Conrad
Info History Operational History Technical Data

HMS Danae was launched on 26.I.1918, as second unit of this class. Danae joined 5th Light Cruiser Squadron, Harwich Force in June 1918, just before the end of the World War I. In May 1920 Danae visited Gdansk. In the middle of 1919 she was in British Baltic Force, then 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet from September 1919. In the end of 1923 Danae was transferred (with Dragon) to British Special Service Squadron. In 1924 Danae with Hood circumnavigate the world, later she was moved to 1st Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean. After general renovation in 1929-1930 (when his main armament was changed) Danae was transferred to 8th Cruiser Squadron. Later from 1935 she was in Reserve Fleet.

Just before the war Danae again commissioned to Royal Navy and joined 9th Light Cruiser Squadron. Until the end of 1939 Danae
Danae after the renovation in 1943
(with Dragon) was searching for German pocket battleships Admiral Graf Spee and Deutschland. In summer 1940 Danae was moved to Far East, where she was escorting several convoys, as part of "Malaya Force". Until the end of March 1942 Danae (with Dragon) was escorting convoys between Australia and Java. After destruction of Western Striking Force both unit were moved to Ceylon, where until the end of 1942 Danae was escorting troops. After one year in the service in the Far East, Danae returned to England to shipyard.

In the beginning of July 1943 Danae ended her renovation. Danae received new radars, his main armament consisting of 5 x 152 mm, 2 x 102 mm AA gun, 8 x 40 mm AA and 8 x 20 mm AA guns, and new radars type 291 and 273 were added. After this Danae again was moved to Far East where she joined "Eastern Fleet". Danae was escorting convoys until the end of 1943 when she was moved to home waters, where she joined 1st Cruiser Squadron. In May 1944 Danae was again in shipyard, where she received new weapons (new 102 AA gun was mounted, the 20 mm AA guns were doubled, the torpedo tubes were removed and the DC also were fitted to the stern of the Danae). On 1.VI.1944 Danae took part in Operation "Neptune" (landing in Normandy)
Arethusa, Danae and Mauritius - on the way to Normandy, 3 June 1944
, where she was fighting with enemy batteries near Port-en-Bessin and Ouistreham. After the end of the operation Danae was moved to reserve, in August 1944, where she was waiting for scrapping. After lost of Dragon, KMW (Directorate of the Navy) applied to British Admiralty with request of loaning of another cruiser. Shortly Danae was restored to service and transferred to Polish Navy, as ORP Conrad, on 4.X.1944. The new commander was cmdr. Stanislaw Dzienisiewicz.

After short repairs in Southampton and Chatham, which ended on 13.I.1945. In February Conrad sailed to Scapa Flow for drills, which ended about 29.II.1945. In April 1945 Conrad was in yard for service of machinery. In this time Conrad joined 10th Cruiser Squadron. When the war ended on 8.V.1945 Conrad was still in docks, waiting for the end of service. In the end of the may Conrad sailed to Scapa Flow (during this voyages she made speed trials with result of 26,4 kn). On 4.VI.1945 Conrad was moved to Rosyth where she joined 29th Destroyer Flotilla (as flagship). On 7.VI.1945 Conrad sailed to Wilhelmshaven, from which she returned on 14.VI.1945. Later Conrad was sailing to the North Sea harbours in Red Cross service. During this Conrad again joined 10th Cruiser Squadron. In July 1945 new commander was appointed - cmdr. Romuald Nalecz-Tyminski. From 12.VIII.1945 to 6.I.1946 Conrad made seven voyages to the harbours of Scandinavia and Germany. On 8.III.1946 Conrad was removed from Home Fleet and from this time she was waiting for returning to Royal Navy. Conrad was returned to British on 28.IX.1946, renamed HMS Danae and soon on 27.III.1948 scrapped in Barrow.