ORP Gryf (1957)

For other ships with the same name, see ORP Gryf.

History
Name
  • Irene Oldendorff (1944-45)
  • Empire Contay (1945-46)
  • Omsk (1946-47)
  • Opole (1947-50)
  • Zetempowiec (1950-57)
  • Gryf (1957-76)
Owner
  • E Oldendorff (1944-45)
  • Ministry of War Transport (1945)
  • Ministry of Transport (1945-46)
  • Soviet Government (1946-47)
  • Zegluga Polska SA (1947-50)
  • Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (1950- )
Operator
  • E Oldendorff (1944-45)
  • Constantine Steamship Co Ltd (1945-46)
  • Soviet Government (1946-47)
  • Zegluga Polska SA (1947-50)
  • Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej (1950-76)
Port of registry
  • Nazi Germany Lübeck (1944-45)
  • United Kingdom London (1945-46)
  • Soviet Union Soviet Union (1946-47)
  • Poland Poland (1947-50)
  • Poland Polish Navy (1950-76)
BuilderBurmeister & Wain
Launched1944
Commissioned10 July 1951
Decommissioned1976
Identification
  • Code letters STAY (Gryf)
General characteristics
Class and type
  • Cargo ship (1944-57)
  • Training ship and hospital ship (1957-76)
  • Hulk (1976- )
Tonnage
  • 1,923 GRT (1944-51)
  • 935 NRT (1944-51)
Displacement4,220 Tons (1951-76)
Length279 ft 8 in (85.24 m)
Beam44 ft 3 in (13.49 m)
Depth18 ft 7 in (5.66 m)
Installed powerCompound steam engine
PropulsionScrew propeller
Speed11.2 knots (20.7 km/h)
Range5,700 nautical miles (10,600 km; 6,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h)
Armament2 x 85mm AA guns, 4 x 37mm AA guns (1951-76)

ORP Gryf was a school and hospital ship of the Polish Navy, a second vessel to bear that name. She was built in German-occupied Denmark as a cargo ship in 1944, shortly before the end of World War II and initially named Irene Oldendorff. Soon after the capitulation of Germany, she was taken by the United Kingdom, passed to the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) and renamed Empire Contees, but in 1946 it was given to the Soviet Union as part of that country's war reparations from Germany. Renamed Omsk (Омск), she served in the Soviet merchant fleet until 1947 when she was sold to Poland.

In 1950, she was acquired by the Polish Navy and rebuilt as a school and hospital ship. Initially named ORP Zetempowiec (after the Union of Polish Youth), in 1957 she was renamed Gryf after the notable WWII minelayer. In 1976 she was decommissioned and sold to the Port of Gdynia, where she served as a heating barge. Her role of a school ship was taken by a new ORP Gryf.