Andrzej Karweta
Encyclopedia
Andrzej Karweta was Vice Admiral
of the Polish Navy
and its commander-in-chief
from November 2007 until his death in April 2010 in the Smolensk air crash..
since 1977). In 1977 he started studies at the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia
and graduated in 1982, with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (podporucznik marynarki). In following years he attended further studies, including Defence Politics at the Polish National Defence University in Warsaw (2006) and studies at Royal College of Defence Studies
in London.
He started service in the 13th Minesweeper Division in Hel
in 1982. In 1986 he took his first command, of ORP Czapla (Projekt 206F class minesweeper), in 1989 of another minesweeper ORP Mewa and a group of minesweepers. In 1992-1996 he was chief of staff and second in command of the 13th Minesweeper Division, later he became its commander. During BALTOPS
2000 maneuvres he commanded an international anti-mine warfare group.
In 2002 he became deputy commander of the Underwater Warfare Division in Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
(SACLANT), and was a Polish representative in SACLANT headquarters. In 2005 he returned to Poland and served as the second in command of the 8th Coast Defence Flotilla in Świnoujście
. On 3 May 2007 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and became a deputy chief of Polish Navy Staff in Gdynia. On 11 November 2007 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
(wiceadmirał) and appointed the Polish Navy's commander-in-chief.
He was listed on the flight manifest of the Tupolev Tu-154
of the 36th Special Aviation Regiment
carrying the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński
which crashed near Smolensk-North airport near Pechersk near Smolensk
, Russia
, on 10 April 2010, killing all aboard.
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
of the Polish Navy
Polish Navy
The Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
and its commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
from November 2007 until his death in April 2010 in the Smolensk air crash..
Biography
Andrzej Karweta was born in Jeleń village (part of JaworznoJaworzno
Jaworzno is a city in southern Poland, near Katowice. The east district of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - metropolis with the population of 2 millions. Located in the Silesian Highlands, on the Przemsza river ....
since 1977). In 1977 he started studies at the Polish Naval Academy in Gdynia
Gdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
and graduated in 1982, with the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade (podporucznik marynarki). In following years he attended further studies, including Defence Politics at the Polish National Defence University in Warsaw (2006) and studies at Royal College of Defence Studies
Royal College of Defence Studies
The Royal College of Defence Studies is an internationally-renowned institution and component of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom...
in London.
He started service in the 13th Minesweeper Division in Hel
Hel
Hel may refer to:* Hel , a location in Norse mythology* Hel , ruler of Hel, the location* Hel , a Swedish Viking rock band* Hel, Poland, a town on the Polish Baltic coast* Hel Peninsula, the peninsula on which the town is situated...
in 1982. In 1986 he took his first command, of ORP Czapla (Projekt 206F class minesweeper), in 1989 of another minesweeper ORP Mewa and a group of minesweepers. In 1992-1996 he was chief of staff and second in command of the 13th Minesweeper Division, later he became its commander. During BALTOPS
BALTOPS
BALTOPS is an annual military exercise, held and sponsored by the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe since 1971, in the Baltic Sea and the regions surrounding it....
2000 maneuvres he commanded an international anti-mine warfare group.
In 2002 he became deputy commander of the Underwater Warfare Division in Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic
The Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic was one of two supreme commanders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation , the other being the Supreme Allied Commander Europe . The SACLANT led Allied Command Atlantic, based at Norfolk, Virginia...
(SACLANT), and was a Polish representative in SACLANT headquarters. In 2005 he returned to Poland and served as the second in command of the 8th Coast Defence Flotilla in Świnoujście
Swinoujscie
Świnoujście is a city and seaport on the Baltic Sea and Szczecin Lagoon, located in the extreme north-west of Poland. It is situated mainly on the islands of Uznam and Wolin, but also occupies smaller islands, of which the largest is Karsibór island, once part of Usedom, now separated by a Piast...
. On 3 May 2007 he was promoted to Rear Admiral and became a deputy chief of Polish Navy Staff in Gdynia. On 11 November 2007 he was promoted to Vice Admiral
Vice Admiral
Vice admiral is a senior naval rank of a three-star flag officer, which is equivalent to lieutenant general in the other uniformed services. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral...
(wiceadmirał) and appointed the Polish Navy's commander-in-chief.
He was listed on the flight manifest of the Tupolev Tu-154
Tupolev Tu-154
The Tupolev Tu-154 is a three-engine medium-range narrow-body airliner designed in the mid 1960s and manufactured by Tupolev. As the mainstay 'workhorse' of Soviet and Russian airlines for several decades, it serviced over a sixth of the world's landmass and carried half of all passengers flown...
of the 36th Special Aviation Regiment
36th Special Aviation Regiment
The 36 Specjalny Pułk Lotnictwa Transportowego 36 SPLT is a special aviation regiment of the Siły Powietrzne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, established in 1945. All of its aircraft are for national public use, the most important being transport of Polish politicians and MON highest officials &...
carrying the President of Poland Lech Kaczyński
Lech Kaczynski
Lech Aleksander Kaczyński was Polish lawyer and politician who served as the President of Poland from 2005 until 2010 and as Mayor of Warsaw from 2002 until 22 December 2005. Before he became a president, he was also a member of the party Prawo i Sprawiedliwość...
which crashed near Smolensk-North airport near Pechersk near Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, on 10 April 2010, killing all aboard.
Honours and awards
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (2010, posthumously)
- Silver Cross of Merit (2005; Bronze Cross, 2001)
- Gold Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the FatherlandMedal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the FatherlandThe Medal of the Armed Forces in the Service of the Fatherland is a Polish military decoration, awarded for long service and excellent work in the army. The medal was first established on 26 May 1951, although the detailed rules and grades were revised 1991 and 1995...
- Gold Medal for his contribution to national defence
- Medal Pro Memoria
- Haller Ring - the highest award of the Maritime and River League
- Grand Officer of the Order of Merit (2008, Portugal)