In the morning of 3 September 1939, ORP "Gryf" and ORP "Wicher", moored in the harbour, were attacked by two German destroyers, "Z1 Leberecht Maass" (with Rear Admiral Günther Lütjens) and "Z9 Wolfgang Zenker". Polish warships and a shore battery repulsed the attack, with "Gryf" scoring at least one hit on "Leberecht Maas" (4 killed). "Gryf" herself was slightly damaged with one shot. Later the same day, after three attacks of German bombers, "Gryf" was heavily damaged, and partially sank in the harbour. By 5 September the fire was extinguished and two stern 120 mm artillery mountings (single and twin one) were dismounted and placed ashore as a shore battery "No. 34", part of the defensive system of the Hel Peninsula. They reached readiness only on 30 September, just before capitulation.