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Wicher

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Burza	N52, 52, 1960- 272		CNF, Caen, France	11.1927	16.4.1929	7.1932	TS 11.1944, destroyer 1951, preserved 5.1960
Wicher			CNF, Caen, France	2.1927	8.8.1928	7.1930	sunk 3.9.1939

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	1540
Displacement full, t	1920
Length, m	100.9 pp 107.2 oa
Breadth, m	10.2
Draught, m	3.30 mean
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 sets Parsons geared steam turbines, 3 du Temple 3-drum boilers
Power, h. p.	33000
Max speed, kts	33
Fuel, t	oil 330
Endurance, nm(kts)	3000(15)
Armament	4 x 1 - 130/40 M1924, 2 x 1 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk II, 2 x 2 - 13.2/76, 2 x 3 - 550 TT, 60 mines, 2 DCT, 2 DCR
Electronic equipment	hydrophone
Complement	155

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

First large ships of Polish Navy. They were built under so-called to "small programme" of 1924, the order was placed 2.4.1926 in France: main foreign policy partner of Poland. As France had the big effect on Polish government, it managed to insist on a choice as the builder CNF, having there are not enough orders and not having sufficient experience of building of destroyers: for acquisition of this. Nevertheless, it has not saved a builder from bankruptcy, and both destroyers were transferred to the customer with delay.

As a prototype for Polish destroyers Bourrasque class destroyers were chosen. The basic differences from a prototype consisted in some re-planning of internal compartments (boiler rooms were moved on some frame spaces ahead), replacement of 37mm French MGs by British 40mm pompoms and minelaying abilities.

On the eve of war it was decided to modify Wicher and Burza to standardize armament with Grom class, installing 120mm Swedish guns and 533mm TTs and to strengthen AA armament.

Modernizations

mid-1940, Burza: - 1 x 3 - 550 TT; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk I/II/III/IV, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62

1942, Burza: - 2 x 1 - 130/40, 2 x 1 - 40/39, 2 x 4 - 12.7/62; + 1 x 4 - 40/39 2pdr QF Mk VIII, 4 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV, 1 x 24 - 178 Hedgehog ASWRL, 2 DCT, type 271, type 292 radars, type 144 sonar; full displacement was 2430t.

1943, Burza: + 2 x 1 - 20/70 Oerlikon Mk II/IV

(4/1952 - 3.1955), Burza: was fully rearmed with 4 x 1 - 100/56 B-34-USMA, 4 x 2 - 37/70 V-11M, 4 DCT, 2 DCR, Rif-1, Giuys-1B, Rym-1 radars, Tamir-5N sonar; displacement was 1400/2240t, max speed 30kts.

Naval service

Wicher was sunk 3.9.1939 by German aircraft at Hel naval base. Burza 30.8.1939 escaped to Britain in operation "Beijing". 15.11.1944 she was laid up to reserve. In 1951 Burza returned to Poland, she was commissioned again in 1955 and served since 1960 till 1975 as memorial.