The Leadership of the Polish Navy [pl], in implementing the accepted program to increase the strength of the naval fleet, decided to continue the expansion of mine warfare vessels.

[1] Even during the construction of the first series of minesweepers, the head of the Polish Navy Shipyard in Gdynia, Commander Witold Szulc [pl], requested on 7 December 1935 from the Chief of the Technical Service of the Leadership of the Polish Navy permission to build a tugboat with a power of 300 hp or two additional minesweepers.

The four small minesweepers built between 1933 and 1936 were suitable only for coastal service, which is why plans were made to construct larger, ocean-going vessels with a displacement of 300 tons.

[1] Considering the positive experiences in the construction and operation of the "little birds", it was decided to build the new ships at the Polish Navy Shipyard in Gdynia.

This change was prompted by experiences from operated vessels, where high storm waves made it impossible to enter the crew areas.

[1] In the new vessel, the hydrostatic (depth charge) compartments were exchanged with the ammunition chamber, and modifications were made to the fuel venting system, reducing the refueling time by 10 minutes.

[2] In building the minesweepers, efforts were made to maximize the reduction of supplies from foreign companies and replace them with products from the domestic industry.

[1] The head of the Polish Navy Shipyard, Engineer Szulc, completed all the orders needed to finish the vessel only in October 1938.

Significant time and quality issues also arose in the production of direct current generators, supplied by the Rohn-Zieliński S. A. company from Żychlin.

Due to the placement of long mine rails, the ship did not have a deck overhang, so a rise was added in the bow to improve seaworthiness.

To enhance the vessel's maritime characteristics and facilitate mine sweeping operations, the stern of the minesweeper was wide, allowing for the installation of two screw shafts.

[2] The propulsion system consisted of two straight-eight Nohab diesel engines manufactured at the Ursus SA factory in Warsaw.

[1] The main armament of the vessel was to be a 75 mm Canon Ml1928 gun, purchased on 18 August 1938 in France; however, it did not arrive in Poland before the outbreak of the war.

[4] For air defense, the ship was to be equipped with a twin Hotchkiss 13.2 mm machine gun, which was planned to be mounted amidships, but it was not installed before the war broke out.

According to the plan, from 1 to 2 September, the minelayer ORP Gryf was to lay a minefield along the Hel–Sopot line, and the minesweepers were to occupy protective sectors at 10 PM.

[11] Before 6 PM, three nautical miles from the port of Hel, the group of Polish ships was attacked by Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers.

[6] During the raid, problems with the steering gear of Czapla were revealed; the rudder got stuck, causing the vessel to start circling at full speed.