Diving on the wreck
One of the most unique and attractive diving sites of the Gdańsk Bay– the opportunity to admire a perfectly preserved submarine wreck at a manageable depth is a real treat for wreck diving enthusiasts. The depth at the bottom is around 30 meters, allowing the entire wreck to be explored within no-decompression limits.
The wreck lies perfectly on its keel. The sides are partially covered by bottom sediments, but the shape of the hull and the bow and stern of the submarine are clearly visible. Over the central part of the vessel towers the distinct Sail, which can be viewed in some places, as well as open hatches and manholes in other parts of the hull.
There are a few nets on and around the wreck, which should be watched out for. Visibility at the dive site varies greatly, but there are days when the "Malutka" impresses with up to 10 meters of visibility. Currents are rare on this wreck.
Story
In 1954, Poland leased six miniature submarines of the "Malutka" class from the USSR, built in 1949, including the ORP Ślązak with hull number 304. In 1962, Poland purchased the submarines. The purchase was not of the successful kind – the submarines had incomplete technical documentation, and their condition was far from good.
Little is known about the circumstances of the "Malutka" sinking approximately 3 miles from Jastarnia. One theory suggests that the submarine was supposed to be buried in a large nearby hole in the seabed, but this failed due to a lack of precision during the sinking. Another hypothesis suggests that the wreck was sunk at this location as a training object for the sonar operators of the Polish Navy – locating the relatively low Sail was considered good practice before combat missions. We may never truly know what happened.
Technical specifications
A miniature submarine 49.5 meters long and 4.4 meters wide. The draft was 2.6 meters at the bow and 2.8 meters at the stern. The submarine reached a top speed of 15.7 knots on the surface and 7.8 knots submerged. Its operational range was 3000 Nm on the surface and 90 Nm while submerged. The displacement was 283/353 tons. The submarine was powered by two 11-D type diesel engines with 882 kW (1200 HP) power, and two PG-17 electric engines with 321 kW (436 HP) of power when submerged. Originally, the submarine was armed with a 45 mm cannon, which was removed in the later years of service. The bow was equipped with four torpedo tubes. The crew consisted of 31 members.
Text by: Bartosz Słaboń
Translation: Szymon Rydzewski
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