It is 20 years since the withdrawal of the last Polish missile boats of the 205 project

On March 31, 2026, it marks the 20th anniversary of leaving the white and red flags on the last 205 type of Wasp missile boats. On that day in 2006, white and red flags were abandoned on OORP Porcine (431) and Władysławowo (433), which closed a 40-year chapter in the history of Polish strike forces at sea.

The beginning of the rocket weapons era in the Polish fleet

For many years it was the Wasps that formed the backbone of the naval forces of the Polish Navy. Their history began in 1964 with the entry into service of the ORP Helium. Thirteen ships of this type served in the Polish fleet for over four decades. They were small, fast strike units designed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

For many years it was the Wasps that formed the backbone of the naval forces of the Polish Navy. On their decks gained the experience of many officers who in subsequent years took command positions in the fleet structures.

Recent years of OORP service Porcine and Władysławowo

The last two project 205 missile boats in the Polish service — OORP Porcine and Władysławowo — concluded their operating service on March 31, 2006. The withdrawal of the last "Os" meant the completion of an important stage, which lasted 42 years after the first unit of this type was introduced into the line.

ORP Porcine, the eleventh unit of the 205 project transferred to Poland, was commissioned in January 1973. During many years of operation, she took part in numerous missile exercises and shootings, being an important element of the system Coastal defence. Upon withdrawal from service, the unit was scrapped.

ORP Władysławowo, the last of thirteen Polish vessels of the 205 project, entered service in November 1975. Unlike most predecessors, he avoided scrapping. Thanks to the efforts of naval and museum environments, the unit was preserved as a museum exhibit.

In March 2010, the ship was towed to Kołobrzeg, where two years later it was set on land as an element of the Marine Museum of the Polish Orchestra. Today remains the only preserved in Poland ship-museum Project 205.

Technical data and armament of project 205 missile boats

Project 205 missile boats belonged to small but very fast impact units. Their standard displacement was 171 tons, with a total length of 38.5 metres and a width of 7.6 metres. These units developed a maximum speed of up to 40 knots, which in reality Cold War was one of their key tactical advantages. The operational range was about 800 nautical miles, while autonomy was defined as five days. The crew of the boat had about 30 people.

The basic weapons were four single anti-ship missile launchers P-15 Termit (in the NATO nomenclature designated SS-N-2A Styx). The very short-range anti-aircraft defense provided a four-way anti-aircraft missile launcher led by Arrow-2M (SA-N-5 Grail). The artillery weaponry formed two double barrel marine cannons of 30 mm AK-230 caliber.

Missile Heritage "Os"

The withdrawal of the last "Os" meant the completion of an important stage in the history of the Polish Navy. The 205 project units were a symbol of the Polish fleet's entry into the missile weapons era and the foundation of the construction of later combat capabilities.

Today, twenty years after leaving the flag on the last units of this type, the history of rocket boats of the 205 project remains an important element of the legacy of the Polish Navy. Preserved in Kołobrzeg ORP Władysławowo recalls the time when small, fast rocket craft formed the basis for sea deterrence in the Baltic.