Worek Plan

Operation Worek
Part of Invasion of Poland

Polish submarines sectors as in the Worek Plan.
Legend: | - battery charging site || - sector of operation
Date1–25 September 1939
Location
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 Poland  Germany
Commanders and leaders
Poland Adam Mohuczy Nazi Germany Conrad Albrecht
Strength
5 submarines 2 pre-dreadnoughts
3 light cruisers
9 destroyers
1 torpedo boat
8 minesweepers
8 E-boats
4 escorts
10 submarines
Casualties and losses
3 submarines damaged
4 submarines interned (including damaged)[Note 1]
24 killed
1 minesweeper sunk
Worek Plan operational area on the map of Poland

The Worek Plan (or Operation Worek, Polish: Plan Worek, literally Plan Sack) was an operation of the Polish Navy in the first days of World War II, in which its five submarines formed a screen in order to prevent German naval forces from carrying out landings on the Polish coast, and to attack enemy ships bombarding Polish coastal fortifications, in particular the base on the Hel Peninsula.

The operation came to naught, as the Germans did not have any plans for naval landings. It caused the submarines to operate in a confined area near the shore in shallow waters, making them vulnerable to strong enemy anti-submarine forces. As a result, despite making a number of attempts, the submarines were unable to directly sink any enemy ships during the operation, although a mine placed by the Żbik did sink a German minesweeper. No Polish submarines were lost to enemy action, but they suffered progressive wear and tear, and technical problems, forcing the submarine commanders to break off their actions, effectively ending the operation by the middle of September 1939.
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