NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Mewa 1937  

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
Jaskółka	J		Warsztaty Portowe Marynarki Wojennej, Gdynia	1934	11.9.1934	8.1935	sunk 14.9.1939
Czajka	C, 1946- CJ, CK, 6.1952- D45, 1.1960- 325		Państwowa Stocznia Modlińska, Modlinia	4.1934	10.4.1935	2.1936	captured by Germany 10.1939 (TFA11 torpedo recovery vessel), returned 12.1945, patrol boat 1951, accommodation ship 1966
Mewa	M, 1946- MW, 6.1952- D46, 1.1960- 326		Stocznia Gdyńska S. A., Gdynia	1934	10.1.1935	10.1935	sunk 3.9.1939, returned by Germany 12.1945, patrol boat 1951, accommodation ship 1970
Rybitwa	R, 1946- RB, 6.1952- D47, 1.1960- 327		Państwowa Stocznia Modlińska, Modlinia	5.1934	26.4.1935	12.1935	sunk 3.9.1939, returned by Germany 12.1945, patrol boat 1951, accommodation ship 1966
Czapla			Warsztaty Portowe Marynarki Wojennej, Gdynia	1937	22.8.1938	8.1939	sunk 14.9.1939
Żuraw	1946- ZW		Warsztaty Portowe Marynarki Wojennej, Gdynia	1937	22.8.1938	8.1939	captured by Germany 10.1939 (Oxhoft), returned 12.1945, survey vessel 8.1948

Technical data

Displacement standard, t	183 - 185
Displacement full, t	203
Length, m	45.0
Breadth, m	5.50
Draught, m	1.55 moulded
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Nohab diesels
Power, h. p.	1040
Max speed, kts	17.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Armament	Jaskółka, Czajka, Mewa, Rybitwa: 1 x 1 - 75/35 M1915-18, 2 x 1 - 7.9/92, 20 mines, mechanical minesweeping gear Czapla, Żuraw: 1 x 1 - 13.2/76, 2 x 1 - 7.9/92, 20 mines, mechanical minesweeping gear
Complement	30

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

Largest combat ships of Polish construction of their time. Four of them were ordered in 1933 for replacement of former German minesweepers of FM class. Two more minesweepers, Czapla and Żuraw, were ordered according to 1936 programme.

Modernizations 12.

1945, all survived (as in German Navy) were armed with: 2 x 1 - 20/65 C38.

1946, all survived: - 2 x 1 - 20/65; + 1 x 4 - 20/65 C/38, 2 x 2 - 20/65 C/38, mechanical minesweeping gear

1951, all survived: were fully rearmed with 1 x 2 - 37/70 V-11, 1 x 2 - 12.7/79, 2 DCR, Zarnitsa radar

Naval service

Jaskółka and Czapla were sunk by German aircraft 14.9.1939 at Jastran. Mewa and Rybitwa were sunk 3.9.1939 by German aircraft at Hel naval base. They were salvaged by Germans in November, 1939 and renamed Putzig and Rixhoft. In 1940 they were converted to torpedo retrievers and renamed TFA9 and TFA8 respectively. Czajka was captured by German troops at Westerplatte and commissioned by Kriegsmarine as TFA11. In May, 1945 TFA8, 9 and 11 surrendered at Kiel and in 1946 returned to Poland. Żuraw was captured by German troops in October, 1939 and commissioned by Kriegsmarine as Oxhoft. After war she was also returned to Poland.