The very interesting paysite magazine Warships International Fleet Review (WIFR) reports in its July 2021 edition, paged 8, Poland sees it essential to acquire 3 frigate sized coastal defence vessels (under Poland's Miecznik "Swordfish" Program). These 3 ships would be armed with ASMs and would replace Poland's 2 aging Oliver Hazard Perry frigates. Whether new frigates have a higher priority than new submarines is unknown.
[Janes reports: "The first company invited to participate in the program was Polish Remontowa Shipbuilding, with subsequent invitations sent out to naval companies across Europe. The consortium has received six proposals from five potential bidders to date, each with technology transfer arrangements to local shipyards. However, further details on these remain confidential."]
Under the Orka Program Poland still wants to acquire 3 submarines. Three competitors have expressed interest:
- Naval Group: with Scorpenes to mount MBDA cruise
missiles
- TKMS: Type 212CDs, and
- Saab: A26s
It is unclear which Polish submarines (if any) are in service. Poland's last Kobbens (ORP Sep and ORP Bielik ) which are more than 50 years old, now appear to be decommissioned. Poland's 35 year old Kilo sub ORP Orzel may be in service but at that age may not be able to safely dive deeply due to metal fatigue. Also as Orzel was built by Poland's virtual enemy, Russia, Russia would be fully aware of Orzel's many vulnerabilities. Unless Poland speeds up the Orka Preogram it may not have new submarines before 2030.
Warships International Fleet Review reports Poland has a 1.9 Billion UK pound [equivalent to US$2.6 Billion] budget (implicitly for the 3 new subs) - though it is not precisely spelled out what that budget covers.
2 comments:
Hi Pete,
About the Kobben subs Final Voyage of the ORP “Sęp” Kobben-class Submarine
"One of the two remaining Kobbens, ORP “Sęp”, was towed from the Polish Navy’s base in Gdynia to the Gdanska Stocznia Remontowa im. J. Piłsudskiego S.A. shipyard in Gdansk, where the batteries are going to be extracted from that vessel. After the process comes to completion, the vessel would still belong to the Polish Navy, but it would no longer be a submarine."
/Kjell
/Kjell
Thanks for your comment. Thanks for locating a more recent, updated article indicating all Poland's Kobbens have very likely been decommissiond.
The artcle "Final Voyage of the ORP “Sęp” Kobben-class Submarine" is by Maksymilian Dura ( https://www.defence24.com/autorzy/maksymilian-dura Defence24com's ) March 24, 2021 at https://www.defence24.com/final-voyage-of-the-orp-sep-kobben-class-submarine in English
As you've written it begins:
"One of the two remaining Kobbens, ORP “Sęp”, was towed from the Polish Navy’s base in Gdynia to the Gdanska Stocznia Remontowa im. J. Piłsudskiego S.A. shipyard in Gdansk, where the batteries are going to be extracted from that vessel. After the process comes to completion, the vessel would still belong to the Polish Navy, but it would no longer be a submarine."
The article continues in part:
"...The Gdansk-based Stocznia Remontowa im. J. Piłsudskiego S.A. shipyard would be dealing with extracting the SUNLIGHT 2X38ST10A batteries (138 double cells each) from ORP “Sęp”, and then, from ORP “Bielik”."
"...The operation that is...is going to be irreversible. Battery monitoring, and cooling systems, connections, halon-based fire extinguishing system (with gas tanks and the gas itself), water systems being redundant for side valves, would all be removed. The vessel would receive ballast, to be placed in battery chambers 1-3, replacing the extracted components.
The above would result in a complete and irreversible decommissioning of the Kobben-class submarines, that would no longer be viewed as submarines. The final decommissioning would most probably take place in mid-2021. This is what the shipyard’s work schedule assumes, as work is to be completed, concerning both vessels (first - ORP “Sęp”, then ORP “Bielik”), until 7th May 2021. Then the vessels would become a burden for the [Polish] Navy - understandably, the Navy will be trying to get rid of them ASAP.
The decommissioned Kobben vessels that have remained in service for 55 years now would be handed off to the Polish Military Property Agency...They can be sent to a scrapyard. It seems to be far more sensible to use the old submarines as a tourist attraction, by showcasing them in some of the Polish coastal cities.
...As all of the Polish Koben-class submarines have been decommissioned, the Polish Navy currently operates a single submarine - the ORP “Orzeł” (Project 877) vessel. It is a Soviet-made Kilo-class submarine that needs to be imminently replaced. The trouble is that the “Orka” programme aimed at introducing the “Orzeł” replacement has been suspended. Meanwhile, the Swedish gap-filler proposal has turned out to be too expensive. It remains unknown, as to what solution would be adopted to rectify these circumstances."
Regards
Pete
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