S-2, S-3, S-4 - artillery cutters. Part I

ORP S-2 (British names: MA / SB 44 or MGB 44) is a British production cutter, classified as an artillery boat and served in the Polish Navy during the Second World War. From July 1940 the ship began service under the Polish flag and served until 1944. The water capacity was about 31 tons. The length of the ship was 19.2 m, width - 5 m, the maximum speed at sea was up to 40 knots. Armament in 1941 were: one 20 mm “Oerlikon” cannon, 6 machine guns with a caliber of 7.7 and 12.7 mm, deep bombs and sea mines. The ship was built at the “British Power Boat” shipyard and belonged to the so-called 63-foot high-speed craft, built by the shipyard. This type of ship was originally built for Norway and Sweden, but some of them were taken over by the Royal Navy at the outbreak of World War II. The boat in Polish service originally belonged to the 3rd British Royal Navy Fleet, where together with the ORP S-1 and ORP S-3 it formed the 3rd Fleet Division. In 1940–1944 the ship was involved in many operations in the English Channel, very often fighting with a small German light ships. One of the most famous clashes of this cutter was, when he was alone in the fight against 6 German torpedo boats in night from 21 to 22 June in 1942. It is also worth adding that for this feat the captain of the boat - Capt. Eugeniusz Vciszlicki was awarded the Silver Cross of the Order of Virtuti Militari and the Cross of Merit. The craft fought throughout the war until the very end, the ORP S-2 was dismantled in 1947.

ORP S-3 (British names: MA / SB 45 or MGB 45, unofficial name: "Wyżeł") is a British production boat, belonging to the artillery high-speed craft and operated in the Polish Navy during the Second World War. The Polish Navy boat was put into operation in July 1940 and served until May 1943. The water capacity was about 31 tons. The length of the ship was 19.2 meters, width - 5 meters, maximum speed - 36-37 knots. It was armed with a single 20 mm “Oerlikon” cannon, 4 7.7 mm machine guns and deep bombs. The cutter was built at the “British Power Boat” shipyard in Hythe and was part of a 63-foot high-speed cutter, built by the shipyard. Boats of this type were originally built for Norway and Sweden, but some of them were taken over by the British Royal Navy at the outbreak of World War II. Already under the white-red flag, the boat originally belonged to the 3rd Squadron of the 3rd British Royal Navy Fleet. The unit's main tasks were to take part in many attacks by the Royal Navy and the Polish navy against the occupied French coast, as illustrated by the trip to Cherbourg in September in the 1940s, when the ORP S-3 covered the battleship HMS “Revenge”. They were also a high-speed cover for many British cabotage convoys in the English Channel. It is worth adding, that the ship was often damaged during the service, as early as 1943 was removed from the Polish Navy lists. 

The ORP S-4 (British names: MTB 113 or MGB 113) was a British-made boat, also classified as an artillery boat, operating in the Polish Navy during World War II. The boat began service in the Polish Navy in July 1943 and served until April 1944. The water capacity was about 50 tons. The ship was 21.8 meters long, about 6.3 meters wide, had a maximum speed of 39 to 40 knots at sea. It was armed with a single 40 mm cannon ("pom-pom"), a doubled 20 mm “Oerlikon” cannon, 4 7.7 mm machine guns and deep bombs. The ship was built at the “British Power Boat” shipyard in Hythe as one of the so-called British 71-foot 6-inch speed boats. The future ORP S-4 has served in the Royal Navy since December 1942 and was being repaired at the time the Polish Navy was handed over. After completing repairs and getting to know the new ship, the ORP S-4 became part of the 9th flotilla of Royal Navy Fleet, based in Ramsgate. It replaced a worn ORP S-3 boat in the Polish Navy. In 1943 September-November the ship was involved in numerous attacks against the coastal regions of occupied France. After the January 1944 the ship was damaged, overrun on the shoal, and overhauled. During the repairs, a decision was made to transfer the ORP S-4 to the Dutch Navy. Interestingly, however, the Dutch excluded them from service and returned them to the Royal Navy in September of the same year.

Three simple, small, but colorful models of cutters, that even beginners and inexperienced modelers can assemble withaut the help of a more experienced colleague. All the complexity of the models lies in their size and small details.