Procurement of weapons in a democratic country is always matter of politics - sometimes less, sometimes more.
In Finland the need for new naval ships took an unexpected direction in 1920's when the need for new icebreakers capable of helping the nation's commerce during long winters was also highlighted. In the end, an unexpected and clearly political compromise was made: The new coastal battleships of the Navy "Väinämöinen" and "Ilmarinen" would also be constructed as icebreakers, the logic being that they could exercise by summer and break through ice during winter. The compromise was derided in European naval circles, but in reality had some merit, as Germans, for example, used their old BB Schlesien and Schleswig-Holstein as icebreakers.
Nevertheless, in the end the Navy was happy with their new ships. Featuring 2x2 254mm guns supplemented by 4x2 105mm DP guns and 4x Vickers 40mm guns the ships were heavily armed for their size. Due to compromises of their role their seakeeping qualities were not good and their speed was low.
In 1939 Soviet Union attacked and after initial troubles got it's act together and by end of February the Soviet troops were advancing towards Gulf of Viipuri. While the Western shore had some coastal fortifications no one was prepared for the coldest winter in decades, which meant that ice was thick enough for tanks to drive over. Furthermore Finland had no more reserves to spare for defense of Gulf of Viipuri other than various hodge podge outfits of quickly trained replacement soldiers in their civilian clothes. The improvised outfits would be expected to die gloriously, but that would not help with issue of national defense.
Now, this was the Greatest Hour of Finnish Navy. In mid-February the Naval staff decided to prepare Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen for an Battle on Ice. The tremendous firepower of these armored ships was supplemented by further armament, as on ice one would not have to care about seakeeping qualities the topweight issues could be effectively abandoned. By beginning of March both ships were bristling with additional weapons. The regular armament was supplemented by 10 Madsen 20mm guns, four 57mm Nordenfelt guns and total of 10 quad Maxim AAMG's fresh from Raate road. These new installations were protected only by jury-rigged armor composed of mild steel and sandbags.
On 4 March 1940 the Armored Squadron started it's heavy plod towards Gulf of Viipuri. This was it, the decisive moment for the nation. The Soviets were heavily surprised by the appearance of the two armored behemoths. For a casual observer an icebreaker quickly plodding through ice might seem an easy target to eliminate, but it wasn't. Soviet aircraft lacked the skill in bombing, even so against a slowly moving target. Soviet anti-tank guns and tank guns lacked the penetration against heavily armored ships, although they did take a heavy toll on relatively unprotected personnel on deck weapons. Soviet field artillery could not hit a moving target and in direct fire the HE shells lacked penetration.
105mm shells simply tore apart Soviet tanks while a 254mm shell could take out an entire company. 57mm Nordenfelt guns could easily penetrate Soviet tanks while water-cooled quad Maxims fielded a spray of lead on ice and the rocky, unprotected islands.
The total length of this death ride was some 20 nautical miles at one direction and it took some nine hours from 20 pm to 5 am. Finns took the risk of Soviets not reacting quickly, and they were right. In the end both Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen were full of wounded, their superstructure on fire and filled with small holes, but could continue towards Kotka. What was important too, that by breaking a lead through ice the icebreakers created a barried which did not permit vehicles to pass over until end of the War.
A few days later, on 9 March 1940 the war was over. While Finland lost the Winter War it has been questioned whether without the Navy it would have had to surrender. The casualties of the Winter War were exceedingly harsh, some 20000 dead and missing (OTL 27000).
The Death Ride was filmed and spread worldwide. When George Lucas filmed his "Empire Strikes Back" it was clear where he took his impressions from.
4 March is still the anniversary of the Finnish Navy and no-one questions the role of the Navy in national defense. The critics say, that the legendary Battle on Ice has resulted in Finnish Navy investing on too large ships instead of smaller ships like Sweden. Of course, alternate history is always speculation, but what we know is that the Finnish Navy, with it's six frigates featuring VLS with ASTER and SCALP missiles is no force to be laughed at.
(OTL icebreaker Jääkarhu was purchased from the Netherlands in 1926. Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen did not have sufficient icebreaking qualities to participate in Battle of Gulf of Viipuri. Finnish icebreaker Sisu was constructed as dual military-civilian ship, as a depot ship for submarines during summer and icebreaker during winter. In Finnish military history armchair society the coastal battleships are widely derided as follies because they did not have a role during the Winter War. In general, Navy is the most unappreciated branch of the Finnish Armed Forces.)
Väinämöinen preparing for the Death Ride.
Väinämöinen before installation of additional armament.
A map on the final phases of the Winter War. "Viipurinlahti" with blue letters is Gulf of Viipuri in English.
In Finland the need for new naval ships took an unexpected direction in 1920's when the need for new icebreakers capable of helping the nation's commerce during long winters was also highlighted. In the end, an unexpected and clearly political compromise was made: The new coastal battleships of the Navy "Väinämöinen" and "Ilmarinen" would also be constructed as icebreakers, the logic being that they could exercise by summer and break through ice during winter. The compromise was derided in European naval circles, but in reality had some merit, as Germans, for example, used their old BB Schlesien and Schleswig-Holstein as icebreakers.
Nevertheless, in the end the Navy was happy with their new ships. Featuring 2x2 254mm guns supplemented by 4x2 105mm DP guns and 4x Vickers 40mm guns the ships were heavily armed for their size. Due to compromises of their role their seakeeping qualities were not good and their speed was low.
In 1939 Soviet Union attacked and after initial troubles got it's act together and by end of February the Soviet troops were advancing towards Gulf of Viipuri. While the Western shore had some coastal fortifications no one was prepared for the coldest winter in decades, which meant that ice was thick enough for tanks to drive over. Furthermore Finland had no more reserves to spare for defense of Gulf of Viipuri other than various hodge podge outfits of quickly trained replacement soldiers in their civilian clothes. The improvised outfits would be expected to die gloriously, but that would not help with issue of national defense.
Now, this was the Greatest Hour of Finnish Navy. In mid-February the Naval staff decided to prepare Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen for an Battle on Ice. The tremendous firepower of these armored ships was supplemented by further armament, as on ice one would not have to care about seakeeping qualities the topweight issues could be effectively abandoned. By beginning of March both ships were bristling with additional weapons. The regular armament was supplemented by 10 Madsen 20mm guns, four 57mm Nordenfelt guns and total of 10 quad Maxim AAMG's fresh from Raate road. These new installations were protected only by jury-rigged armor composed of mild steel and sandbags.
On 4 March 1940 the Armored Squadron started it's heavy plod towards Gulf of Viipuri. This was it, the decisive moment for the nation. The Soviets were heavily surprised by the appearance of the two armored behemoths. For a casual observer an icebreaker quickly plodding through ice might seem an easy target to eliminate, but it wasn't. Soviet aircraft lacked the skill in bombing, even so against a slowly moving target. Soviet anti-tank guns and tank guns lacked the penetration against heavily armored ships, although they did take a heavy toll on relatively unprotected personnel on deck weapons. Soviet field artillery could not hit a moving target and in direct fire the HE shells lacked penetration.
105mm shells simply tore apart Soviet tanks while a 254mm shell could take out an entire company. 57mm Nordenfelt guns could easily penetrate Soviet tanks while water-cooled quad Maxims fielded a spray of lead on ice and the rocky, unprotected islands.
The total length of this death ride was some 20 nautical miles at one direction and it took some nine hours from 20 pm to 5 am. Finns took the risk of Soviets not reacting quickly, and they were right. In the end both Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen were full of wounded, their superstructure on fire and filled with small holes, but could continue towards Kotka. What was important too, that by breaking a lead through ice the icebreakers created a barried which did not permit vehicles to pass over until end of the War.
A few days later, on 9 March 1940 the war was over. While Finland lost the Winter War it has been questioned whether without the Navy it would have had to surrender. The casualties of the Winter War were exceedingly harsh, some 20000 dead and missing (OTL 27000).
The Death Ride was filmed and spread worldwide. When George Lucas filmed his "Empire Strikes Back" it was clear where he took his impressions from.
4 March is still the anniversary of the Finnish Navy and no-one questions the role of the Navy in national defense. The critics say, that the legendary Battle on Ice has resulted in Finnish Navy investing on too large ships instead of smaller ships like Sweden. Of course, alternate history is always speculation, but what we know is that the Finnish Navy, with it's six frigates featuring VLS with ASTER and SCALP missiles is no force to be laughed at.
(OTL icebreaker Jääkarhu was purchased from the Netherlands in 1926. Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen did not have sufficient icebreaking qualities to participate in Battle of Gulf of Viipuri. Finnish icebreaker Sisu was constructed as dual military-civilian ship, as a depot ship for submarines during summer and icebreaker during winter. In Finnish military history armchair society the coastal battleships are widely derided as follies because they did not have a role during the Winter War. In general, Navy is the most unappreciated branch of the Finnish Armed Forces.)
Väinämöinen preparing for the Death Ride.
Väinämöinen before installation of additional armament.
A map on the final phases of the Winter War. "Viipurinlahti" with blue letters is Gulf of Viipuri in English.
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