The history of the ship is, however, much longer – she was built at the German shipyard Rheinstahl Nordseewerke in Emden and entered service in the Royal Norwegian Navy under the name KNM Stord in 1967, as one of 15 submarines of the Type 207 (Kobben class). The submarines based in the Norwegian fjords were a significant reinforcement for NATO’s northern flank. Decommissioned from active service in 2001, she was transferred to the Polish Navy following an agreement between the governments of Norway and Poland. She was the first of four such submarines (the others: Bielik, Kondor, and Sęp) to enter service in the Submarine Squadron. Before being transferred to Poland, the submarines were refurbished in Norway, and Polish sailors trained under the supervision of their Norwegian counterparts. The Kobben-class submarines under the Polish naval ensign were heavily used, with the crews improving their training and actively participating in the operations of NATO fleet groups. They primarily carried out missions in the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The ORP Bielik and Kondor also participated in NATO missions in the Mediterranean Sea, where they monitored ship traffic in the war against terror.
ORP Sokół III completed her service under the white-and-red naval ensign on June 8, 2018.

General characteristics ORP Sokół (III):

Displacement: surfaced – 459 t, submerged – 524 t
Dimensions: length – 47.40 m
width – 4.60 m
draught – 4.30 m,br> Propulsion: 2 diesel engines with a power of 1200 hp
1 electric engine with a power of 1800 hp
1 propeller
Maximum speed: surfaced – 12 knots, submerged – 18 knots
Range: 5,000 nautical miles at a speed of 8 knots (surfaced)
350 nautical miles at a speed of 6 knots (submerged)
Armament: 8 torpedo tubes of 533 mm caliber
Crew: 21 people (including 5 officers)