuation. Routine Atlantic convoy and anti-submarine patrols followed before the Blyskawica took part in the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. She was one of the Allied destroyers engaged in the Normandy invasion in June 1944, and on the night of June 4, off Ushant, took part in a combined action in which two out of four German destroyers were sunk or driven aground. Now she is back in her own waters, but she is still remembered with respect and admiration by her old Allies who saw service alongside her.
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Blyskawica
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aukepalmhof
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