| Added by |
 Maciej Pasztor
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| General Description : | ORP Piorun was an N-class destroyer used by the Polish Navy during the Second World War. On 22 May 1941, Piorun, with ships of the British 4th Destroyer Flotilla (HMS Cossack, HMS Maori, HMS Sikh and HMS Zulu), commanded by Captain Philip Vian, provided additional escort to troop convoy WS8B en route from Glasgow to the Indian Ocean. On 25 May, Vian's destroyers (including Piorun) were detached from the convoy to join the search for the German battleship Bismarck. Piorun took part, along with the British destroyers, in the search for Bismarck (she was the first of the destroyers to spot the German ship). She joined in the shadowing of and torpedo attacks on the German battleship the night before Bismarck was sunk. Arriving first on the scene with the British Tribal-class destroyer Maori, Piorun charged at Bismarck by herself, while Maori manoeuvred for position to fire torpedoes. Alone, Piorun exchanged fire with Bismarck for half an hour with neither side scoring any hits—although after the third salvo, Bismarck missed by only 20 yards (18 m), causing Pławski to pull away. According to one report (detailed at the Auschwitz I exhibition, Oświęcim, Poland), Pławski transmitted the message "I am a Pole" before commencing fire on Bismarck. |
| Face value | 40 Groszy |
| Catalog code (Michel) | 2029 |
| Catalog code (Scott) | 1760 |
| Catalog code | Polish Stamps Catalog 1882 |
| Series | Polish Navy during World War II. |
| Place in series | 1 |
| Stamp colour | Slate green and rose |
| Stamp use | Commemorative stamp |
| Print run | 7,068,000 |
| Designer | Krystyna Rogaczewska Grav: Barbara Szymańska-Kowalska |
| Paper type | Middel; smooth, white |
| Print technique | Steel engraving |
| Printed by | PWPW (Państwowa Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych) |
| Perforation | 11¼ x 11 (harrow) |
| Height | 21.50 mm |
| Width | 75.60 mm |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
