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Submarine ORP Wilk (N 63)

2 Sep 1939
At 0900 hours, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) spotted two German minesweepers and one destroyer at distance of 14000 meters. Her commanding officer ordered to approach and attack, but one of minesweepers spotted the periscope and turned rapidly. ORP Wilk had to dive deeper but non the less was soon damaged by depth charges dropped by Germans. Wilk dove to 50 meters. German A/S vessels came to the area as reinforcements, but the enemy fortunately lost contact. Despite losing contact, they continued searching the area. Wilk managed to escape during the night.

The destroyer was the Z 15 / Erich Steinbrinck, the minesweepers were the M 4 and M 7. The destroyer reported being missed by a torpedo but none had been fired by ORP Wilk. (1)

3 Sep 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) laid a minefield of 20 mines in the Gulf of Gdansk between positions 54°31'N, 18°52'E en 54°27'N, 18°57'E. (1)

4 Sep 1939
During the day, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) was attacked three times by German minesweepers. Depth charges caused some damage, but ship was able to continue her patrol.

As before after dark she surfaced and retired from the area to charge her batteries and then return to her patrol area the day before. (1)

5 Sep 1939
While on her way back to her patrol area submerged, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) was detected and attacked with depth charges by German minesweepers and aircraft. Her commanding officer ordered to dive to 87 meters (the safe depth was 80 meters). All of the German depth charges, of which 32 were counted, exploded above the submarine but none the less some damage was sustained. (1)

6 Sep 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) spotted a German convoy apparently on it's way to Köningsberg. She tried to close to attack but was unable to do so.

8 Sep 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) finally succeeded in contacting the Polish naval command and she was ordered to take up patrol near the Stilo lighthouse. She reached this new patrol area the following day.

9 Sep 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) spotted a German convoy but was again unable attack as the Germans altered away when Wilk was about to fire a torpedo.

10 Sep 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) requested the Naval High Command for permission to enter the Hela or Gdynia harbour for repairs. The High Command refused and ordered him to try to escape from the Baltic and proceed to the United Kingdom. (1)

12 Sep 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) departed her patrol area off the Polish coast to try to escape to the United Kingdom.

14 Sep 1939
Around 2140 hours on 14 September 1939, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) passed the Falsterborev Lighthouse and entered the Sund trying to escape from the Baltic.

Despite the presence of German warships in the area the attempt was successful and the following day the ship was in the Kattegat. (1)

15 Sep 1939
At 2258 hours, the German submarine U-48 sighted a surfaced submarine thought to be of the British ' River ' (Clyde) type. The stern torpedo was than fired but it missed.

Position of the attack was Anholt Knob Lightship bearing 161°T, 21.5 nautical miles.

If the ship attacked was indeed a submarine the target could only have been ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk). (2)

20 Sep 1939
Around 2300A/20, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) arrived at Rosyth escorted by the destroyer HMS Sturdy (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Cooper, RN).

The destroyer had left Rosyth around 0510A/20 and had made rendezvous with the submarine around 1645A/20 after having patrolling and searching for the submarine since around 0730A/20. (3)

21 Sep 1939
Around 0440A/21, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Sturdy (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Cooper, RN).

They arrived off Scapa Flow around 0800A/22. ORP Wilk was then escorted into Scapa Flow by the tug HMS Brigand.

HMS Sturdy immediately set course to return to Rosyth arriving around 1930A/22. (3)

13 Oct 1939
Around 1315A/13, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) departed Scapa Flow for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Sturdy (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Cooper, RN). (4)

14 Oct 1939
Around 1000A/14, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) and HMS Sturdy (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Cooper, RN) arrived at Dundee from Scapa Flow.

At Dundee ORP Wilk was taken in hand for repairs by the Caledon Shipyard to make her fit for operational use. (4)

21 Nov 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) conducted diving trials in the Tay estuary near Dundee. (5)

22 Nov 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) proceeded from Dundee to Rosyth. (5)

29 Nov 1939
Around 1300Z/29, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Rosyth for her 1st war patrol from the U.K. She was ordered to patrol off the Danish coast and in the Skagerrak. (6)

13 Dec 1939
Around 1500Z/13 (three hours late), ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) arrived at Rosyth from her 1st war patrol from the U.K. The patrol had been uneventful. On several occasions a Danish (neutral) torpedo boat had been sighted patrolling off the Danish north coast. Wilk had also entered the Kattegat once.

Earlier that day she had been spotted and reported by a British aircraft. The escort destroyer HMS Woolston (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Phipps, RN) had been sent from Rosyth to investigate but returned when it became clear that the reported submarine was not an enemy submarine. (7)

26 Dec 1939
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Rosyth for her 2nd war patrol from the U.K. She was ordered to patrol off the south coast of Norway. (8)

9 Jan 1940
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) ended her 2nd war patrol at Rosyth. The patrol had been uneventful. (8)

30 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While maneuvering at Rosyth, ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk) hit the side of ORP Orzel (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) J. Grudzinski, DSO) with its bow. Damage was not serious.

2 Feb 1940
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Rosyth for Dundee where she was to refit. (5)

3 Feb 1940
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) arrived at Dundee from Rosyth. (5)

14 Mar 1940
ORP Wilk (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) is undocked at Dundee [we have so far been unable to find out when she was docked]. It had also been decided to fit her with a new English battery instead of one from France which had originally been intended. (9)

8 Aug 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Rosyth for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the west of area A1 (Doggerbank area) to attack enemy submarines. She was to take over this patrol area from HrMs O 22 (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Ort, RNN). (10)

21 Aug 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) ended her 5th war patrol at Rosyth. The patrol had been uneventful. (10)

30 Aug 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) is docked in the floating dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (11)

7 Sep 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) is undocked. (11)

8 Sep 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Rosyth for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the north-west of area A1 (Doggerbank area) to attack enemy submarines. (10)

21 Sep 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) ended her 6th war patrol at Rosyth. The patrol had been uneventful. (10)

9 Oct 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Rosyth for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol west of area C 1 (off the south coast of Norway). (10)

18 Oct 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) shifted patrol to area C 1. (12)

19 Oct 1940 (position 58.03, 6.35)
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) attacked the Norwegian merchant vessel (under German control) Betty (2439 GRT, built 1919)

1505A/19, sighted a 2000 tons merchant vessel bearing 325°, range 5000 yards. Started attack.

In position 58°03'N, 06°35'E, Wilk fired three torpedoes from 800 yards. No hits were obtained. During the attack Wilk ' dipped ' resulting in that the torpedoes were fired later then intended.

Several ships had been sighted during the day but this was the only one that torpedoes could be fired upon. (12)

25 Oct 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) ended her 7th war patrol at Rosyth.

On 19 and 20 October 1940, numerous enemy ships had been sighted but torpedoes could be fired only once and these had missed. Following the disappointment of the patrol in that no more enemy ships could be attacked , Wilk's Commanding Officer requisted more training time, which was granted. (10)

11 Nov 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) proceeded from Rosyth to Dundee. (5)

18 Nov 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Dundee for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Skudesness, Norway within 20 miles from position 59°00'N, 03°50'E. (10)

3 Dec 1940
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) ended her 8th war patrol at Dundee. The patrol had been uneventful. (10)

8 Jan 1941
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Dundee for her 9th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Kors Fjord, Norway (near Bergen) within 20 miles from position 60°08'N, 04°12'E. (13)

16 Jan 1941
Due to engine trouble, ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO), was forced to abandon her patrol and course was set to return to the U.K. (12)

21 Jan 1941
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) ended her 9th war patrol at Rosyth.

She had arrived off the estuary of the River Tay the previous day but then broke down completely so she had to anchor. The M/S trawler HMS Equerry (T/Skr. R.M. Buchan, RNR) was sent to her assistance. Eventually the trawler escorted the submarine to Rosyth. (12)

25 Jan 1941
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) departed Rosyth for Dundee. (14)

26 Jan 1941
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) arrived at Dundee from Rosyth. During the passage she had been attacked by an enemy aircraft but no damage was done.

ORP Wilk was now assigned to training duties as she was no longer in a condition she could be used operationally. She was however soon taken in hand for an extended refit. (14)

26 Mar 1941
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) and HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR) were both docked at Dundee. (14)

2 Apr 1941
ORP Wilk (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) B.D. Krawczyk, DSO) and HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR) were both undocked. (14)

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