Since 07-18-05
Polish Submarine DZIK
Since 07-18-05
by DAVID CHWALA (1422-2002) assisted by Beth Martin in Sharkhunters, International KTB183a Membership newsletter
ORP DZIK (Wild Boar) P-52
Polish submarine DZIK U-37 with her Type XXI conning tower
Type: U-class
Built by: Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne
Keel laid: 30 December 1941
Launched: 11 October 1942
Completed: 16 December 1942
Returned to British: 25 July 1946
Scrapped: April 1958
First skipper: Kapitan Marynarki [Lt. Cmdr] B. Romanowski
Second skipper: Kpt. Mar. A. Klopotowski
After the loss of OROP JASTRZAB in May 1942 (see KTB 175), the skipper and surviving crew immediately requested another sub. The British granted this request and on 11 Oct. 1942 a submarine was loaned to the Poles and named ORP DZIK. The sub carried out training at Holy Loch and then was assigned to the Royal Navy’s Seventh Submarine Flotilla in Dundee, Scotland. DZIK carried out three patrols off Norway and in the Arctic Sea. Her mission, along with her sister sub ORP SOKOL, were to screen allied convoys from the SCHARNHORST. All patrols were without incident.
In the spring of 1943, DZIK was ordered to Malta to join the Tenth Submarine Flotilla. DZIK arrived in Malta on 5 May 1943. On 24 May, during her first patrol in the Mediterranean, DZIK fired four torpedoes at a tanker. Two hits were heard. The tanker was damaged and set on fire but was towed to Messina and repaired. This action took place near Cape Sparitvento.
On her first patrol, during the night of 17 June 1943, DZIK fired three torpedoes at an Italian minesweeper with no result. Later that night, DZIK spotted a cargo ship being escorted by MTB’s. DZIK fired three torpedoes. DZIK later reported two hits but there is no record of any ship being hit. DZIK was then depth charged by the Italian torpedo boat ORIONE but no damage was done. These actions took place near Cape Milazzo.
From 2 July to 19 July 1943, DZIK took part in operation HUSKY, the invasion of Sicily. DZIK’s assignment was to screen the allied invasion fleet from axis naval forces. Spotting no enemy shipping during this time, DZIK returned to Malta. On the night of 19 July, while nearing Malta, DZIK received reports of Italian submarines in the area. DZIK made contact with a submerged sub. DZIK fired two torpedoes, both of which missed. This turned out to be the British submarine, HMS UNSHAKEN.
During DZIK’s next patrol, she came upon a lone ship on the morning of 15 August 1943. DZIK fired four torpedoes, claiming two hits. HMS UNRULY, a British sub, also attacked at this time. Both subs claimed hits. Later that night, DZIK spotted a two-ship convoy near Bari. While submerged, DZIK fired four torpedoes, hitting both ships. Romanowski claimed sinking both ships. Actually, both ships were towed to Bari with major damage. When returning to Malta on the night of 19 August, DZIK spotted a large submarine submerging. DZIK fired 2 torpedoes - no result.
In Sept. 1943, the allies invaded Italy. During this time DZIK was ordered to blockade the axis naval base at Bastia, Corsica. After the allies gained a foothold in Italy, Corsica was invaded in support of a civilian uprising there. Romanowski was ordered to prevent the Germans and Italians from evacuating to the Italian mainland.
Romanowski decided the best way to do this was to attack any shipping before they attempt to break out. On the evening of 21 Sept., while submerged outside the port of Bastia, Romanowski observed an air raid on the port. Taking advantage of the confusion caused by the raid, DZIK slipped into the harbor while submerged. Using the periscope, two large ships were spotted moored close together. DZIK fired four torpedoes, sinking both ships. Apparently one or two torpedoes passed under one of the ships striking a German tug and barges docked behind the ships. Before retreating from the harbor, Romanowski observed large secondary explosions with smoke and flames coming from the ships.
In the pre-dawn darkness on 22 September, while on the surface, DZIK spotted three German landing craft leaving the port. DZIK launched four torpedoes, claiming hits on all three craft, leaving them burning in the water. After recharging batteries, DZIK resumed patrol. Spotting no ships in or near the port, DZIK was ordered to return to Malta. On the morning of 24 Sept. DZIK spotted a large merchant ship 11 miles from Bastia. The remaining two torpedoes were fired. Romanowski claimed two hits. The British sub HMS ULTOR also claimed hits around the same time. The ship was beached and ultimately sunk by HMS UPROAR. It was after this patrol that DZIK and her sister sub SOKOL came to be known by the British as ‘the terrible twins’.
Early in Nov. 1943, DZIK was assigned to the First Submarine Flotilla based in Beirut. DZIK’s patrol area was now the Aegean Sea where her mission was to interdict German shipping between the occupied Greek islands.
DZIK’s first patrol out of Beirut was commanded by Kpt. Mar. A. Klopotowski while the CO, Romanowski, was on leave. On the night of 17 Nov. 1943, near the island of Monemvasia, DZIK spotted a small sailing vessel while on the surface. DZIK signaled the ship to halt, failing to do so, DZIK fired the ship with the deck gun, sinking it. No other attacks were carried out on this patrol.
DZIK’s next patrol was in Jan. 1944 in the Mytilene area of the Aegean. On the morning of 7 Jan. 1944, while submerged, DZIK spotted a tanker escorted by E-boats. Romanowski maneuvered DZIK into a firing position and fired four torpedoes. DZIK then dived deeper taking evasive action. Explosions were heard but not observed. DZIK left the area without incident. However a torpedo somehow damaged the outer torpedo doors, leaving the tubes flooded. Ordered to return to Beirut, DZIK slowly made her way back to base, keeping a lookout for targets. On the night of 8 Jan., a lone three-masted sailing vessel was spotted. DZIK opened fire with the deck and machine guns. The vessel was hit several times before halting and signaling surrender. DZIK sent over a boarding party in rubber rafts. The Greek crew and ten Germans were taken prisoner. After returning to DZIK, the vessel was sunk by gunfire. The next day a small sailing vessel was spotted. DZIK signaled the vessel to halt, which it did. A boarding party was sent to check the ship’s cargo. The boarding party found German ammunition on board. The Greek crew explained that the Germans forced them to transport the ammunition by threatening their families. German marks were found by the boarding party. The CO, Romanowski, decided to let the crew free. After the crew left the vessel by small boat, DZIK sunk the vessel with its deck guns. DZIK then returned to Beirut.
After repairs were done, DZIK carried out two uneventful patrols in Feb. 1944. DZIK was then ordered to Malta, arriving 5 March 1944. On 11 March 1944, DZIK was ordered back to Great Britain and she ended her Mediterranean Campaign. DZIK underwent a refit and then was assigned to a training squadron. In December 1944, LCDR Andrzej Klopotowski was named CO. At this time, DZIK was also outfitted with an experimental ‘schnorkel’ device. Romanowski and Klopotowski received Distinguished Service Crosses from the British for their actions in the Mediterranean.
DZIK continued as a training sub until May 1945, when she was put in a reserve squadron in West Hartlepool. In July 1946, Great Britain ordered the return to Royal Navy of all loaned ships. After twelve patrols and over 45,000 tons of enemy shipping claimed sunk, the Poles returned DZIK to the British on 25 July 1946.
The British transferred the sub to Denmark in July 1947 and it was renamed U 1. In 1950, the sub was renamed SPRINGEREN by the Danes. In Oct. 1957, the sub was returned to the British. It was scrapped in April 1958.
Actions by ORP DZIK
Under Romanowski:
24-May-43 Carnaro It.Tanker 8,257GRT Damaged
17-June-43 Vieste It.Minesweeper 517GRT Miss
17-June-43 ? Unknown Stmr 4,000GRT Miss
19-July-43 Unshaken Brt.Submarine 735GRT Miss
15-Aug-43 Cesco It.Tanker 6,161GRT Damaged
15-Aug-43 Citta di Spezza It.Stmr. 2,474GRT Damaged
15-Aug-43 Goggiano It.Stmr. 1,994GRT Damaged
19-Aug-43 ? UnknownSubmarine ? Miss
21-Sept-43 Nikolaus Ger.Tanker[ex-Greek] 6,397GRT Sunk
21-Sept-43 Kraft Ger.Tug 630GRT Sunk
21-Sept-43 Tiberiadel FrenchStmr. 3,000GRT Sunk [unconfirmed]
21-Sept-43 ? It.Barges 200GRT Sunk
[three barges sunk, four damaged or probably sunk]
22-Sept-43 SF-172 Ger.LandingCraft 312GRT Sunk
22-Sept-43 SF-? “ “ “ “ “
22-Sept-43 SF-? “ “ “ “ “
24-Sept-43 Champagne Ger.Stmr.[ex-French] 9,946GRTDamaged [unconfirmed]
17-Nov-43 ? Unknown Sailing Vessel 50GRT Sunk [by deckgun]
This patrol was commanded by Klopotowski
7-Jan-44 Brunhilde Ger.Tanker[ex-Greek] 5,600GRT
Damaged [unconfirmed]
8-Jan-44 Elleni Ger. Sailing Vessel[ex-Greek] 5,600GRT
Damaged [unconfirmed] [ten Germans were taken prisoner]
9-Jan-44 ? Unknown Sailing Vessel 30GRT Sunk [by deckgun]
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