Wilk-class submarine

Wilk-class submarines of the Polish Navy included three boats: ORP Wilk, ORP Ryś and ORP Żbik. They served from 1931 until 1955. The boats were built in France. During World War II, one escaped to Britain and two were interned in Sweden.[1]

ORP Wilk in 1937
Class overview
NameWilk
In commission12 April 1929 - 1955
Completed3
Lost0
General characteristics (at 1 September 1939)
Typesubmarine
Displacement
  • 980 tons (surfaced)
  • 1,250 tons (submerged)
Length78.5 m (257 ft 7 in)
Beam5.9 m (19 ft 4 in)
Draught4.2 m (13 ft 9 in)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) surface
  • 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph) submerged
Range
  • 3,500 nautical miles (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) @ 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
  • 100 nautical miles (190 km; 120 mi) @ 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph) submerged
Complement46–54
Armament
  • 1 × 100 mm (3.9 in) deck gun
  • 2 × 13.2 mm (0.52 in) deck anti-aircraft heavy machine guns (mounted in place of 40 mm gun from 1935 onwards)
  • 4 × 550 mm (22 in) torpedo tubes, bow
  • 2 × 550 mm (22 in) (twin) rotating torpedo tubes, midship
  • 16 × 550 mm (22 in) torpedoes (6 in tubes and 10 reloads)
  • 40 × mines
Notes

The class design was based on that of the French submarine Pierre Chailley, which had been laid down in 1917 and was in service from 1923 to 1936. Running with diesel engines, they all possessed mine-laying capabilities. They had a top speed of 14.5 knots (26.9 km/h; 16.7 mph) surfaced, and 9.5 knots (17.6 km/h; 10.9 mph) submerged.

Boats in class

There were three boats in the Wilk class.

List of Wilk-class submarines
Name Builder Launched Fate[2]
Wilk ('wolf') Normand, Le Havre12 April 1929In reserve 1942, scrapped 1951
Ryś ('lynx') ACL, Nantes22 April 1929Interned Sept. 1939, scrapped 1954
Żbik ('wildcat') CNF, Caen14 June 1931Interned Sept. 1939, scrapped 1954

Citations
  1. Haarr, Geirr (Sep 24, 2013). The Gathering Storm: The Naval War in Northern Europe September 1939 - April 1940. Seaforth Publishing. p. 469. ISBN 978-1473831315. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  2. Conway p.350

References
  • Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.



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