All Cormorants on the Water

polska-zbrojna.pl 1 month ago

There is no Poland without Baltic. There is no safety of Poland without a navy – said Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamish during the baptism ceremony and launching of the mine destroyer ORP “Cchaika”. This is the sixth and last of the military-ordered Kormoran II units, which will enter service in the 12th trawlers division.

ORP Chaika on the day of launching, 11.12.2025.

On the launch ceremony of the ORP “Czajka” in Gdańsk came Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, General of Arms Marek Sokołowski, General Commander of the Types of Armed Forces and Vice Admiral Jarosław Ziemianski, Inspector of the Navy in DGRSZ. – The year 2025 is undoubtedly a naval year. This concerns the modernisation, transformation, appreciation of seafarers, but above all the construction of fresh safety architecture based on the Baltic Sea Basin states," said the head of the MON at the Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding Shipbuilding shipyard in Gdańsk. He thanked the sailors for their engagement in Operation Bay, which aims to defend critical infrastructure. He besides reminded of many investments and implemented projects strengthening the capacity of MW.

– We started in March with launching 5th ORP mine destroyer ‘Rybitwa’. Then in May we cut the sheets under our next frigate in the program “The Sword” – "Burza" ORP. We'll put the keel under this ship on December 18. And that's what's happening. Różycki ORP launching, a radio-electronic reconnaissance ship in the Dolphin programme. And in January another ship of this type, built in Shipbuilding Remontowa will be launched again – mentioned Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. He besides recalled the signing of a contract for the acquisition of radars for 18 water reflection stations and low-flying facilities, the acquisition of training torpedoes for MW and the fresh cutting of sheets under the ORP “Rescuer”.

RECLAMA

– And most importantly, what was the dream of generations not only of sailors, but besides of us Poles arrogant of access to the Baltic Sea: gaining submarines in the “Orca” program become a fact – said Deputy Prime Minister.

At the end of the ceremony, the head of the MON wished the crew of the ship that was launched present good luck. His godmother was Catherine Sikora, the wife of the commander of the 8th Coast Defence Fleet, who, in accordance with the military ceremony after symbolically smashing a bottle of champagne into the hull of the unit, gave her the name “Chajka”.

ORP "Cchajka" is the sixth ship of the Kormoran II kind (min destroyer of task 258), built by a consortium in the Shipbuilding Repair Company (leader), investigation and improvement Centre of the Marine Technology Centre from Gdynia and the PGZ War Shipyard.

Ships of this series belong to the world's most modern units intended for mine fighting. With advanced hydrographic, sonar and hazard neutralisation systems, it is possible not only to search for, identify, classify and destruct marine mines, but besides to combat underwater diversion, patrol water tracks and defend critical infrastructure. Their weapons consist of: large caliber device guns WKM-Bm powered by 12.7 mm x 99 NATO ammunition, Grom/Piorun rocket sets and OSU-35k ship's 35 mm weapon system.

"Cchaika" will begin service in 2027 in the 12th Troop Squadron of 8 Coast Defence Fleets in Świnoujście. The first Kormoran II-type units, i.e. the ORP “Kormoran”, the ORP “Albatros” and the ORP “Meva” entered service from 2017 to 2023. Last year she was launched “Jaskółka” and in March that year “Rybitwa”. Both ships are being prepared to be taken over by the 12th Tray Squadron.

Jakub Zagalski

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