25 Years Under Polish Flag: The ORP Gen. K. Pułaski Missile Frigate
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class missile frigate ORP Gen. K. Pułaski (ex-USS Clark) celebrated 25 years under the Polish flag last week. The white and red Polish ensign was first raised on the vessel on March 15, 2000, at the U.S. Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia.
To commemorate this milestone, a ceremonial flag raising and grand naval parade were held on Saturday at the Polish Navy base in Gdynia.
During her 25 years of service in the Polish Navy, the ORP Gen. K. Pułaski has sailed more than 230,000 nautical miles—equivalent to circumnavigating the Earth at the equator approximately 11 times.
Throughout her service under the Polish flag, the frigate has participated in numerous significant operations, including:
- The counter-terrorism operation “Active Endeavour”
- Three military missions as part of NATO’s elite Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG-1) in the Mediterranean and Black Seas
- Fleet Operational Sea Training (FOST) exercises, considered among the most demanding training programs for NATO vessels
Additionally, the Pułaski has taken part in dozens of international exercises, including NATO’s largest naval maneuvers such as Brilliant Mariner, Neptune Warrior, Joint Warriors, and Noble Midas.
The ORP Gen. K. Pułaski frigate is primarily designed for maritime transport protection, shipping monitoring, and peace, stabilization, and combat operations at sea. She is equipped with powerful anti-submarine weaponry, including the MU-90 torpedo—one of the most advanced of its kind in Europe. The vessel also features the Prairie-Masker system, which reduces the frigate’s acoustic signature, decreasing the probability of detection by submerged submarines.
The ship’s air defense system consists of Standard SM-1 missiles. The frigate also has capabilities for engaging surface targets and conducting electronic warfare.
The ORP Gen. K. Pułaski serves in the Combat Ships Squadron of the 3rd Ship Flotilla in Gdynia, Poland.
