59 years since the tragedy at ORP Lightning. In tribute to seven sailors

Today it is 59 years since one of the most tragic events in the post-war history of the Navy. On August 9, 1967, while exercising at sea, in boiler room No. 2 of the ORP Lightning The high pressure steam line broke. Seven sailors lost their lives following the crash.

That day ORP Lightning He left Gdynia and participated in exercises in the Baltic Sea. At about 9.02 in boiler room 2 there was damage to the auxiliary steam pipeline overheated left boiler steam heater. The overheated high-pressure steam filled the room with seven sailors.

Disaster in ORP boiler room Lightning

The high-pressure steam line broke in boiler room two. As was later determined, the pipe of the auxiliary steam overheated left boiler heater was damaged. The overheated steam under high pressure rapidly filled the room.

The high temperature in the boiler room initially prevented emergency groups from reaching the sailors there. In order to cool the room, the use of water from fire hoses began. Around 9.20 a.m. when the temperature dropped, crew members leading the boiler room entered rescue action.

Four sailors died on the spot. Three more, despite the assistance, died from injuries.

In the crash they died: Lt. Mar. Jerzy Malinowski, Bosm. Ignacy Kondrat, Bosm. Kazimierz Marulewski, St. Mar. Roman Jurczyga, St. Mar. Stefan Kowalczyk, St. Mar. Stefan Lepczyński and St. Mar. Edward Stachniuk.

The tragedy affected the ship's further fate.

The Commission investigating the causes of the disaster found the accident random and innocent. According to her findings, the ship's advanced age, progressive wear of its mechanisms, systems and equipment and material fatigue contributed to the failure. After the boiler room failure, another renovation was considered ORP Lightning is unprofitable.

Since 1969, ORP Lightning He remained in Świnoujście as a stationary anti-aircraft defense ship. On May 1, 1976, he docked in Gdynia and began his service as a ship-museum.

Today's ORP Lightning remains one of the most important testimonies of the history of the Polish Navy. At the Pomeranian Coast, next to Kościuszko Square in Gdynia, it has served as a museum ship for years and attracts thousands of visitors every year. On board, however, it is worth remembering that the story of the deserved destroyer is not only service during World War II and another decade under the white-red flag. It is also a memory of seven sailors who lost their lives on August 9, 1967 during services at sea.