| Navy | The Polish Navy |
| Type | Destroyer |
| Class | Wicher |
| Pennant | H 73 |
| Built by | Chantiers Navals Francais (Caen, France) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 1 Nov 1927 |
| Launched | 16 Apr 1929 |
| Commissioned | 10 Jul 1932 |
| End service | |
| Loss position | |
| History | Burza means storm in English. Escaped to England in August / September 1939. |
Commands listed for ORP Burza (H 73)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | ||
| 1 | Kmdr ppor. Stanislaw Michal Nahorski, ORP | 31 Dec 1937 | 16 Feb 1940 | |
| 2 | Kmdr ppor. Wojciech Francki, ORP | 16 Feb 1940 | 7 Oct 1940 | |
| 3 | Kpt. mar. Antoni Doroszkowski, ORP | 7 Oct 1940 | 30 Nov 1940 | |
| 4 | Kpt. mar. Jan Tchorznicki, ORP | 30 Nov 1940 | 22 Jan 1941 | |
| 5 | Kpt. mar. Zbigniew Wojewodzki, ORP | 22 Jan 1941 | 14 Mar 1942 | |
| 6 | Kpt. mar. Franciszek Pitulko, ORP | 6 Aug 1942 | 26 Jun 1944 | |
| 7 | Kmdr ppor. W. Trzebinski, ORP | 21 Aug 1944 | 15 Nov 1944 | |
| 8 | Kpt. mar. K. Sawicz-Korsak, ORP | 15 Nov 1944 | Jun 1945 | |
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Noteable events involving Burza include:
1 Sep 1939
The Polish destroyers Burza
(Komandor Podporucznik Stanislaw Michal Nahorski, ORP), Grom (Komandor Podporucznik Aleksander Hulewicz, ORP) and Blyskawica (Komandor Podporucznik Wlodzimierz Andrzey Kodrebski-Poraj, ORP) were met in the North Sea by British aircraft and the British destroyers HMS Wallace (Lt.Cdr. William Maurice Lloyd Astwood, RN) and HMS Wanderer (Cdr Reginald Francis Morice, RN). They were escorted to Leith.
22 Mar 1940
The Polish destroyers Burza (under her new commander Komandor Podporucznik Wojciech Francki) and Blyskawica escorted three French submarines and their tender Jules Verne on their route from Brest to Harwich.
4 Apr 1940
The Polish destroyers Burza, Grom and Blyskawica reached their new homebase Rosyth. In the afternoon they left the harbor with the British light cruisers HMS Arethusa, HMS Galatea and three British destroyers.
These ships were ordered to conduct a patrol at North Sea and were later ordered to intercept German invasion groups heading for Norway.
9 Apr 1940
The Polish destroyers Burza, Grom and Blyskawica were ordered to join the British destroyer HMS Tartar and provide escort for convoy HN-24 (31 merchants escaping from Norway to England, some of them were loaded with Norwegian gold). The convoy reached Britain without any loses.
12 Apr 1940
The Polish destroyers Burza, Grom and Blyskawica entered Rosyth for refueling. Then they were sent to Scapa Flow.
19 Apr 1940
The Polish destroyers Burza, Grom and Blyskawica left Scapa Flow and head to Narvik.
During a storm Burza was damaged by high waves and forced to return.
26 Apr 1940
The Polish destroyer Burza and the British destroyer HMS Grafton were part of an escort of small convoy (two cargo ships and one tanker). Those vessels were sailing to Skjel Fjord, Norway where an Allied supply base was located.
30 Apr 1940
In dense fog the British tanker Boardale (8400 GRT) hit the rocks in the Asan Fjord near Narvik and was abandoned by the crew. The Polish destroyer Burza rescued the survivors.
1 May 1940
The Polish destroyer Burza reached Harstad and took part in the AA defence of this harbor.
5 May 1940
The Polish destroyer Burza provided AA cover for Allied merchants off Skaaland, Norway. 11 German air raids were conducted. Few ships were lightly damaged.
7 May 1940
The Polish destroyer Burza conducted a reconissance patrol in Bjerkvik area. At this time commander of Allied 1st Light Rifle Division, General Marie Emile Bethouart was onboard with his staff. Bjerkvik was the port where Allied troops were planned to be unloaded.
8 May 1940
Six strong German air attacks took place on Harstad. Burza was involved in the AA
defence. Two bombs exploded near the destroyer but caused no damage.
Later that day Burza found and rescued the crew of British airplane which had been shot down.
10 May 1940
The Polish destroyers Burza and Blyskawica left Norwegian waters in order to return to Scapa Flow.
24 May 1940
The Polish destroyer Burza was ordered to join the British destroyers HMS Vimiera and HMS Wessex and shell German positions in Calais area. At 16.20 the Allied vessels opened fire on enemy armoured column at Sangatte Hill, west of Calais.
10 minutes later they were attacked by 27 German airplanes which hit and sank HMS Wessex. HMS Vimiera managed to escape. Then the entire enemy air group concentrated on the Polish destroyer. The AA guns (2 40 mm) jammed due to schrapnel hits, three bombs exploded in the water. They caused boiler damage and loss of speed. The commander (Komandor Podporucznik Wojciech Francki) ordered to emergency launch the torpedoes and drop all depth charges, trying to avoid additional explosions. Shortly after this, two bombs hit the Burza and badly damaged her. However the airplanes had dropped all of their bombs and broke off the attack. The crew managed to stop the leakage and return to Dover. One German airplane was shot down during the action.
6 Aug 1940
"Burza" (Kapitan Marynarki Doroszkowski) left Portsmouth. She was ordered to steam to Scapa Flow. During the cruise, she recieved radio report about U-boat operating nearby. British airplane marked the area with smoke buoys. "Burza" started searching for enemy. After two hours, she detected an U-boat and attacked with depth charges. Crew observed oil stains on the surface. Admirality claimed this U-boat as "probably badly damaged".
30 Aug 1940
The Polish destroyers Blyskawica and Burza joined the escort of a convoy heading to the USA. Later Burza suffered a malfunction and was forced to return to base.
10 Oct 1940
The British cruisers HMS Newcastle (Capt. Edward Arthur Aylmer, DSC, RN) and HMS Emerald (Capt. Francis Cyril Flynn, RN), with the British destroyers HMS Broke (Cdr. Bryan Gouthwaite Scurfield, RN) and HMS Wanderer (Cdr. John Henry Ruck-Keene, DSC, RN) of the 17th DF and the Polish destroyers Garland (Komandor Podporucznik Konrad Franciszek Namiesniowski, ORP) and Burza (Komandor Podporucznik Antoni Doroszkowski, ORP) act as a screen to the British battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. Ernest Russell Archer, RN) during a bombardment of Cherbourg.
26 Oct 1940
Burza (Lt.Cdr. Pitulko) was ordered to rescue survivors from the British troop ship Empress of Britain which had been heavily damaged by bombs. The Polish destroyer picked up 254 men.
16 Nov 1940
Due to dense fog, the Polish destroyer Burza collided with British ASW trawler HMS Arsenal and suffered bow damage. HMS Arsenal was sunk.
30 Jul 1941
After long repairs and a refit, Burza (Kapitan Marynarki Wojewodzki) became part of the escort of a convoy from Greenock to Iceland.
30 Aug 1941
The convoy reached Hvalfjord, Iceland.
8 Sep 1941
Burza collided with patrol vessel Rosemary off Milford Haven.
11 Sep 1941
Burza returned to Greenock and was sent to Glassgow for repairs that lasted one week.
2 Feb 1942
Burza started a refit at Glasgow.
3 Dec 1942
Burza (Kapitan Marynarki Pitulko) was part of Escort Group B-6 commanded by Cdr. Ralph Heathcote, R.N. in the British destroyer HMS Fame. The Escort Group escorted convoy HX-217 to Great Britain.
7 Dec 1942
At night the convoy was attacked by U-boats. Burza encoutered the enemy twice. The first U-boat was attacked by salvo of 10 depth charges and forced to retreat. The second was spotted on the surface by lookouts. Kapitan Marynarki Pitulko ordered to attack the submarine with torpedoes (!), however enemy vessel managed to dive before the attack occured. Instead of torpedoes, depth charges were dropped. After this attack the contact was lost.
9 Dec 1942
Around 2200hours the sonar operator on Burza detected a submerged U-boat. After short pursuit the contact was lost. Few minutes later another submarine was detected, this time on the surface at 900-1000 meters. The Polish destroyer tried to ram the enemy, but the German vessel managed to dive. 10 depth charges were dropped.
14 Dec 1942
The convoy reached the Clyde. It's escorts entered Greenock harbor.
20 Dec 1942
Escort Group B-6 (with Burza) left the Clyde with a convoy bound for Canada.
31 Dec 1942
The convoy reached St. John's, Canada.
11 Jan 1943
Escort Group B-6, including the Polish destroyer Burza, leaves Canada escorting convoy SC-116 to Great Britain.
27 Jan 1943
Convoy SC-116 arrives in Greenock.
21 Feb 1943
Burza was ordered to join the Escort Group A-3 (commanded by Cdr. Paul Heineman) which was escorting convoy ON-166.
22 Feb 1943
During the defence of convoy ON-166 the German submarine U-606 was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 47º44'N, 33º43'W, by depth charges from the US coastguard cutter USS Campbell and the Polish destroyer Burza.
During the night Burza detected a submerged submarine and attacked her twice with 20 depth charges. The U-boat was damaged and forced to surface. Then she was shelled with Anti-Aircraft guns and had to dive again. Contact was lost. Shortly after that, the U-boat surfaced again, and was spotted by the US Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WPG 32), which shelled and rammed the submarine. The heavily damaged U-boat managed to stay on the surface, but was unable to move and fight. The American cutter was also seriously damaged due to ramming. Her commanding officer (Cdr. James Hirshfield) asked for help. Burza answered her call and rushed to the scene. The Polish destroyer provided cover for USCG Spencer until 04.00 AM the next day when she stopped and picked up 7 survivors from U-606. The Polish destroyer again provided cover for the USCG cutter until the evening. Then, due to fuel shortage, she headed for St. John's, Canada. (see map)
22 Feb 1943
Around 1300 hours Burza torpedoes and sinks the heavily damaged Norwegian whale factory ship 0N.T. Nielsen-Alonso. (see map)
27 Feb 1943
Burza arrived at St. John's, Canada with only 2.5 tons of fuel left in tanks.
