She is named after the notable Polish WWII minelayer.

Built in Northern Shipyard in Gdańsk as a sister ship of ORP Wodnik, in 1976, she replaced the previous ORP Gryf in her role of a school ship.

Prior to the Gulf War, she was refurbished in Gdynia and became a hospital ship.

In that role, she was sent to the Persian Gulf and took part in the conflict.

Currently, she serves as a base ship and harbour-locked naval school of the Polish Navy.