From Normandy to Ushant. ORP "The Lightning" in one of the heaviest fights of 1944 [Part 3]

When the Allies began landing in Normandy in June 1944, ORP Lightning had already had the Atlantic, the Norwegian campaign, and the defence of the Cowes. She was no longer just a modern destroyer from the late 1930s, but a ship that had already tested the war in combat conditions.

Now the Polish destroyer faced another task – covering one of the largest landing operations of World War II and clashing with German ships that tried to threaten the Allied forces in landing on beaches in Normandy.

In the two previous parts of this story we showed the way of the ORP Lightning from British shipyard J. Samuel White to the first heavy war trials—from the "Peking" plan and the Norwegian campaign to the defence of the Cowes in May 1942. In June 1944, however, the ship entered a phase of service in which it was no longer just about survival and perseverance, but about direct participation in one of the most important operations of the entire wars at sea.

Normandy – Polish ORP destroyer Lightning in the shadow of a great invasion

On June 6, 1944, Operation Overlord, or Allied landing in Normandy, began. In this largest landing operation of World War II, Polish warships also participated. Among allied ships was also the ORP Lightning.

Although this time the Polish destroyer did not find himself in the role of a beach bomber unit, his task was no less important. The ship operated in the La Manche Channel area, covering the operation against a possible counterattack of German ships. It was a less spectacular service than firing reinforcements at close range, but for the success of the entire operation — Just as important.

Night Battle of Ushant

After starting an Allied landing in Normandy, Germany did not intend to passively look at developments. On June 8, 1944, a team of the 8th Fleet Destroyers Kriegsmarine left Brest. His task was clear. — hit the forces protecting the landing and try to disrupt the Allied operations in the La Manche Channel.

After midnight, from June 8 to June 9, German ships came across the western end of the canal on the 10th British Royal Navy Fleet, which also included the ORP Lightning and ORP Lightning. It was then that one of the most important battles of the night with the participation of Polish destroyers throughout World War II.

German forces created destroyers Z-32, Z-24 and ZH1 and torpedoer T-24. British, Canadian and Polish ships were on the Allied side. ORP Lightning she played a particularly important role in this clash as she was the flagship of the 20th squadron.

Both teams were detected on radar. Around 1:30 a.m., the Germans made a turn and launched torpedoes, hoping to surprise the opponent. The Allies have escaped However, the hits, and a moment later the night above the canal torn the flashes of artillery fire. A violent fight began, led in the dark, at high speeds and under constant threat of another torpedo attack.

In the first phase of the clash, severe damage was received German ZH1Who was disabled. Z-24 covered himself with a smokescreen and together with T-24 managed to get away from the fight. The most fierce pursuit, however, took place around the destroyer Z-32. He was the one who, trying to escape the trap, came across a squadron led by the ORP Lightning and was fired on by a Polish team of ships.

The situation changed from minute to minute. Warning of subsequent torpedoes forced the Allies to maneuver and temporarily lose contact with their opponent. However, Germany failed to take advantage of this opportunity. Z-32 it was already damaged and soon again found itself under the fire of Allied destroyers.

In the morning, his fate was predestined. Hard hit, with exhausting ammunition and no real possibility of further fighting, the German destroyer was thrown to shore. The crew left the ship, and the next day the wreck destroyed RAF aircraft.

The Battle of Ushant ended with the defeat of the German Kriegsmarine ships. For the Allies, it meant maintaining the security of the forces covering the operation with Norman. For our destroyer, however, it was one of the most militant views of the entire war service – a clash that once again showed that the Polish destroyer was not only a symbol, but a ship that was truly important in the fight on sea.

The war is over, but history continues

The Battle of Ushant was one of the last great battle episodes ORP Lightning in Western European waters. However, the war was not yet over and the Polish destroyer remained in service, carrying out further tasks alongside the Allies until its end. The crew had already had years of patrols, escorts, combat alarms and fighting from the Atlantic to the English Channel.

It was only when he was working on the seas that they became silent that it was time to return to his homeland — A country that has changed a lot over the years of war. After the war, Poland, for which Polish sailors fought side by side with the Royal Navy and defended the coasts of Great Britain, was in the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union.

This is what the world looked like after the decisions made in Yalta — For many Poles it was a bitter payment for years of common struggle with the United Kingdom, which co-decided on the post-war and tragic fate of Poland.

And that still wasn't the end of the road. The war was over, but our hero's story continued. In the next part of this story we will show the ship's return to Poland, his post-war modernizations and the moment when from the warship became a living symbol of memory and sea tradition.