Gawron-class corvette

The Gawron class (Polish: rook) or Projekt 621 was a planned class of multipurpose corvettes ordered by Polish Navy. The Gawron class was a variant of the MEKO A-100 project developed by the Blohm + Voss shipyard in Germany. Construction of the first ship of the class started in 2001. The project was terminated in February 2012[1] but in October 2013 a contract was signed to complete the existing hull as a patrol ship by 2016.[2] On 2 July 2015, ORP Ślązak was christened and launched,[3] and on 28 November 2019, ORP Ślązak was officially commissioned into the Polish Navy.[4]

ORP Ślązak
Class overview
Name: Projekt 621 (Gawron class)
Builders: Stocznia Marynarki Wojennej
Operators:  Polish Navy
Preceded by: Projekt 620
Succeeded by: Miecznik-class coastal defence vessel
Built: 2001-2012 (Program cancelled, completion of only one vessel)
Planned: 7
Completed: 1
Cancelled: 6
Active: 1
General characteristics
Type: Corvette
Displacement: 1,650-2,050 tonnes
Length: 90.10–95.20 m (295.6–312.3 ft)
Beam: 12.80–13.30 m (42.0–43.6 ft)
Draught: 3.35–3.60 m (11.0–11.8 ft)
Propulsion:
  • 1 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbine
  • 2 × MTU diesel engines
Speed: 29.5 kn (55 km/h) (planned)
Armament:
Aircraft carried: 1 × Kaman SH-2G Super Seasprite

Construction

There were plans to build seven Gawron-class corvettes, but as of 2009, work had only begun on one ship, which was to be named Ślązak (Polish: Silesian). The program suffered delays due to insufficient funding from the government and delays in choosing final weapons and systems configuration. The hull was launched on 16 September 2009, but the program was suspended due to the ongoing financial crisis.[5] Work was resumed and the first ship would be commissioned by 2015. However on 24 February 2012 it as announced by the Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk that the project was cancelled.[6][7]

At the time of the cancellation, the hull of the first ship was largely completed at the cost of 402 million PLN (~US$130m), but equipping it would have cost an additional 1 billion PLN (~US$320m).[8] A single existing Gawron hull will be completed without main armament as heavy patrol vessel at the cost of 100 million PLN.[9]

Ships
Ship name Status Notes
Ślązak Commissioned 28 November 2019 Active
Kujawiak Cancelled
Krakowiak Cancelled
Mazur Cancelled
Kurp Cancelled
Góral Cancelled
Unknown Cancelled

See also

References
  1. "Tusk terminates 'senseless' warship project".
  2. Adamowksi, Jaroslaw (2 October 2013). "Poland Orders New Minesweepers, Patrol Vessel". Defense News.
  3. Defence Minister: We need to expand Polish Navy. 2 July 2015
  4. ORP Ślązak opóźniony o dwa lata. Budowa trwa już 15 lat!. (in Polish)
  5. Sławomir Sowula, Wodowanie Gawrona w Stoczni MW
  6. http://orka2.sejm.gov.pl/IZ6.nsf/main/662210F6
  7. "Poland Scraps 'Wasteful' Warship Project".
  8. "Wojsko do remontu, koniec z Gawronem". Gazeta Wyborcza.
  9. Gawron will serve as ... patrol (pl)
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