Finnish armed forces were born under dark skies of the Civil War, but certainly had luck in 1920's and 1930's. The armed forces developed capabilities which were, if not the best, at least among the best in fields such as winter warfare, signals intelligence, fighter tactics and integrated naval-coastal gunfire. All these capabilities bore fruit in the harsh test of the Winter War.
At beginning of the December 1939 the Soviet Navy engaged in bold operation to capture the Åland isles, capture of which would have cut sea lines of communication between Finland and Sweden as well as exposed the whole Finnish west coast for further amphibious landings. Finnish Navy centred upon coastal battleships Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen were outmatched by Soviet naval task force comprised of two battleships, a heavy cruiser and several modern destroyers. However, the Finnish Navy had been practicising firing from sheltered inlets between rocky islands, offering cover for the coastal battleships.
The lucky shot that blew up Soviet battleship Marat was equivalent to victory at Raate road in both view of the foreigners about Finnish capability of defending herself as well as a gift to Finnish morale. Torpedoing of the cruiser Kirov was practically another lucky shot, but seen under background of sinking Marat it was seen as yet another proof of Finnish Navy's professionalism.
The virtual elimination of Soviet naval threat allowed for significant reinforcement of troops in Karelian Isthmus. As threat of the Allied intervention was coming even closer in January 1940, the Soviet Union and Finland concluded the March peace treaty on 1 March 1940.
After the Continuation War the Finnish Navy was instrumental both in defeating the German attempt to capture Suursaari Island as well as in supporting the Army landing operations in Kemi and Tornio.
The Paris Peace Treaty in 1947 put several limitations on Finnish Defence Forces. For the Navy the size was limited to 10 000 tons of ships, no submarines, motor torpedo boats or influence mines. Like the Air Force and the Army, beginning from 1950's the Navy had rather creative interpretation of the pact. The 10 000 tons was interpreted to mean active ships, and motor torpedo boats, what motor torpedo boats? They are motor gun boats!
The Navy was rather popular part of the Finnish Defence Forces. The exploits of Winter War and Lapland war were well known, Navy could be portrayed as an arm defending Finland against Western interventions for the Soviets and ordering ships from Finnish shipyards would be politically acceptable. The primary task for the Navy was to secure Åland isles - officially against Western intervention but in practice to safeguard it from a Soviet intervention. Large ships in addition to smaller combatants were required to ensure operational ability through all year.
In late 1950's the time was ripe for ordering new combatants for the Navy. In addition to the two new destroyers Turunmaa and Karjala (rough equivalent of Swedish Östergotland -class ships) two Skoryy -class destroyers, Hämeenmaa and Uusimaa were purchased from Soviet Union. The old coastal battleships Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen were decommissioned in 1963 with Väinämöinen becoming a popular museum in Turku.
Destroyer Turunmaa during trials, 1959.
In early 1970's all destroyers were equipped with Soviet P-15 Termit SSM's. The Finnish Navy was criticized by some by not jumping into missile FAC bandwagon but instead operating a combination of destroyers and very small Nuoli-class torpedo boats. The operational reason was, that destroyers offered better staying power and ASW capabilities in addition to carrying large number of mines. Torpedo boats with guided torpedoes could operate from very far away, directing torpedoes from observation posts in addition to acoustic sources. Small torpedo boats could also act as minelayers using influence mines - as the magnetic and pressure fuzes were kept disassembled in peacetime, it was judged that peace treaty would not be broken.
The worn Skoryy -class destroyers were replaced by new construction in late 1970's, by frigates Lappi and Ahvenanmaa. Equipped with RBS-15 SSM missiles and Sea Wolf SAM's these ships packed a powerful punch and essentially lifted Navy to an another era with capabilities.
The old Nuoli -class motor torpedo boats were replaced by Hurja -class motor torpedo boats in 1980's. In 1988 the Finnish Navy's main combat power consisted of two Lappi -class frigates, two Turunmaa -class destroyers, 12 R-class ASW patrol boats, 6 Nuoli -class MTB's, 18 Hurja -class MTB's and four mobile RBS-15SF coastal artillery batteries, in addition to quite large and well equipped coastal artillery arm.
(As a background, many populist writers consider the Finnish fleet program of late 1920's to have been total waste of money, since the ships had little influence on the Winter War. This vignette presumes that with stronger wartime reputation more money is used upon the Navy. )
At beginning of the December 1939 the Soviet Navy engaged in bold operation to capture the Åland isles, capture of which would have cut sea lines of communication between Finland and Sweden as well as exposed the whole Finnish west coast for further amphibious landings. Finnish Navy centred upon coastal battleships Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen were outmatched by Soviet naval task force comprised of two battleships, a heavy cruiser and several modern destroyers. However, the Finnish Navy had been practicising firing from sheltered inlets between rocky islands, offering cover for the coastal battleships.
The lucky shot that blew up Soviet battleship Marat was equivalent to victory at Raate road in both view of the foreigners about Finnish capability of defending herself as well as a gift to Finnish morale. Torpedoing of the cruiser Kirov was practically another lucky shot, but seen under background of sinking Marat it was seen as yet another proof of Finnish Navy's professionalism.
The virtual elimination of Soviet naval threat allowed for significant reinforcement of troops in Karelian Isthmus. As threat of the Allied intervention was coming even closer in January 1940, the Soviet Union and Finland concluded the March peace treaty on 1 March 1940.
After the Continuation War the Finnish Navy was instrumental both in defeating the German attempt to capture Suursaari Island as well as in supporting the Army landing operations in Kemi and Tornio.
The Paris Peace Treaty in 1947 put several limitations on Finnish Defence Forces. For the Navy the size was limited to 10 000 tons of ships, no submarines, motor torpedo boats or influence mines. Like the Air Force and the Army, beginning from 1950's the Navy had rather creative interpretation of the pact. The 10 000 tons was interpreted to mean active ships, and motor torpedo boats, what motor torpedo boats? They are motor gun boats!
The Navy was rather popular part of the Finnish Defence Forces. The exploits of Winter War and Lapland war were well known, Navy could be portrayed as an arm defending Finland against Western interventions for the Soviets and ordering ships from Finnish shipyards would be politically acceptable. The primary task for the Navy was to secure Åland isles - officially against Western intervention but in practice to safeguard it from a Soviet intervention. Large ships in addition to smaller combatants were required to ensure operational ability through all year.
In late 1950's the time was ripe for ordering new combatants for the Navy. In addition to the two new destroyers Turunmaa and Karjala (rough equivalent of Swedish Östergotland -class ships) two Skoryy -class destroyers, Hämeenmaa and Uusimaa were purchased from Soviet Union. The old coastal battleships Väinämöinen and Ilmarinen were decommissioned in 1963 with Väinämöinen becoming a popular museum in Turku.
Destroyer Turunmaa during trials, 1959.
In early 1970's all destroyers were equipped with Soviet P-15 Termit SSM's. The Finnish Navy was criticized by some by not jumping into missile FAC bandwagon but instead operating a combination of destroyers and very small Nuoli-class torpedo boats. The operational reason was, that destroyers offered better staying power and ASW capabilities in addition to carrying large number of mines. Torpedo boats with guided torpedoes could operate from very far away, directing torpedoes from observation posts in addition to acoustic sources. Small torpedo boats could also act as minelayers using influence mines - as the magnetic and pressure fuzes were kept disassembled in peacetime, it was judged that peace treaty would not be broken.
The worn Skoryy -class destroyers were replaced by new construction in late 1970's, by frigates Lappi and Ahvenanmaa. Equipped with RBS-15 SSM missiles and Sea Wolf SAM's these ships packed a powerful punch and essentially lifted Navy to an another era with capabilities.
The old Nuoli -class motor torpedo boats were replaced by Hurja -class motor torpedo boats in 1980's. In 1988 the Finnish Navy's main combat power consisted of two Lappi -class frigates, two Turunmaa -class destroyers, 12 R-class ASW patrol boats, 6 Nuoli -class MTB's, 18 Hurja -class MTB's and four mobile RBS-15SF coastal artillery batteries, in addition to quite large and well equipped coastal artillery arm.
(As a background, many populist writers consider the Finnish fleet program of late 1920's to have been total waste of money, since the ships had little influence on the Winter War. This vignette presumes that with stronger wartime reputation more money is used upon the Navy. )
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