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HMS Bedale was launched on 23.VII.1941, later loaned to Polish Navy on 30.IV.1942 and returned to Royal Navy on 28.IX.1946. First commander of the ship was lt. cmdr. Romuald Tyminski. Slazak was third and last unit of Hunt class escort destroyers, that was loaned to the PMW. She belongs to the second subgroup of Hunt II class destroyers and was slightly different then Krakowiak and Kujawiak. Slazak entered service on 9.V.1942 and after monthly training she was departed to English Channel. To August 1942 Slazak was sailing in escort of the coastal convoys. On 18.VIII.1942 Slazak took part in landing near Dieppe (Operation "Jubilee") during which Poles shot down four enemy planes (2 bombers Do 217, 1 Ju 88 and one fighter Me 109).
In action three sailors were killed, and ship was slightly damaged. To January 1942 Slazak was again escorting coastal convoys. In October 1942 Slazak found 21 pilots (and because of this the ship was also called "Shepherd of the dinghies"). From February to April Slazak was in the dock staying in repairs during which ship received new radar - type 271. On 19.V.1943 Slazak was send to the Mediterranean and on 25.V.1943 arrived into Gibraltar. To the end of June Slazak was operating in Mediterranean convoys. From 4.VII.1943 to 14.VII.1943 Slazak commanded 3 convoys (2 transports to landing divisions in Sicily). On 29.VII.1943 and 8.VIII.1943 took two convoys, as command ship, from Gibraltar and Alexandria to Malta. On 17.VIII.1943 Polish destroyer found two another British pilots. In August 1943 Slazak was attached to the "V" team (5 escort carriers, 2 cruisers, 8 escort destroyers) and was covering landing near Salerno.
 | | Slazak in the landing operation near Salerno |
On 19.IX.1943 Slazak was command ship of escort of damaged battleship Warspite. In October Poles found another 4 pilots, this time German pilots. On 21.XI.1943 was escorting French auxiliary cruiser Ville d'Oran with troops transport. On 26.XI.1943 was command ship of convoy KMF.26 (escort ships: cruiser Colombo, 8 destroyers). Convoy was under attack for several hours despite of this only one ship was sunk. In December 1943 Slazak was escorting convoys to Tobruk. From January to February 1944 was sailing as an escort ship from Alexandria to Taranto and Naples. On 8.IV.1944 departed Alexandria and left the Mediterranean on 10.IV.1944. On 17.IV.1944 Slazak arrived at Plymouth, after eleven moths of service in the Mediterranean. From 14.V.1944 to 21.V.1944 destroyer was in renovation. On "D-Day" Slazak was operating near "Sword" beach. To 7.VI.1944 destroyer was firing to German position on land. On 10.VI.1944 damaged German Schnellboat.
On 11.VI.1944 Slazak damaged asdic and propeller. So in the end of June she was repairing damages. On 5.VII.1944 took German prisoner - operator of German mini-submarine Neger. To the end of September Slazak was escorting troops in English Channel. In September and December she was sailing with convoys to Dutch harbours.
 | | Slazak in all her magnificent |
On 1.I.1945 Slazak with British destroyer Ekins sunk near Ostend German mini-submarine of type Seehund. From February to May Slazak was standing in repairs. On 25.V.1945 with Krakowiak sailed to Wilhelmshaven. In July 1945 Slazak was moved to reserve and on 28.IX.1946 returned to Royal Navy. On March 1947 Polish Sea Mission proposed to British exchange of old and used Burza and Wilk for two Hunts, but British Admiralty for obvious purposes refused to this proposition. Slazak with an old name Bedale was staying in reserve until 1952 when she was moved to Birkenhead for general renovation. Used as frigate (tactical number F.126) on 27.IV.1953 was loaned to Indian Navy. Renamed Godavari (tactical number D.92) served as destroyer until April 1959 when she was finally bought by India. Then reclassified as frigate served with old tactical number until 1979 when Godavari was scrapped.
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