ORP "Krakow" - the Polish river monitor

ORP "Krakow" - interwar and World War II Polish river monitor. The ship entered service in 1926 in October. Length - almost 37 meters, width - 6 meters. The water capacity was 70 tons. By the end of the 1930s, armament consisted of 3 x 100 mm howitzers and 3 x 7.92 mm machine guns. ORP "Kraków" was created after the production of type B monitors (also known as "Gdansk" type monitors) was started and was based on the experience of their operation. At the same time, the preliminary projects provided for the creation of smaller ships. Finally, a monitor was created with practically no superstructures, with a specific lowering of the deck amidships and a very low side at the stern. ORP "Krakow" in 1927 after starting his service, he was assigned to the Pinsk flotilla, where he served until 1939. During the September campaign, he was active in Pripete, but did not actively participate in the fighting. The crew sunk it themselves in 1939 September 21. However, ORP "Kraków" was raised from the bottom by the Russians quite quickly and was later repaired and modernized. At first it served in the Dnieper flotilla under the name "Smolensk", but from 1940 was assigned to the Pinsk flotilla. After active participation in the first weeks of Operation "Barbarossa", the crew sunk this monitor a second time - this time in 1941 September 12.

A small and uncomplicated monitor model, that is perfect for both advanced beginners and modelers of all experience. Only the less experienced should work under the supervision of more experienced colleagues and this should not be one of their first more complex models. The graphic - there are almost no - instructions for anyone, the textual - quite detailed, although not too large. The pages of the publication are trimmed, without margins. Antiquarian publication.