Polish submarine ORP SEP COBI 4856 - World War II 1:300

Model ORP SEP | COBI 4856

The building set of the legendary submarine with hull number B-11 in the standard colors of the Marynarka Wojenna features two rotating propellers and an adjustable rudder. An RN-32 radio antenna wire runs from bow to stern across the conning tower. The assembled model can be safely placed on a stable display stand with a nameplate.

Did you know:

The Polish government commissioned the construction of the submarine at the Droogdok shipyard at the beginning of 1936. Construction began in November 1936. As the security situation in Europe gradually deteriorated, the Polish Army command ordered continuous supervision of the work at the shipyard. Within a few weeks, this proved to be a wise decision. Nazi Germany had been preparing for war since the first days Adolf Hitler came to power. German agents were repeatedly sent to the shipyard and took up employment there. Their real objective, however, was to sabotage the submarine under construction so that it would never be launched. After uncovering the sabotage operation, the Poles decided on an unusual step. During the first sea trials of the still unfinished submarine, they hoisted the flag and “hijacked” the vessel together with the Danish technicians. Once the submarine reached Gdynia, the technicians were given train tickets, supplies, and sent home.

In the first days of World War II, the submarine was attacked several times. ORP Sep, however, was a relatively fast vessel and managed to evade the torpedoes launched at her. One of the German torpedoes exploded prematurely due to a faulty magnetic detonator, and the Germans mistakenly believed the submarine had been destroyed. Propaganda newspapers greatly “inflated” the incident. On September 13, Captain Wladyslaw Salamon received orders to proceed to England or to neutral Sweden, where the submarine remained until the end of the war.

After the war, the submarine was repaired and ceremonially recommissioned into the Polish Navy, where she served until 1969. Three years later, she was scrapped.

Technical specifications:

• dimensions: length 84.0 m, beam 6.7 m, draft 4.17 m
• displacement 1,437 tons
• fuel tank capacity 90 tons of diesel
• propulsion system: 2x Sulzer diesel engines with a total output of 3,480 kW; for submerged travel 2x electric motors with a total output of 820 kW
• maximum speed 36 km/h on the surface and 17 km/h submerged
• maximum diving depth 100 m (design limit 120 m)
• armament  1x 105 mm Bofors gun, 1x 40 mm Bofors anti-aircraft gun and 12x 550 mm torpedoes
• RN-32 radio station
• crew of 60

From the memoirs of Captain Wladyslaw Salamon:

“Yes, it is true. To this day, the Polish and Swedish flags are raised daily in Mariefred in memory of the events in which I personally participated. Unfortunately, our internment in Sweden did not allow us to sail on further combat missions. The Swedes did not want to compromise their neutral status, and our submarine was disarmed and her propulsion system dismantled.” 

About the COBI building set:

• COBI building set 4856 is made of 190 high-quality ABS parts
• collection World War II 1:300
• pad printed – no stickers
• accurate detailing
• made in the EU
• compatible with other building block brands