The independent kingdom maintained a fleet until Poland was partitioned at the end of the 18th century.
The modern navy was created 28 November 1918 by order of Joseph Pilsudski, with Captain Bogumil Nowotny as its first chief.
In the 1920's and 1930's the Polish Navy underwent a modernisation program under the leadership of Vice-Admiral Swirski (Chief of Naval Staff) and Rear-Admiral Jozef Unrug (CO of the Fleet). By Sept 1939 the navy consisted of 5 Submarines (ORP Orzel, Sep, Wilk, Rys & Zbik), 5 Destroyers (ORP Blyskawica, Burza, Grom, Wicher & Gryf).
During WW2, the navy consisted of the 2 cruisers and great number of smaller ships, including 3 destroyers and 2 submarines, that get out of the Baltic sea in 1939. The Polish navy fought alongside the allied navies, including fighting against the Bismarck.
As of 2003 the navy has 149 ships.
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