Page 327 - Il Mediterraneo quale elemento del Potere Marittimo - Atti 16-18 settembre 1996

COMBAT ACTIONS OF THE POLISH NAVY VESSELS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN 313

merchant ships which remained in that water region were the Lech, Lewant, Lttblin,
and \f!isla maintaining coastal trade between British, French, Greek and ltalian
ports <• .. ).
During combat actions in the Mediterranean Sea, the crews of Polish naval
vessels and merchant ships were characterized by high training standards, courage
an d patriotism. Their attitudes gai n ed full recognition no t only with Alli es' com-
manders but also with our former enemies and latter Allies - that is to say the Ita-
lians for whom Poles never felt hatred. The withdrawal of the Polish vessels from
the Mediterranean Sea resulted both from the weakening of combat in the said wa-
ter region and from political-military factors. The termination of che war in Euro-
pe was approaching; therefore, the Polish government wanted to have it closer to
the Balde Sea.

NOTES

(*) In che face of che involvemenc of a considerable number of Polish Navy Vessels and
Polish Merchant Navy ships in Alli es' operations, o n 8 Sepcember 1943, che posicion of Senior
Officer, Medicerranean Fleet was established in order co coordinate the said accions. The pose
was held by the Chief of the Polish Maritime Mission. The mission was transferred to Algiers,
then co Palermo, and, finally, on 26 November 1943 to Bari (where it was dissolved on l Sep-
tember 1944).
(*'*) During che Second World War, Poland's Navy and che Aviacion of che Polish Armed
Forces definitely sank 4 German submarines (losses confirmed by the enemy). They were as
follows:
U-606 sunk by the descroyer Burza in the Norch Adantic on 22/23 February 1943;
U-407 sunk by che destroyer Garlatzd w est of Sancoryn o n I 9 September 1944;
U-441 sunk by 304 Squadron, Coascal Command in che English Channel on 18 Aprii 1944;
U-321 sunk by 304 Squadron, Coascal Command souch-wesc of Ireland on 2 Aprii
1945.
(•••) Sporadically, ocher ships also sailed in the Medicerranean Sea. For example, che tran-
sadantic ship Batory was there twice i.e. on che way from Glasgow to Bombay ( 16-27 December
1944) and from Bombay to Gourock (4-14 February 1945).