ORP Gryf (Hansa class)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other warships of the Polish Navy to bear that name see: ORP Gryf (disambiguation)

ORP Gryf (Hansa class) was a Polish schoolship of the Polish Navy, a second vessel to bear that name. It was built in German-occupied Denmark in early 1945, shortly before the end of World War II and initially named after Irene Oldendorf. Shortly after the capitulation of Germany she was taken by the Royal Navy and renamed to HMS Countess, but in 1946 it was given to the Soviet Union as part of that country's war reparations from Germany. Renamed to Omsk she served in the Soviet Navy until 1950 when she was acquired by the Polish Navy. Initially named ORP Zetempowiec, in 1957 she was renamed after the notable Polish WWII minelayer. In 1976 she was decommissioned and sold to the Port of Gdynia, where she serves as a heating barge. Her role of a school ship was taken by a new ORP Gryf (Wodnik class).

Languages