Before the Bismarck chase, ORP Piorun used her guns in the defence of Clydebank, where a memorial recalls the ship's role. With Plawski in command, she joined Philip Vian's 4th Destroyer Flotilla and was first to charge Bismarck, exchanging fire while signaling Polish defiance. Piorun did not join every night torpedo run because her crew had not trained in the four Tribal-class destroyers' box manoeuvre. She instead acted as a free safety, ready to reinforce whichever side Bismarck tried to break before returning to the attack in daylight. Fuel limits eventually forced the destroyers home, exposing the endurance constraints behind their audacity.
Chapter · 55:06-58:37
Eugeniusz Plawski and ORP Piorun confront Bismarck
ORP Piorun charges Bismarck, then serves as the free safety in Vian's destroyer box because her crew had not practiced the Tribal-class night maneuver.