Ppłk (ret.) Adam Wyderko holds a master’s degree in engineering and is a graduate of the Military University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanics, specializing in aircraft and aircraft engine construction.
From 1976 to 1988, he served as an officer in the aviation engineering service in the 32nd Tactical Reconnaissance and Artillery Aviation Regiment (from January 1983, the 32nd PLRT), stationed in Sochaczew. He concluded his service in the Air Force as the commander of the technical squadron.In subsequent years, he served consecutively in the Air Force Technical Directorate (1988-1991), the Military Technology Research and Development Directorate (1991-1993), the Ministry of National Defense’s Development and Implementation Department (1993-2000), and the Ministry of National Defense’s Armaments Policy Department (2000-2006), where he was a senior specialist. On behalf of the military, he oversaw research and development work in aviation technology, including the development of specialized versions of the W-3 Sokół helicopter: W-3U Salamandra, W-3W, W-3RM Anakonda, and W-3RR Procjon.
Difficult Beginnings
In 1945, the Polish Army, which liberated the country’s territory, included the following anti-aircraft artillery units: the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Divisions, the 26th and 32nd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments, and the 1st and 11th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalions. Furthermore, armored brigades contained six companies equipped with 12.7 mm heavy anti-aircraft machine guns. These forces were primarily intended to cover operational troops and rear units. The country’s airspace was largely unprotected by its own anti-aircraft units. Such protection was provided by three Soviet corps belonging to the Air Defense Forces, which constituted an independent branch of the armed forces.
Soon after the end of hostilities, the Polish army underwent a significant reduction. As part of demobilization and the transition of the Polish Armed Forces to peacetime structures, anti-aircraft artillery units also experienced major changes. According to the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army No. 236/org. of September 8, 1945, independent regiments, independent battalions, and brigade companies were completely disbanded, and anti-aircraft artillery tactical units were thoroughly reorganized. From the 1st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division, the 84th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (JW 2347) was formed and stationed in Brzeg upon Odra. Based on the 3rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division, the 86th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (JW 2357) was established with its location in Leszno (in 1948, the regiment was moved to Poznań). From the 4th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Division, the 88th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (JW 1223) was formed and stationed in Orłowo near Gdynia. The newly formed regiments were organizationally incorporated into three military districts. In 1949, only the regiment in Poznań was a combat unit; the other two regiments had a training character. From 1945 to 1949, the regiments’ armament consisted of 85 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939 (52-K) and 37 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939 (61-K). In 1949, the Polish Army’s inventory included 85 anti-aircraft guns of 85 mm caliber and 296 anti-aircraft guns of 37 mm caliber; of these, 56 anti-aircraft guns of 85 mm caliber and 45 anti-aircraft guns of 37 mm caliber were in military units, while the rest were stored in mobilization depots.
Establishment of Air Defense Forces
During and immediately after World War II, air defense forces in the Soviet Union and many Western European countries constituted an independent branch of the armed forces. In contrast, in Poland, national air defense was practically nonexistent. The very limited anti-aircraft defense of troops was based on the strength of three anti-aircraft artillery regiments. It is worth noting that air defense comprised: anti-aircraft artillery, fighter aviation, an observation and reporting system, and passive anti-aircraft defense. The lack of a national air defense system in the country led to the emergence of several concepts for organizing such a system already in 1945-1946.
In May 1945, the Anti-Aircraft Defense Department of the Polish Army Artillery Command developed the “Project for the Organization of Poland’s Anti-Aircraft Defense.” The document proposed dividing the country into six military districts and establishing an object-based air defense system. Thirteen economically and administratively significant cities were to be defended.
The next document concerning the construction of the anti-aircraft defense system was the “Project for the Development of Anti-Aircraft Artillery and National Anti-Aircraft Defense for 1947-1948,” prepared in July 1946. It was characterized by exceptional frugality and foresaw the formation, at the beginning of 1947, of an Inspectorate of Anti-Aircraft Defense under the Main Inspectorate of Artillery of the Polish Army, along with seven subordinate anti-aircraft artillery battalions, which were to provide cover for the largest Polish cities: Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Poznań, Szczecin, Warsaw, and Wrocław.
Another document concerning the development of national air defense was the “Plan for the Development of Poland’s Anti-Aircraft Defense for the 5-Year Period 1947-1951,” developed in September 1946. It envisaged the construction of an air defense system around seven key cities by 1952. The plan foresaw the formation of the Main Staff of Anti-Aircraft Defense of the Polish Army and 11 anti-aircraft artillery regiments.
None of the three developed documents were accepted by the Ministry of National Defense. However, the leadership of the Ministry recognized the problem, and to prepare and ensure adequate national air defense, on October 16, 1946, the order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army No. 0176/org. was issued, ordering the establishment of the Staff of State Anti-Aircraft Defense. Its primary task was to develop a concept for training in national air defense and to collect materials related to anti-aircraft and air defense. On March 17, 1947, the Staff of State Anti-Aircraft Defense was renamed the Inspectorate of Anti-Aircraft Defense, which became part of the Main Inspectorate of Artillery of the Polish Army. This Inspectorate constituted a separate command and was directly subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army. This situation changed on January 15, 1948, when the Main Inspectorate of Artillery came under the command of the Land Forces.
The start of the “Cold War” and increasing international tensions led to the decision for accelerated development of the armed forces. In 1948, a team led by the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army developed the “Seven-Year Plan for the Development of the Polish Army for 1949-1955.” The plan considered the then-existing capabilities of the country’s economic potential and envisaged, among other things, the establishment from scratch of the Air Defense Forces, comprising: two anti-aircraft fighter aviation divisions (within the Air Force), five anti-aircraft artillery regiments, and two observation and reporting battalions.
To prepare personnel for anti-aircraft artillery units, by order of the Minister of National Defense No. 0144/org. of July 19, 1948, the Officer School of Anti-Aircraft Artillery was formed in Koszalin in August 1948.
37 mm anti-aircraft gun wz. 1939 (61-K).
85 mm anti-aircraft gun wz. 1939. Photo: J. Kijewski.
Anti-aircraft artillery fire control device PUAZO-3.
Air Defense Forces of the Country Area
The construction of the Air Defense System began based on the order of the Minister of National Defense No. 079/org. of April 21, 1949, which obliged the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army to form, by May 31, 1949, the Organizational and Preparatory Group of the Air Defense Command. This group developed the concept for the organization and functioning of the national air defense system within a few months. On February 27, 1950, by order of the Minister of National Defense No. 011/org. of February 11, 1950, the Group was transformed into the Air Defense Forces Command. This command was to subordinate anti-aircraft artillery units and observation and reporting battalions.
The ongoing blockade of Berlin, the creation of two German states, and the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization led to a further increase in tension between former allies in the war against Germany. In these circumstances, in November 1949, Marshal K. Rokossowski replaced Marshal M. Rola-Żymierski as Minister of National Defense. In the atmosphere of the “Cold War,” the USSR wanted to have trusted people at the head of the Polish Army. The change in the leadership of the Ministry of National Defense and the appointment of Soviet officers to commanding positions in the Polish Army significantly accelerated the planned expansion of the army in 1950. The “Six-Year Plan for the Development of the Polish Army for 1950-1955” was urgently developed. One of the plan’s priorities was the expansion of the Air Defense Forces, which were to be formed as: three anti-aircraft fighter aviation divisions (within the Air Force), two divisions and six independent anti-aircraft artillery regiments, three observation and reporting battalions, and an anti-aircraft searchlight regiment. The air defense aviation component, in the form of three anti-aircraft fighter aviation divisions, was to be established within the Air Force. By order of the Minister of National Defense No. 025/org. of March 3, 1951, the 7th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Corps Command was formed. The Corps was to defend the industrial areas of Upper and Lower Silesia and Krakow and consisted of seven anti-aircraft artillery regiments: the 85th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Wełnowiec near Katowice, the 89th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Chorzów, the 90th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Węgrzce near Krakow, the 96th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Bytom, the 97th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Będzin, the 98th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Wrocław, and the 99th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Ząbkowice Śląskie. The Corps command was located in Bobrowniki near Bytom. At the same time, six independent anti-aircraft artillery regiments were formed: the 3rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Zgierz near Łódź, the 14th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Poznań, the 60th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Gdynia, the 115th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Nisko (defense of Stalowa Wola), the 129th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Szczecin, and the 136th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Mrzeżyno (in 1957 moved to Bydgoszcz), which was originally to be formed in Mielec. The 85th and 99th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments were equipped with 37 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939; the remaining regiments were equipped with 85 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939.
Structure of anti-aircraft artillery forces in the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area, as of early 1952.
Air Defense Forces of the Country Area (WLiOPL OK)
In mid-1951, by order of the Minister of National Defense No. 061/org. of July 12, 1951, the Air Defense Forces Command was transformed into the Air Defense Forces Command of the Country Area, which oversaw two main branches of forces: anti-aircraft artillery and observation and reporting units. Fighter aviation remained part of the Air Force.
Commanding the units of the 7th Air Defense Corps of the Country Area, spread over a significant portion of the country, proved very difficult with the then-existing communication capabilities. To streamline this process, by order of the Minister of National Defense No. 075/org. of October 16, 1952, the corps command was disbanded. In its place, commands of two tactical units were established: the 13th Air Defense Artillery Division of the Country Area, comprising the 85th, 89th, 90th, 96th, and 97th Air Defense Artillery Regiments, protecting the Upper Silesia area, with the division command in Bytom; and the 15th Air Defense Artillery Division of the Country Area, comprising the 3rd, 14th, 98th, and 99th Air Defense Artillery Regiments, protecting the Lower Silesia area and the cities of Wrocław, Poznań, and Łódź, with the division command in Wrocław. Simultaneously, the names of the 3rd and 14th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments were changed to the 3rd and 14th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments. Three independent regiments: the 115th, 129th, and 136th, were designated to cover Stalowa Wola, Szczecin, and Mrzeżyno. The 60th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was transferred to the Navy in February 1952, by order of the Minister of National Defense No. 05/org. of January 8, 1952. The structure and deployment of the units of the 9th Air Defense Artillery Division of the Country Area remained unchanged.
The technical condition of most artillery pieces in military units was not optimal due to wear during wartime operations. To meet urgent needs, 207 85 mm anti-aircraft guns and 48 37 mm anti-aircraft guns were acquired from the USSR between 1949 and 1952. Furthermore, the government decided to commence licensed production of anti-aircraft guns domestically. In 1951, Huta Stalowa Wola began producing 85 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939, KS-12 version (factory designation – S-3 product), which continued until 1958. In 1952, Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów started producing 37 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939 (S-11 product).
Combat training for anti-aircraft artillery units was provided by the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Camp, established by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Army No. 0183/org. of July 27, 1945, on the site of the former German anti-aircraft artillery range West-Deep. The camp command was stationed in Głębokie. The camp was subordinate to the Commander of Military District No. II. In 1946, the name of Głębokie was changed to Mrzeżyno. By organizational order of the Minister of National Defense No. 020/org. of February 29, 1952, the Commander of Military District No. II transferred the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Camp in Mrzeżyno to the exclusive use of anti-aircraft defense artillery of the country’s area by March 10, 1952. From then on, it was subordinate to the Air Defense Forces Command of the Country Area as Anti-Aircraft Artillery Range No. 15.
Structure of anti-aircraft artillery forces in WOPL OK, as of the end of 1952.
Between 1950 and 1952, with immense organizational and economic effort, a national air defense system was established. Despite the deployment of seventeen artillery regiments, fighter aviation, and observation-reporting units, it was not possible to create continuous air defense zones. The defense was object-oriented and covered the most important administrative and industrial centers of the country, which at that time included: the areas of Warsaw, Upper and Lower Silesia, the port complexes of Gdańsk-Gdynia and Szczecin-Świnoujście, and the regions of Poznań, Krakow, Łódź, and Stalowa Wola. A serious shortcoming of the system was the separation of anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft fighter aviation, and the lack of proper coordination in commanding cooperating units.
Over three years, a total of seventeen anti-aircraft artillery regiments were formed. Fourteen Air Defense Regiments (3rd, 14th, 60th, 86th, 87th, 89th, 90th, 94th, 96th, 97th, 98th, 115th, 129th, and 136th) were equipped with 85 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939, PUAZO-3 fire control devices, and DJa-1 optical rangefinders with a 4 m base. PUAZO-3 devices were later replaced by newer PUAZO-6-12 and (-12A) calculators equipped with three-meter D-49 rangefinders. The theoretical combat ceiling for these guns was 10,500 m. In practice, effective fire could be directed at targets flying up to 8,000 m at speeds up to 220 m/s. Initially, regiments had 24 guns each. Later, units in the 9th Air Defense Artillery Division OK increased the number of guns to 32, and by the end of 1953, to 54. Other regiments had 24 guns each. The armament of three Air Defense Regiments (64th, 85th, and 99th) consisted of 37 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939 (61-K) equipped with AZP-37-1 calculators (sights). ZDN optical rangefinders with a 1 m base were used for target distance measurement. These guns could engage aerial targets up to 4,000 m away, moving at altitudes up to 3,000 m with speeds up to 200 m/s. Regiments were equipped with 36, then 42 or 48 guns.
In March 1953, the 90th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was excluded from the 13th Air Defense Artillery Division OK and reclassified as an independent unit, the 90th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment. This decision was dictated by difficulties in commanding a unit significantly distant from Bytom.
On July 1, 1953, the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area, according to aggregated reports, had 359 37 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939 (61-K) and 641 85 mm anti-aircraft guns wz. 1939 (52-K and KS-12) in sixteen regiments. Some of them came from new deliveries from Huta Stalowa Wola and Zakłady Mechaniczne Tarnów.
In 1954, the first SON-4 anti-aircraft radar stations were delivered from the USSR to the firing batteries of 85 mm anti-aircraft guns. This type of station provided detection of aerial targets up to 55 km away and automatic tracking of one target within a radius of 35 km. The station cabin housed a PUAZO-7 artillery calculator, which could also cooperate with an external DJa-1 optical rangefinder. The introduction of the station significantly increased the effectiveness of battery fire, especially at night and in poor visibility conditions when the target was not visible.
Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Country Area.
To improve the command of all air defense assets, including fighter aviation, another reorganization was carried out. By directive of the Minister of National Defense No. 0055/org. of October 14, 1954, the Air Force Command merged with the Air Defense Forces Command of the Country Area. On December 1, 1954, a new branch of the armed forces was formed – the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of the Country Area (WLiOPL OK). Within the WLiOPL OK Command, the Air Defense Artillery Command of the Country Area operated. The future showed that this merger was not beneficial for the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area. While in 1950-1953 there was a rapid increase in the potential of units of this type of forces, in the period from 1954 to 1957, there was a stagnation in anti-aircraft artillery. The development of aviation was prioritized.
In the mid-1950s, NATO countries introduced new high-speed and high-altitude aircraft into their armaments. This rendered classical anti-aircraft artillery, which alongside aviation was the second element of the country’s air defense, effective only to a limited extent. This particularly concerned the detection and tracking of aerial targets and the fire control process. To increase the effectiveness of combating potential enemy air attack means, the Ministry of National Defense decided to carry out a technical modernization of anti-aircraft artillery in 1958-1965. It was also planned to increase the number of guns in anti-aircraft artillery regiments to 72 (9 batteries of 8 guns each). Regiments equipped with 85 mm guns were to be rearmed with 100 mm KS-19M2 guns, while units with 37 mm guns were to receive 57 mm S-60 guns. KS-19M2 guns could engage aerial targets moving at altitudes up to 12,000 m at speeds up to 400 m/s. S-60 guns could effectively fire at targets 5,500 m away and flying at speeds up to 300 m/s. High firing effectiveness was to be ensured by P-8 or P-10 radar stations for initial target detection, in regimental command batteries. In turn, each firing battery of KS-19M2 and S-60 guns was to receive a PUAZO-6-19 and PUAZO-6-60 fire control device (respectively) and a SON-9 or SON-9A anti-aircraft radar station. Furthermore, two regiments from the 9th Air Defense Artillery Division OK and one regiment from the 13th Air Defense Artillery Division OK were planned to receive 130 mm KS-30 anti-aircraft guns, which could engage targets at altitudes up to 14,000 – 16,000 m. Due to the concept of equipping the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area with anti-aircraft missile systems, the plans for KS-30 guns were not implemented.
In the early second half of the 1950s, the first KS-19M2 and S-60 anti-aircraft guns were delivered from the Soviet Union. To accelerate the equipment exchange process, at the government level, a decision was made to launch its licensed production in the country. In 1956, Huta Stalowa Wola began producing KS-19M2 guns (product S-9), which continued until 1959. From 1958, ZM Tarnów started delivering S-60 guns (product S-17), which lasted until 1964. In turn, Warszawskie Zakłady Radiowe RAWAR began producing anti-aircraft radar stations. In 1956-1957, these were SON-4 stations, while in 1958-1961, stations of the next generation, SON-9 and an improved version, SON-9A. SON-9 and SON-9A stations did not differ from SON-4 stations in terms of target detection and tracking, but they were significantly smaller and half as light. Moreover, the SON-9A station had systems enabling changes in working frequency in case of active noise interference.
57 mm S-60 anti-aircraft gun. Photo: J. Kijewski.
100 mm KS-19M2 anti-aircraft gun.
At the beginning of 1956, the sixteen anti-aircraft artillery regiments of the WLiOPL OK possessed: 528 anti-aircraft guns, including 402 85 mm guns and 126 37 mm guns. The actual number of guns in the WLiOPL OK was significantly higher. According to the handover protocol of the WLiOPL OK commander dated November 8, 1956, the equipment inventory listed: 145 37 mm guns, 1036 85 mm guns, and 2 100 mm guns. This status included guns used in military units and those held in mobilization reserves.
Anti-aircraft artillery fire control device PUAZO-6-19M.
Status of barrel artillery in WLiOPL OK regiments at the beginning of 1956.
After the “October Thaw” in 1956, changes occurred in the leadership positions of the Ministry of National Defense and the WLiOPL OK Command. In November 1956, General Marian Spychalski became the Minister of National Defense. Polish officers were appointed to key military positions. General Jan Frey-Bielecki became the commander of WLiOPL OK. His assumption of command initiated work on reorganizing WLiOPL OK.
In April 1957, due to ongoing armed forces reduction, by order of the Minister of National Defense No. 026/org. of April 3, 1957, the 15th Air Defense Artillery Division Command was disbanded. Among the regiments of the disbanded division: the 3rd, 14th, and 98th Air Defense Artillery Regiments transitioned to independent Air Defense Artillery Regiment structures, while the 99th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was transferred to the land forces.
To improve air defense in 1957, new structures were designed, and the command system in air defense forces was changed. Following Soviet patterns, it was planned to create three air defense corps of the country’s area, deployed in specific areas and responsible for covering the most important facilities within their areas of responsibility. On July 6, 1957, the Minister of National Defense issued order No. 0054/org., instructing the reorganization of Air Defense Forces of the Country Area (WOPL OK) structures. Based on this document, the commander of WLiOPL OK issued organizational order No. 033/org. of July 24, 1957, specifying the deadlines and principles for forming three air defense corps. The corps were to be organized, based on the dissolved air defense fighter aviation divisions, by the following deadlines: 3rd Air Defense Corps with command in Wrocław – by November 1, 1957, 2nd Air Defense Corps with command in Bydgoszcz – by April 1, 1958, 1st Air Defense Corps with command in Warsaw – by June 1, 1958. Three main types of forces were subordinated to the individual corps: fighter aviation, anti-aircraft artillery, and radio-technical forces. Divisions and independent anti-aircraft artillery regiments were assigned as follows: to the 1st Air Defense Corps of the Country Area – the 9th and 13th Air Defense Artillery Divisions of the Country Area and the 3rd, 90th, and 115th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments; to the 2nd Air Defense Corps of the Country Area – the 129th and 136th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments; to the 3rd Air Defense Corps of the Country Area – the 14th and 98th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments.
Structure of anti-aircraft artillery forces in WLiOPL OK, as of June 30, 1958.
Concurrently with the establishment of the corps, the Air Defense Artillery Command of the Country Area was transformed into the Air Defense Artillery Directorate of the Country Area. In mid-1958, it had 15 anti-aircraft artillery regiments under its command, including 13 medium-caliber artillery regiments and two small-caliber artillery regiments. The anti-aircraft artillery regiment’s organizational structure included 9 batteries, each with 8 guns, so a regiment should have had 72 anti-aircraft guns. In reality, the equipment complement in each regiment was significantly smaller. At the beginning of 1958, the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area had a total of: 36 100 mm guns, 985 85 mm guns, 2 57 mm guns, and 144 37 mm guns. The new 100 mm and 57 mm guns were used in military units, while the 85 mm and 37 mm guns were used in military units, and a significant number of them were in mobilization reserves.
Since its merger with the Air Force, the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area (WOPL OK) lacked a separate command. In March 1958, a group of officers was detached from the WLiOPL OK staff with the task of organizing a new command body that would operate within the WLiOPL OK Command. Following the group’s work, the Minister of National Defense issued order No. 05/org. of February 20, 1959, on the reorganization of the WLiOPL OK Command. Based on this order, the WLiOPL OK commander issued organizational order No. 04/org. of April 13, 1959, and by May 2, 1959, ordered the chief of staff of WLiOPL OK to reorganize the WLiOPL OK Command. Simultaneously, the commander of the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area was ordered to form the Air Defense Forces Command of the Country Area based on the Air Defense Artillery Directorate of the Country Area and part of the WLiOPL OK Command’s personnel. The newly formed command gained additional competencies but remained directly subordinate to the Air Force Command. With the establishment of the Air Defense Forces Command of the Country Area, the Air Defense Artillery Inspectorate of the Country Area was created in place of the former Air Defense Artillery Directorate of the Country Area.
The year 1959 was a peak year in the development of anti-aircraft artillery in the Polish Army, based on conventional barrel weapons. Nevertheless, at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, anti-aircraft artillery, despite relatively high tactical and technical parameters of its equipment and the modernization of fire control processes, was no longer suitable for combating supersonic aircraft flying above the effective range of contemporary guns.
Basically, the anti-aircraft artillery regiments survived in their intact composition until 1959. It was not until March 12, 1959, that the Minister of National Defense issued directive No. 009/MON, justifying the need to strengthen the country’s anti-aircraft defense by introducing missile weaponry into the Polish Army’s equipment. This was the basis for organizing anti-aircraft missile units within the WLiOPL OK structures. It was assumed that new missile artillery units would be formed on the basis of existing anti-aircraft artillery units. In the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area, 1960 was a breakthrough year due to the commencement of forming the first anti-aircraft missile units in the 9th Air Defense Artillery Division (DA OPL) and the associated reduction of units equipped with barrel artillery. First, based on the order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army No. 016/org. of February 11, 1960, in March and April 1960, the 87th and 94th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments (PA OPL) were disbanded, and on their basis, the first four missile firing battalions and one technical battalion were created.
At the beginning of 1961, thirteen anti-aircraft artillery regiments were armed with: 84 100 mm KS-19M2 guns, 195 85 mm wz. 1939 (KS-12) guns, and 140 57 mm S-60 guns. The number of radar stations was 86, including: 4 P-8, 26 SON-9A, 24 SON-9, and 32 SON-4. In 1961, in the firing batteries, instead of the outdated SON-4 anti-aircraft radar stations (the prototype was created in 1941-1943), Strzała-type stations, developed and produced in WZR RAWAR, began to be introduced.
Air Defense Forces of the Country.
The establishment of the Air Defense Forces Command of the Country Area within the WLiOPL OK was the first step towards the complete independence of this type of forces. A special commission had been working on further organizational changes since April 1961, tasked with developing a new method of commanding air force and air defense forces. The commission developed a project for a new organization of the WLiOPL OK.
At the beginning of 1962, a decision was made in Prague to establish a Unified Air Defense System for the Warsaw Pact States. The system was intended to enable information exchange between the air defense commands of individual countries and cooperation in protecting common airspace. It was a replication of the Soviet model of zone-object defense. National forces, part of the system, were to have a uniform organizational structure, similar command and control systems, unified armament, and radar assets.
The agreements reached in Prague accelerated the decision to reorganize the WLiOPL OK structures. By order of the Minister of National Defense No. 0039/org. of April 14, 1962, a new independent branch of the armed forces was established, the Air Defense Forces of the Country Area, directly subordinate to the Minister of National Defense. Soon, the name WOPL OK was changed to Air Defense Forces of the Country. By order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army No. 060/org. of June 2, 1962, the WOPL OK Command was transformed into the Air Defense Forces Command of the Country. Furthermore, based on the dissolved WLiOPL OK command and staff, the Air Force Inspectorate and the Operational Air Force Command were established with headquarters in Poznań. The WOPK Command included the directorates of: air force, missile and artillery forces, and radio-technical forces. The Air Defense Artillery Inspectorate of the Country Area was transformed into the Missile and Artillery Forces Directorate of the Air Defense Forces of the Country. Simultaneously, the Air Defense Corps were transformed into Air Defense Corps, and the names of the 9th and 13th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Divisions were changed to the 9th and 13th Air Defense Artillery Divisions of the Country.
In July 1962, the boundaries of responsibility between the 1st and 3rd Air Defense Corps were changed in the country’s area, as well as the subordination of some units. As a result, the 3rd Air Defense Corps took over from the 1st Air Defense Corps, among others, the 85th and 90th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments (SPA OPK).
In June 1961, the 97th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was disbanded. In 1962, the 86th, 89th, and 96th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments were dissolved, and their personnel reinforced the newly formed missile battalions. Another rearmed unit was the 60th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Gdynia, which the Air Defense Forces of the Country (WOPL OK) received from the Navy in February 1961. In January 1963, the regiment began its transformation into the 60th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. In early 1963, the 115th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment was disbanded, and in October of that year, the 64th and 85th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiments were detached from the 9th and 13th Air Defense Artillery Divisions (DA OPK) and directly subordinated to the commanders of the 1st and 3rd Air Defense Corps. The last unit reorganized as part of the first stage of forming missile units was the 14th Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment in Poznań. By the end of 1963, within this regiment, four missile firing battalions and one technical battalion were formed. At the end of 1963, seven independent anti-aircraft artillery regiments were operating.
Structure of barrel anti-aircraft artillery forces in the Air Defense Forces of the Country, as of the end of 1963.
In mid-1965, five anti-aircraft artillery regiments had S-60 and KS-19M2 guns, and two units exclusively S-60 guns. In total, independent regiments had 42 four-gun batteries, including 18 medium-caliber batteries and 24 small-caliber batteries.
Status of barrel artillery and SON-9A stations in WOPK regiments on July 1, 1965.
In 1967, the existing independent anti-aircraft artillery regiments changed their names, referring to the wartime traditions of the Polish Army: the 3rd Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment (SPA OPK) to the 77th SPA OPK, the 64th SPA OPK to the 16th SPA OPK, the 85th SPA OPK to the 18th SPA OPK, the 90th SPA OPK to the 81st SPA OPK, the 98th SPA OPK to the 17th SPA OPK, the 136th SPA OPK to the 32nd SPA OPK.
At the end of 1967, based on the order of the Chief of the General Staff of the Polish Army No. 0146/org. of October 13, 1967, the 129th SPA OPK was disbanded, and the formation of the 26th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Brigade began on its basis, tasked with defending the Szczecin-Świnoujście port complex.
The Six-Day War in June 1967 revealed the weaknesses of the Arab states’ air defense forces, which were equipped with Soviet-made missile systems. They proved useless and vulnerable to Israeli aircraft attacking at altitudes of 200-300 m. The Vietnam War also provided new information on the limitations of radar equipment and missile artillery, while at the same time demonstrating the effectiveness of conventional anti-aircraft artillery in combating low-altitude aircraft. The theory, advocated by many specialists, about the redundancy of barrel anti-aircraft artillery proved to be incorrect.
After numerous analyses of the conflicts, conducted both at the Warsaw Pact level and domestically, the problem of the low effectiveness of anti-aircraft missiles in combating low-altitude targets was discussed, among other places, at a meeting of the National Defense Committee. Resolution No. 002/67 of July 5, 1967, ordered the strengthening of the country’s and troops’ anti-aircraft defense. The very next day, the Minister of National Defense issued relevant order No. 094/org., in which he specified the method and deadlines for implementing the task. To achieve the intended goal, it was decided to use anti-aircraft guns stored in mobilization depots, as well as personnel and equipment from dissolved units.
In the first stage, implemented in 1967, sixteen 57 mm anti-aircraft gun batteries, ten 37 mm anti-aircraft gun batteries, and 104 heavy machine gun teams were formed. Furthermore, the planned disbandment of the 17th, 32nd, 77th, and 81st SPA OPK was halted, and they were retained as cadre units, while the 16th and 18th SPA OPK were kept as deployed units. In just a few months, immense organizational work was carried out, strengthening the protection of many important facilities: command posts, airfields, anti-aircraft missile firing positions, and radar posts, against low-altitude air attacks. In subsequent years, more anti-aircraft gun batteries equipped with 37 mm and 57 mm guns and teams armed with heavy machine guns were formed.
In the early 1970s, the Soviet RPK-1N Waza radar-calculator systems replaced the outdated SON-9A and somewhat unsuccessful Strzała radar stations in the regimental anti-aircraft artillery batteries. These relatively modern, interference-resistant systems included: a radar station (1RŁ-35), a television-optical sight (KW-20A), and a calculator (1A19N), and were designed to control the fire of 57 mm S-60 and 100 mm KS-19M2 anti-aircraft gun batteries. In the latter case, in cooperation with the PUAZO-6-19 calculator.
In the 1970s, the remaining anti-aircraft artillery regiments equipped with barrel weapons were finally disbanded. Their personnel were transferred to new missile battalions, and their equipment was partly used in newly formed anti-aircraft artillery cover batteries. In 1970, the 16th SPA OPK was dissolved, and in 1971, the 18th SPA OPK was disbanded.
By the end of 1971, the Air Defense Forces had four cadre anti-aircraft artillery regiments (17th, 32nd, 77th, and 81st) and 55 anti-aircraft artillery cover batteries. Another fifteen batteries were being formed and were scheduled to enter service from September 1, 1972. The barrel artillery in independent regiments had 24 batteries of 100 mm KS-19M2 guns and 8 batteries of 57 mm S-60 guns.
In September 1972, the 77th SPA OPK was transferred to the Pomeranian Military District. In early 1973, the 17th SPA OPK was disbanded, and in 1974, the 32nd SPA OPK was dissolved.
In early 1974, the Air Defense Forces had 20 57 mm anti-aircraft gun cover batteries and 53 37 mm anti-aircraft gun cover batteries. By 1980, a total of 85 such batteries had been formed.
As of July 1, 1977, in one independent anti-aircraft artillery regiment and in the cover batteries, the Air Defense Forces had: 24 100 mm KS-19M2 guns, 120 57 mm S-60 guns, and 342 37 mm wz. 1939 guns.
In March 1978, after another abandonment of the concept of creating a missile-based anti-aircraft defense for the Krakow area, by order of the commander of the Air Defense Forces No. 0154/org. of September 19, 1977, the 81st SPA OPK in Węgrzce was disbanded. Thus, the history of the country’s air defense regiments equipped with anti-aircraft guns came to an end.
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CBW – The book (manual) comes from the collection of the Central Military Library. Photos: Jacek Kijewski and the author.