ORP Orkan (G90)

ORP Orkan formerly HMS Myrmidon was an M-class destroyer of the Polish Navy during World War II. The name translates as "windstorm". She was sunk by U-378 on October 8, 1943 in the Barents Sea. There were 179 dead and 44 survivors.

Construction
She was built by the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland.

Royal Navy service
She was originally commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Myrmidon; she was transferred to the free Polish Navy based in Britain in December 1942.

Orkan served in the Arctic, In early 1943, the destroyer escorted the convoy JW-53 to Russia, returned with the convoy RA-52 and then operated as convoy escort in the North Atlantic. In July 1943, she transferred the body of the Polish Supreme Chief General Władysław Sikorski from Gibraltar to England.

Sinking
At 07.05 hours on 8 October 1943, the ORP Orkan (under Lt. Stanisław Hryniewiecki) was hit by a GNAT homing torpedo from U-378 while escorting the convoy SC 143 and sank within a few minutes. One officer and 43 ratings were rescued by the HMS Musketeer.

ORP Orkan Staff
Commander: Capt. cf. Stanislaw Hryniewiecki

Deputy Commander: Capt. in March. Michal Rozanski

navigation officer: after cf. in March. Antoni Tyc

I artillery officer Lt. March. Albert Pryfke

II artillery officer: vacancy

submarine weapons officer Lt. March. Witold Wojciechowski

Signal Officer: cf. March. Zbigniew Janowski

I Engineer Officer: cf. March. Stanislaw Pierzchlewski

Second Engineer Officer: after chor in March. Joseph Grzonka

watch officer: Sec. in March. Oskar Glinski

officer of the Commissioner: Sec. in March. Joseph Fajkowski

officer, doctor: Sec. drug. Edward Kiełbiński