Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1150145
at slower pace than expected. As the work progressed, the hull was being fitted with the propulsion system, including two diesel engines, four generators, a gearbox and the shafts system. The gas turbine procured in 2006, was also installed onboard, at last. Most of the works concerning the hull were finalized in 2009, with the hull being launched to mark the significance of progress made. The event took place almost 8 years after the keel-laying ceremony. Following the events above both the sailors, as well as the shipbuilders, hoped that they have left the worst trouble behind, since it would be enough to install the combat system and armament onboard to finalize the work. However, the dark clouds were about to start rolling in. 2009 brought in a financial crisis and cuts. Defense budget is always becoming the first victim of savings, while the Navy is the first branch of the Polish military where the MoD is looking for potential cuts. And this time it was not different. Despite the fact that the bidder that would be delivering the automatic battle system for the vessel has already been in- On 28th November keel laying ceremony was held involving prime minister, head of the MoD, head of the National Secu- rity Bureau, Navy commander. Presence of so fine guests did not help the vessel, unfortunately. Since the very beginning of the program, financial problems were significant. According to the provisions of the 2002-2005 Technical Modernization Plan, amount of 480M PLN was allocated to build the cor- vette. Another 2003-2008 Technical Modernization Plan kept that amount at the very same level. The above meant that financing would not have been available between 2002 and 2008 to finalize the platform-build process, not to mention the indispensable electronic systems, armament or the elements that would turn the vessel into a real warship. The budgetary constraints created a need to look for more savings. Apart from the lack of the systems, there was no option to afford buying the peak power gas turbine that is an element of the corvette's propulsion system. Works were mainly focused on the hull. But this portion of the effort, due to the initial lack of know-how, was proceeding NAVY