International callsign: Sierra-Oscar-Whiskey-Sierra
ORP Sokół (ex KNM Stord of the Royal Norwegian Navy) entered service in the Polish Navy on June 4, 2002, as the first of four Kobben-class submarines acquired from Norway.
They were originally built to strengthen NATO’s northern flank. For this purpose, Norway selected the Type 207 submarines designed by Ingenieurkontor Lübeck, and built by the shipyard Rheinstahl Nordseewerke in Emden, Germany. With financial support from the United States, as many as 15 submarines of this type were built between 1964 and 1967. Their primary mission was to counter Soviet submarines. They were based in Bergen until the early 21st century, when the decision was made to decommission them (previously, three boats were transferred to Royal Danish Navy). At that time, the Polish Navy was searching for temporary replacement for two aging Soviet Foxtrot-class (Project 641) submarines. Under an intergovernmental agreement, Poland received five Kobben-class submarines free of charge. Four of them – future Sokół, Kondor, Sęp, and Bielik — raised the Polish naval ensign between 2002 and 2003. The fifth submarine, unofficially named Jastrząb (ex KNM Kobben, first of the class), did not enter active service, and was used for spares, and eventually preserved as training object in the naval academy.
For over a decade, Kobben-class submarines were the main force of the Polish Navy’s Submarine Squadron, serving along the single Kilo-class submarine ORP Orzeł. ORP Sokół participated in numerous exercises, primarily in the Baltic Sea and the Danish Straits. She also operated as part of NATO’s elite Response Force. Two of Poland’s Kobben-class submarines — ORP Bielik and ORP Kondor — took part in NATO operations in the Mediterranean Sea. ORP Sokół ended its service under the Polish naval ensign on June 8, 2018.
By decision of the Minister of National Defense, the submarine was transferred to the Naval Museum in Gdynia in 2020, to be converted into an exhibit. A series of adaptation works were carried out at the Naval Shipyard to prepare her for the new role. In 2023, the ship was transported on a floating pontoon and then moved on multi-axle transporters to her final location. She was placed in a specially designed reinforced concrete basin.
The submarine’s interior, prepared by museum staff for public viewing, faithfully preserves her appearance from the period of active service in Polish Navy.
