Jaskółka-class minesweeper

Rybitwa, Czajka, Mewa, Jaskółka
Class overview
Operators	Polish Navy
Built	1933-1939
Building	6
Completed	6
General characteristics
Type	Minesweeper
Displacement	183 tons
Length	45.0 m
Beam	5.5 m
Propulsion	2 shaft diesel engines, 1040 BHP
Speed	17.5 knots
Complement	30
Armament	1 × 75mm 2 × machine guns 20 mines or 20 depth charges

The Jaskółka class was a class of 6 minesweepers of Polish Navy built during the 30's. They were the first sea going warships of Polish production. The Jaskółka class was a versatile design which allowed the ships to serve in the role of either a minesweeper, small minelayer or a sub chaser. All were named after birds, therefore the class was nicknamed: ptaszki (birdies) in Polish.

Design and building

The first minesweepers in the Polish Navy were the German minesweepers of the FM type. These ships, built during the later part of World War I and bought by Poland during the early 20s, were already worn out by the 30's so the Polish Navy required a replacement. The Modlin shipyard offered a design for the new class of minesweepers which was accepted. The first 4 ships of the class were built at Gdynia and Modlin. After they entered service they proved to be a good design so a further 2 were ordered in the mid 30s.

Ships in the class

The six ships in the class were:

• ORP Jaskółka
• ORP Mewa
• ORP Rybitwa
• ORP Czajka
• ORP Czapla
• ORP Żuraw

References

• Chesneau, Roger (1980). All the world's fighting ships 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Mały Modelarz 3/2000