ORP Błyskawica Destroyer Museum Ship

ORP Błyskawica (pronounced roughly "bwis-ka-VEE-tsa," Polish for "lightning") is a World War II destroyer preserved as a museum ship in Gdynia, moored by Kościuszko Square. She is the oldest surviving destroyer in the world and, according to the Naval Museum, the only Allied warship that saw action throughout the entire war, from September 1, 1939, to May 8, 1945. Please note: the ship is closed to visitors until March 31, 2027 – but you can still see her from the quay.

A British-built Polish destroyer

Błyskawica was built for the Polish Navy by J. Samuel White in Cowes on England's Isle of Wight. She was launched on October 1, 1936, and commissioned under the Polish flag on November 25, 1937. One of two Grom-class destroyers, she was about 114 m (374 ft) long and very fast for her day, exceeding 40 knots on trials.

On August 30, 1939, days before Germany invaded Poland, Błyskawica sailed for Britain with ORP Grom and ORP Burza under the "Peking Plan." The ships escaped destruction and fought alongside the Royal Navy for the rest of the war.

War service

Her record reads like a summary of the naval war in Europe:

• the Norwegian campaign at Narvik in 1940, where her sister ship Grom was sunk;
• covering the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940;
• escorting Atlantic convoys and convoys to Iceland;
• defending Cowes – the town where she was built – against German air raids in spring 1942, firing until her guns had to be cooled with water;
• Operation Torch off North Africa in November 1942 and operations linked to the Normandy landings in 1944.

She returned to Poland in 1947, served on after a refit, and became a museum ship in 1976, replacing the destroyer ORP Burza in that role. She is the only Polish warship decorated with the Virtuti Militari, Poland's highest military order for gallantry. To this day she flies the Polish naval ensign and has a serving navy crew.

A few details worth knowing: she reached 40.4 knots on trials in November 1937; she was hit by shellfire off Narvik on May 2, 1940; three of her sailors were killed in an air attack at Bougie, Algeria, during Operation Torch; and in 1951–52 she was rearmed with Soviet weapons.

What you can see on board (when open)

The tour runs from stern to bow past the main guns, depth-charge throwers and torpedo tubes, then below deck to the crew quarters, boiler room and engine room – you even walk through one of the boilers. A new exhibition, "ORP Błyskawica – the Faithful Ship," marks 85 years under the Polish flag. A visit takes up to 30 minutes.

Opening hours and tickets (as of October 2026)

• Closed from September 14, 2026, to March 31, 2027 for technical reasons, according to the Naval Museum. The ship normally closes every winter from November 1 to March 31.
• In season the museum lists April 10 am–5 pm, May–September 10 am–6 pm and October 10 am–4 pm; closed Mondays, with a 1–2 pm technical break; last entry 45 minutes before closing or the break.
• Tickets: 15 PLN regular, 10 PLN reduced; English-language guide for groups (up to 25): 100 PLN, booked at least 2 days ahead.
• As a commissioned navy ship, she can close at short notice for ceremonies.

Is it worth visiting now?

Yes, as part of a walk along the South Pier – the ship's camouflage-painted hull and guns are impressive from the quay. For the full story, head to the Naval Museum building on the seaside boulevard (ul. Zawiszy Czarnego 1B), about 10 minutes on foot, which also lets you board the submarine ORP Sokół. Note that the museum and its ships are closed on October 27–28, 2026.

How to get there

The ship lies on Jana Pawła II Avenue at the start of the South Pier, a 20-minute walk from Gdynia Główna station. Gdańsk is about 30 minutes away by SKM train, and Gdańsk airport (about 23 km) has PKM trains to Gdynia Główna. The museum ship Dar Pomorza is moored right next door and is open to visitors, and the Gdynia Aquarium stands at the end of the pier. Tickets are paid in Polish złoty (PLN); the Naval Museum's audio guide app covers Błyskawica as well.