Jastrzab

Info History Operational History Technical Data The keel of USS S 25 was laid down on 26.X.1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation and launched on 29.V.1920. The boat was commissioned on 9 July 1923 with lt. cmdr. George H. Fort in command (with tactical number SS 130). S 25 in New London During winter 1921/1922 S 25 was finishing off in shipyard dockyard and on trials. In January '23 boat entered the service and the operating base was New London. In 1923 S 25 participated in winter maneuvers in the Caribbean and Panama Canal Zone area (January - April 1924). Then transferred to the west coast of the United States, San Diego, the submarine operated primarily in the waters of Caribbean Sea into 1927. During years 1927-1931 S 25 was rebased several times (to Panama, Hawaii and San Diego). During training in the Territory of Hawaii boat was seriously damaged by surface ship which rammed S 25 and destroyed coning tower. Transferred again, on 25.IV.1931 she arrived at Pearl Harbour. On June 1939 S 25 cleared Pearl Harbour and arrived to the Atlantic Ocean on 25.VIII.1939. After long repairs, submarine was assigned to the training division in Key West. The new commander was lt. St. Angelo. On 4.XI.1941 S 25 was decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Navy. Renamed HMS P 551 was then loaned to the Polish Navy as ORP Jastrzab. The commander of the ship become lt. cmdr. Boleslaw Romanowski. Lt. cmdr. Romanowski and his boat - ORP Jastrzab Boat received tactical number P 551. On 21.XI.1941 Polish submarine and British P 511 left St. Jon's directing to Scotland. After heavy storms boat arrived in Holly Loch on 2.XII.1941. After monthly renovation Jastrzab was rebased to Lerwick, while escorting Dutch escort ship Jan van Gelder. On 25.IV.1942 left Lerwick in escort of PQ-15. On 2.V.1942 after several days of storm Jastrzab encountered a German U-Boat while both were submerged off the coast of Norway. Before Jastrzab could fire her torpedoes the enemy submarine had gone deep. After several hours Jastrzab was mistakenly attacked by Norwegian destroyer St. Albans and British minesweeper Seagul. After first attack Jastrzab was forced to surface, where allied escorts open fire to the Polish submarine. Shortly afterwards ship sunk in position 71°30N/12°32E, with lost of 5 men.