IBG Model Ships 1/700 ORP Kujawiak 1942 Hunt II Class Destroyer Escort Kit

The Hunt was one of best known class of destroyer escort of the Royal Navy from World War II period. 86 Hunts of four types were completed, of which 72 were commissioned into the Royal Navy and the remaining 14 were transferred to allied navies - Norwegian, Polish, Greek and Free French. 20 ships of Hunt Type II class were ordered on September 1939. Second, final batch of 16 were ordered on December 1939. Armament of Hunt II class: 6 × QF 4 inch Mk XVI guns on twin mounts, 4 × QF 2 pdr Mk VIII on quad mount, 20 mm Oerlikons on single mounts and depth charges. Seven ships of this type were lost in WWII.

ORP Kujawiak, built as HMS "Oakley", was given to Polish Navy on May 30 1941. The ship took part in the raid for Lofoten (Operation Anklet), where it supported the landing of British commandos on the island Moskenesøya under German occupation. The operation ended in full success - soldiers have captured all the strategic points and destroyed two radio emitters, harbor installations and several small ships. Another famous operation of ORP Kujawiak was the Operation Harpoon - attempt on getting a convoy with supplies to Malta from the west (analogical operation attempted from the east was Operation Vigorous). The convoy reached the island with heavy losses both among the transport ships (only 2 out of 6 reached Malta) and warships. Two destroyers were sunk, including the ORP Kujawiak, which was damaged on a mine. It's wreck lies 90m below the sea level until today, preserved in a good shape.