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Launched on 14.VI.1930 as ORP Zbik, in Chantiers Navals Français in Caen, after five years of constructions ship was finally completed and transferred to Polish Navy. The first commander of the ship was appointed cpt. Eugeniusz Plawski. On 1.V.1932 after arrival of Zbik into Gdynia, the Division of Submarines was formed (consisting of submarines Rys, Wilk and Zbik, old torpedo-boat Kujawiak and tender ship Lwow). Soon ship received identification mark "Z" (from first letter of her name Zbik). In August Zbik with other boats from the Submarine Division sail into Stockholm with courteous visit. In December of 1932 ship was under command of lt. cmdr. Henryk Kloczkowski. In 1933 Zbik visited Helsinki and Copenhagen. During 1935 Zbik was taking part in drills and exercises. In June 1936 Zbik with Rys and Wilk sailed into Tallinn. On 1.VII.1937 the identification mark was removed. In July 1938 new commander was appointed - lt. cmdr. Michal Zebrowski.
On 24.VIII.1939 the mobilization was declared, ship took 6 torpedoes (plus 4 extra), 22 mines and 114 shells for 100 mm gun. On 1.IX.1939 when the war broke out, according to "Operation Worek" Zbik was patrolling area to North-East of Jastarnia. In accordance with planes Polish submarine didn't attack small ships (under destroyer) and unarmed ships.
 | | Zbik leaving Gdynia for patrol |
On 7.IX.1939 Zbik was attacked by U 23 (lt. cmdr. Werner Winter) in position 55°38'N and 18°54' O. Enemy submarine fired one magnetic torpedo which explode to soon (about 200 m from Zbik's board). Polish submarine submerge emergency, without any damages. Next day lt. cmdr. Werner reported wrongly, sinking of one Polish submarine. On 9.IX.1939 Zbik placed mine pole from 20 mines about 9 Mm from Hela Peninsula. On that mine pole on 1.X.1939 German minesweeper M 85 sunk hit by one mine with lost of 24 hands in position 54'45N/18'45E. Later on 23.I.1940 on the one of Zbik's mines another German vessel was lost. This time it was motor fishing vessel Mühlhausen (327 BRT) which was lost with all hands in position 54°53' N / 18°42' E. On 12.IX.1939 according to new directions Zbik was displacement North to the coasts of Sweden. On 14.IX.1939 Zbik received from KMW permission to break through to England, but days later during heavy storms ship sustained several damages, and what most important the main hatch started to leak. On 17.IX.1939 water started to leak into batteries and chlorine started to emit. The submerge wasn't attainable at that time. On 18.IX.1939 lt. cmdr. Zebrowski decided to sail to England, but because of the bad condition of the ship (leakings limited dive to a few meters for a short time) this idea was rejected. On 25.IX.1939 Zbik arrived at Stavans where she was interned, ship was disarmed and immobilized. In April 1940 Rys, Sep and Zbik were moved to Vaxholm. During internation Zbik was dock twice in August 1942 and April 1944.
On 5.IX.1945 Polish Sea Mission took over Polish submarines from Swedish and on 21.X.1945 Zbik returned to Gdynia. On 30.XI.1945 Zbik was officially enlisted into Polish Republic Navy under command of lt. cmdr. Zygmunt Grabowski. From July 1946 to February 1947 ship was staying in repairs. In 1948 torpedo tubes were converted to Russian type, the MG were removed. In July 1953 ship received honourable title of Best Ship of the Polish Republic Navy. In September 1953 Zbik was moved to reserve and soon in 1956 was scrapped.
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