German "Enigma" machine Type M4 (used by kriegsmarine).
"Enigma" machine Type M4 (kriegsmarine) and commercial Enigma.
Polish wz.35 (7.92mm) anti-tank rifle
Polish ORP Grom (Thunder) destroyer model
In the background Ckm wz.30 (Polish-made clone of the American Browning M1917 heavy machine gun) and Maxim wz. 08 machine gun.
Polish helmets and other gear
Equipment taken of from Polish destroyer ORP “Piorun” (Thunderbolt).
On 13th-15th March 1941, Piorun took part in the defence of Clydebank against Luftwaffe air raids, as he happened to be undergoing repairs in John Brown's shipyard. Many people remembered that he put up a terrific barrage on the first night, which may have caused the shipyard to get off comparatively lightly. A memorial to the crew of the ship was later erected in Clydebank.
In May 1941 he was escorting convoy WS-8B, along with four Royal Navy destroyers, when they were ordered to leave the convoy to take part in the pursuit of the German battleship
Bismarck. Piorun took part, along with the British destroyers, in the shadowing of and torpedo attacks on the
Bismarck the night before she was sunk, and at one point
Piorun had an exchange of fire for half an hour. According to one report Plawski (captain) transmitted the message "
I am a Pole" before commencing fire on the
Bismarck.
Piorun was very low on fuel, so he was ordered home before the
Bismarck was sunk.
Bren light machine gun (7.69mm) and Boys .55mm anti-tank rifle