After the loss of ORP ORZEL in 1940, the only operational submarine of the Polish Navy was ORP WILK, which was in a training squadron. WILK's second in command, Kpt. Mar. B. Karnicki, contacted the Polish Naval Command asking them to request from the Polish Navy a small U-Class submarine. Karnicki pointed out that a U-class sub required a crew of about 30, so that WILK could provide a trained crew, but leaving enough men to keep WILK operational. The British happily granted the request, being short of trained crews.

Orp Sokol on patrol.

On 19 January 1941, the British sub HMS URCHIN was loaned to the Polish Navy and renamed ORP SOKOL (FALCON).

The raising of the Polish flag on SOKOL was given much publicity and was attended by the Polish Prime Minister and Commander-inChief General Wladyslaw Sikorski, as well as the Commandant Jerzy Koziolowski of the Polish Navy. First Sea Lord Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley P. R. Pound represented the British.

SOKOL was assigned to the British Seventh Submarine Flotilla in Holly Loch, Scotland for training and upgrades. SOKOL also spent a short time at Dundee with the Ninth Submarine Flotilla for additional training. In March 1941, SOKOL was transferred to the Fifth Submarine Flotilla in Portsmouth. The subs of the Fifth were used to intercept blockade runners from South America attempting to sail to German controlled ports in Southern France. SOKOL was also used to picket the French ports where the German battleships GNEISMAN and SCHARNHORST were docked. During one of these patrols in July, SOKOL fired 4 torpedoes at a German transport outside of Brest with no result.

Specifications for U-Class submarines:
Length: 196 ft. 9 in.
Beam: 16 ft.
Draft: 12 ft. 9 in.
Displacement: 545/735 tons
Machinery: 2-shaft diesel-electric
Power: 618bhp/825shp
Speed: (surface) 11.5 knots
peed: (submerged) 9 knots
Range: 4,050 nautical miles
Tubes: Four 21-inch bow tubes (carried 10 torpedoes)
Guns: One 3-inch deck gun, Two .303 machine guns
Depth of dive: 200 ft.
Crew: 33 men
Misc: This class of sub was driven exclusively by electric motors, using batteries when submerged or diesel-driven generators on the surface.

SOKOL's Jolly Roger
White bars - ships sunk
Shaded bars - Warships sunk
Guns -Artillery duels
Swords - Boardings
Net - Forcing anti-submarine net
Above swastika - Ships destroyed before Italian surrender 

ORP SOKOL (Falcon) N-97

First Commander: Kpt. Mar. Borys Karnicki
Second Commander: Kpt. Mar. Jerzy Koziolowski
Third Commander: Kpt. Mar. Tadeusz Bernas

In Sept. 1941 SOKOL was assigned to the Tenth Submarine Flotilla based in Valetta, Malta. SOKOL's area of operations was around the port of Naples and the west coast of southern Italy. She carried out ten short patrols to accustom the crew and sub to procedures in the Mediterranean. During these patrols, SOKOL sank three ships and damaged two. One attack was on a convoy of seven ships including two destroyers during which SOKOL fired four torpedoes at the largest ship, reporting one hit. The ship was the Italian auxiliary cruiser CITTA di PALERMO. SOKOL was then depth charged by the escorts causing no damage. On the way back to base on February of 1941 SOKOL cause across the solitary Italian merchant ship BALILLA which may have been damaged earlier by the British sub HMS UTMOST BALILLA was sunk by SOKOL's deck gun.

Back at her base in Malta, SOKOL was inspected by General Sikorski. Karnicki, the skipper, was awarded the Virtuti Militari, Poland's highest military award. SOKOL was also presented a `Jolly Roger' flag to show the ship's accomplishments. This was a custom borrowed from British submarines.

The following excerpts are from SOKOL's eleventh patrol. They were from the official patrol report written by a senior British officer after debriefing SOKOL's skipper and the British liaison officer attached to the crew.

1) The attached patrol report with my remarks forwarded herewith.

2) SOKOL sailed from 'Malta on 13 Nov. for the southeastern billet in a line of four submarines disposed south westward of Cephalonia and after experiencing dirty weather, arrived in a position on the evening of the 15'". An attempt to communicate by SST with URGE, next in line failed

3) At 0300 hours on 17th, Captain S 1731B/16 was received ordering SOKOL to 36 01 N and 13 E. The submarine was in position by 0800 hours that day, but the position was countermanded at 1600 hours on 18th when SOKOL received orders to proceed to Navarino, arriving off that port at dawn in the 19 'h

4) Captain (S) 1113B/18 had informed SOKOL that three important supply ships and possibly their escorts were taking refuge in Navarino and so, far is known, no mines or obstruction had been laid; he should therefore use his discretion with regard to attack, having complete liberty of action. Lt. Cdr. Karnicki decided to endeavor to force the entrance and with the forethought that he had shown on previous occasions, prepared everything for rapid reloading, hoping to sink the escort first and the convoy before they could get underway. 

5) At 0820/19 when three-quarter miles and 220 degrees from the south point of Pylos, SOKOL hit bottom when at 25 get but a few minutes later was under control and steady at 43 feet. At 0820 periscope fixes were taken, but two minutes later when at 40 feet SOKOL encountered and was held by a strong indicator net which immediately fired a charge. The incident is fully reported in the narrative. The explosive charge called two motorboats to the spot and SOKOL was in this nerve racking predicament./or about eight minutes before extricating herself by going astern. Lt. Cdr. Karnicki remarked to me on return to harbor, 'it is a bad thing for any submarines to he caught in any net, but it is a pity, for a Polish submarine to be caught in an Italian net before Poland had declared war on Italy.

6) At 0043 SOKOL having been clear three or,four minutes, came to periscope depth and established that nothing was close and withdrew to the northwestward. The defects were a flooded bifocal periscope, and inability to receive wireless messages on the main aerial.

7) At 2030 that evening a situation report was made to Captain / SJ One. Throughout the 20th, patrol was maintained to the south and west of the entrances and reconnaissance showed two destroyers, one AUIRI and one SPICA class at anchor north of Pylos. It was observed that the larger destroyer was open to attack from the main entrance, and at 1540 three torpedoes were fired, securing tw o hits on A VIERE. The third torpedo had a dangerous gyro failure, circling SOKOL and was observed to pass across the submarine forward of the periscope, the torpedo engine being clearly heard in the control room. The A.B. gyro relay values of all SOKOL's torpedoes were carefully inspected and cleaned on 9th November. It therefore appears that verdigris and coppering o f these valves was not the anti cause of giro failures.

8. At 1543 SOKOI, retired, hearing minor explosions and noises as of a ship sinking and withdrew to the westwar d reloading. The intention had been to fire torpedoes set very. shallow at the SPICA class destroyer, which was open to attack if the torpedoes were forced to pass between Sphakateria and Pylos. However, the offensive or possibly self preservation instinct of the smaller destroyer on seeing its consort blow up at anchor did nor allow this. Between 1600 and 1610 seventeen depth charges were dropped apparently inside the harbor and during the next hour dropped a further ftftyfive charges promiscuously and effectively.

9) Since the supply ships were evidentlty anchored behind land, SOKOL withdrew to the southwest and at 2030 reported his attack and then found that the main aerial had not been repaired allowing reception. At 2315 that evening, when ten mules and 270degrees from Cape Sapienza, one destroyer and three merchant vessels were sighted at a range of about 4,000 yards steering southwestward. The night was dark, and clouds and squalls made visibility variable. Since the opportunity for immediate attack had not yet occurred SOKOL gave chase on a parallel but was slowly losing ground. However, at 2335 a zig by the enemy to the southwestern gave SOKOL an opportunity for a long shot on a broad track. At 2338 three torpedoes were fired, range 6,500 yards, track angle 125. SOKOL dived two minutes later to reload. At 2345, seven minutes from the time of firing, two loud explosions occurred at three-second intervals but it seems that one definite or possible two hits were secured. The depth of water where the attacks took place exceeds 1500 fathoms. Run time of 7 minutes from a range somewhat in excess of 8000 yards.

10) At 0001/22 SOKOL surfaced having completed reloading and reported the situation to Captain IS]. Visibility closed dawn and nothing was seen in position of attack but H.E. was heard approaching and SOKOL dived at 0130, surfacing later to return to patrol off Navarino. There was the convoy that had been attacked and was undoubtedly the remaining destroyer and three supply ships originally at anchor in Navarino Bay. No further incident occurred and with weather continuing rough, SOKOL returned to Malta arriving at 0800 on 27th November.

11) This patrol again proved the efficiency and fearless determination with which Lt. Cdr. Karnicki commands SOKOL, and resulted in the certain sinking of a large medium sized supply ship bound for Benghazi (actually the ship was only damaged). SOKOL had proved to be a unit of the Tenth Flotilla with an experienced and efficient crew and an outstanding able commander. Recommendations for awards are being forwarded under separate cover.

Signed C.M.G. Simpson
Captain (S)
Tenth Submarine Flotilla "

The skipper, Karnicki received the British Distinguished Service Order. LCDR J. Koziolowski, second in command, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross along with Lt. A. Kloptowski.

SOKOL's first success of the new year (1942) came in Feb. when she spotted a lone sailing vessel. SOKOL attacked on the surface at night. A shot was fired across the bow of the ship, but the ship did not stop. The next shot hit the ship and the crew began to abandon ship. After they were off the ship, SOKOL sent a boarding party over to sink the ship with charges.

1942 was the start of a German and Italian bombing offensive against Malta Attempts were made to protect SOKOL from the bombings by having only the camouflaged conning tower above water while in port or placing the sub between old barges. Despite these attempts, SOKOL was badly damaged on 19 Mar. The crew had to make their own emergency repairs because local shipyard workers would not work because of the numerous air raids.

On 25 March SOKOL was ready to sail but was again damaged by bombs. The British by this time decided that all ships were to evacuate Malta. On 20 March, SOKOL received more damage just hours before planning to sail. The damage list included: one of the screws, the steering mechanism, the generators, the battery packs, and over 250 hull perforations. During this time Lt. Cmdr. Koziolowski was in command while Karnicki was on leave.

On 17 April 1942, SOKOL was one of the last two ships to leave Malta, the other ship being the cruiser HMS PENELOPE which was so heavily damaged that she was called HMS 'PEPPERPOT'. SOKOL sailed to Gibraltar on the surface, being unable to dive and she covered the 1,000 miles to Gibraltar in 11 days. 

Karnicki the skipper rejoined the sub as she was entering the port of Gibraltar. Karnicki was well liked and respected by the crew not only because he was a brave submariner, but because of his character also. The following incident helps explain why.

While bringing his command into Gibraltar, Karnicki was annoyed that the Royal Marines band on HMS MALAYA played 'God Save the King' but not the Polish national anthem even though SOKOL was less than 200 feet away with her Polish ensign displayed. As SOKOL was moved to make room for a British submarine to dock, she came within 100 feet of the battleship HMS MALAYA without giving the senior ship and the senior commanding officer any salute. Karnicki later wrote, 'from SOKOL they could observe that duty officers, etc., were all alert on MALAYA to reciprocate a salute, but nothing happened.' MALAYA as senior captained warship, would not salute first.

Later in the day at a party from officers aboard in MALAYA, a British officer approached Karnicki and commented that in the Royal Navy it was customary for a junior warship to first salute the senior ship in port. Karnicki replied, 'The same was true in the Polish Navy.' The Royal Navy asked why SOKOL failed to salute the Admiral's flag on MALAYA. Karnicki replied, 'I was quite sure we were not seen by MALAYA.' The Royal Navy officer replied, "How was that possible when you were so close to us?' Karnicki said, 'Well, if you had seen us you would have played the Polish national anthem.' The following morning at flag raising, the Polish National Anthem, 'Jeszcze Polska, nie zginela, poki my zyjemy', echoed over the port.

SOKOL could not be fully repaired at Gibraltar, so she left for Great Britain, arriving on 9 July 1942. After all repairs and upgrades were done, SOKOL was assigned to Dundee, Scotland where LCDR Koziolski took command of SOKOL. In late 1942 and early 1943, SOKOL carried out three war patrols between Dundee and the Arctic Sea, in the area of northern Norway. Once again SOKOL's mission was to screen Allied convoys from the German battleship SCHARNHORST. All patrols were uneventful.

In the spring of 1943, SOKOL was once again assigned to the Tenth submarine Flotilla based in Malta. When nearing Malta on 6 May, an Italian submarine fired three torpedoes at SOKOL, all misses. During her first patrol on 8 May, SOKOL spotted a lone sailing vessel but missed with 2 torpedoes. While returning to base, SOKOL was attacked by an Italian submarine, which missed with two torpedoes.

SOKOL was informed of the Italian surrender on 8 Sept. 1943, she was then ordered to Brindisi to rendezvous with surrendering Italian merchant vessels. Six Italian vessels surrendered and SOKOL formed them into a convoy to sail to Malta. On the night of 12 September, while escorting the convoy, SOKOL spotted two Italian submarines - the VITTORIO PISANI and OTTARIO. Koziolowski, the CO of SOKOL ordered one of the Italian merchant ships to signal the submarines informing them of the surrender. The submarines reported that they had not received any orders and would only surrender if 'forced to.'

SOKOL fired a few bursts from her machine gun over the submarines. Their honor satisfied, the Italian subs joined the convoy. Apparently an Italian MTB saw this action and proceeded to investigate. SOKOL, while returning to escort the convoy, collided with the MTB sinking it.

On her next patrol, SOKOL spotted a lone cargo vessel on the morning of 4 October and fired two torpedoes, reporting both were hits. SOKOL left the area with the ship dead in the water and burning. Later that day, SOKOL fired two torpedoes at another ship. One torpedo missed with the other circling back but missing SOKOL. These actions took place near Pola in the Adriatic. SOKOL waited outside Pola for more shipping and on the morning of 7 Oct., two large cargo vessels were entering Pola. SOKOL fired four torpedoes, striking both vessels and sinking them both. Having only two torpedoes left, SOKOL headed back to Malta. Later the same day, SOKOL fired one torpedo at a cargo ship but missed. While on the surface, SOKOL spotted another cargo ship, firing her last torpedo. The torpedo missed but SOKOL scored several hits with the deck gun.

While based in Malta, SOKOL's patrol area was off Calabria north to the area of Bari on the Adriatic Sea. Since there were few targets left in this area, SOKOL was assigned to the First Submarine Flotilla based in Beirut. SOKOL's patrol area was the Aegean Sea. Her mission was to interrupt German shipping between the occupied Greek Islands of the Dodecanese, including Crete.

On her first patrol out at Beirut on 11 Nov. 1943, SOKOL spotted a lone sailing vessel and attacked first with her gun, then fired a torpedo which caused the crew to abandon the sailing vessel. It was then boarded and sunk with charges. On 18 Nov. during the same patrol, SOKOL sank a small sailing caique by deck gun. Outside Siteia, Crete on the evening of the 18th, SOKOL waited on the bottom for darkness. After dark, SOKOL surfaced and entered the harbor at Siteia. Koziolowski, the CO, planned to attack any ships in the harbor with guns and torpedoes, retreating quickly as the torpedoes were fired.

Koziolowski spotted three large sailing vessels along with a few smaller vessels clustered in the harbor. He immediately ordered the deck gun to open fire on one of the larger ships, which was loading German troops aboard, scoring several hits and starting it on fire. Two torpedoes were fired at the second ship, both were hits, sinking the vessel. Two more torpedoes were fired at the third ship. Those missed but struck two smaller vessels starting fires. SOKOL reversed engines to retreat into the darkness, A few minutes later, Koziolowski spotted an E-boat, which was seen near the burning ships. Two torpedoes were fired, striking the E-boat, which sank immediately. SOKOL then returned to Beirut where the crew was given a well-deserved R & R.

On SOKOL's next patrol on the evening of 11 Dec. during aa sudden squall while on the surface, the watch officer, Sub-Lt. Fritz, spotted a cargo ship disappearing into the storm. He made a snap' decision to fire torpedoes. Four torpedoes were fired, although the ship could no longer be seen, two detonations were heard. Later,; SOKOL rescued three Greek sailors who said they were aboard the ship which was sunk, the XANITHIPPE. No other records were' found to confirm the sinking. This ship was one of many Greek and Italian ships taken over by the Germans. 

The following night in a calm and windless sea, SOKOL came upon five sailing vessels slowly making way toward Lemnos, which was German occupied. SOKOL signaled the vessels to halt. The vessels continued on even after a warning shot was fired. Koziolowski then ordered the deck gun and machine guns to open fire. When the firing stopped, four of the vessels were burning and dead in the water. The fifth vessel escaped. SOKOL rescues six Greeks from the vessels who were taken prisoner for collaborating with the Germans.

On 16 December SOKOL spotted a lone sailing cutter. One shot was fired at the cutter, which promptly surrendered. Six Greeks and seven Germans were taken prisoner. The Greeks were released because they were forced by the Germans on board to take them to Lemnos The next morning while headed back to Beirut, a large transport ship was spotted at the same time German planes were seen. SOKOL submerged firing four torpedoes as soon as bearings were taken, then went deep and took evasive maneuvers. A few minutes later, SOKOL heard explosions, claiming hits on the ship. No ships reported damage on this date. The explosions were probably bombs dropped by the aircraft that were seen.

SOKOL's first success of 1944 took place on 12 January, when a small sailing vessel was sunk by gunfire. Three days later on the 15th, while submerged, SOKOL was attacked with depth charges. Records do not give the source of the attack and SOKOL received moderate damage and returned to Beirut.

After repairs were done, SOKOL was ordered to return to Great Britain for a major refit. The crew was also in need of rest. It must be remembered that SOKOL had been on war duty since July 1941,while most of the crew had been in action since Sept. 1939. SOKOL arrived at Devonport on 31 March 1944 after stops in Malta and Gibraltar. The CO, Koziolowski received a bar to his DSC upon return.

SOKOL underwent a major refit until Sept. '44, a new CO was also appointed, LCDR T. Bernas. SOKOL was then assigned to the Ninth Submarine Flotilla in Dundee and then carried out four patrols off the coast of Norway. These patrols were uneventful. By the end of the year, there was no longer a role for allied submarines in Europe. SOKOL's crew continued training and drilling in the hope of being sent to the Pacific theater. However in May 1945, SOKOL was sent to West Hartlepool where she was put in the reserve fleet. On 27 July 1946, SOKOL was returned to the Royal Navy. SOKOL carried out thirty-six patrols, sinking over 23,000 tons of enemy shipping, claiming 25 ships sunk.

Attacks by ORP SOKOL Under Karnicki
7-July-41 unknown Ger. Transport miss 10,000 GRT
2-Oct-41 unknown Unknown Stmr sunk 3,000 GRT (damaged by torpedo, sunk by gunfire)
15-Oct-41 unknown Unknown Stmr sunk 6,000 GRT
15-Oct-41 unknown . Unknown Stmr damaged unknown
29-Oct-41 Citta di Palermo Ital Aux Cruiser dmgd 5,431 GRT
2-Nov-41 Balilla It. Stmr sunk 2,469 GRT
(HMS UTMOST damaged Balilla, sunk by SOKOL's guns)
20-Nov-41 Aviere It. Dstryr damaged 1,690 GRT (Aviere was beached to save ship)
21-Nov-41 Berbera It. Stmr damaged 2,093 GRT (sunk by RAF 11/28/44)
12-Feb-42 Givseppina It. Sailing Vessel sunk 392 GRT (damaged by deck gun, boarded and sunk with charges)
13-Feb-42 unknown It. Torpedo Boat - missed?

Attacks by ORP SOKOL Under Koziolowski
8-June-43 unknown It. Sailing Vessel missed ?
12-Sept-43 Meattini It. Torpedo Boat sunk 36 GRT (was sunk by ramming)
4-Oct-43 unknown Unknown Stmr sunk 6,000 GRT
4-Oct-43 Sansego It. Stmr missed
7-Oct-43 Eridonia It. Stmr sunk 7,095 GRT
7-Oct-43 unknown Unknown Stmr sunk 0
7-Oct-43 Sansego It. Stmr missed
7-Oct-43 Ugliano It. Stmr damaged 1,500 GRT (missed with torpedo, damaged by deck gun)
11-Nov-43 Argentina It. Sailing Vessel sunk 64 GRT (damaged by deck gun, boarded and sunk with charges)
18-Nov-43 Unknown Sailing sunk by deck gun 20 GRT
19-Nov-43 unknown Ger. Sailing Vessel sunk 200 GRT
19-Nov-43 unknown Ger. Sailing Vessel sunk 200 GRT
19-Nov-43 unknown Sailing Vessel sunk 10 GRT
19-Nov-43 unknown Sailing Vessel sunk 10 GRT
19-Nov-43 Move Ger. E-boat sunk 60 GRT
11-Dec-43 Xanithippe Ger. Stmr sunk 4,000 GRT
12-Dec-43 Nicalaos Pi. Ger. Sailing Vessel sunk 200 GRT (sunk by deck gun)
12-Dec-43 Nicalaos Sy 564 Ger. Sailing Vessel sunk 200 GRT (sunk by deck gun)
12-Dec-43 Nicalaos Sy 262 Ger. Sailing Vessel sunk 200 GRT (sunk by deck gun)
12-Dec-43 Aghios Eleimon Sy274 Ger. Sailing Vessel 200 GRT (sunk by deck gun)
16-Dec-43 unknown Ger. Sailing Vessel sunk 16 GRT (boarded and sunk with charges, 7 Germans captured)
17-Dec-43 Balkan Ger. Steamer missed 3838 GRT
12-Jan-44 No 53 Ger. Sailing Vessel sunk 40 GRT (sunk by deck gun)

GREAT ARTICLE, DAVID and Beth. Many thanks!