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Kuha class minesweepers (1974)
Encyclopedia
The Kuha class minesweepers (Zander) is a series of six inshore minesweepers
of the Finnish Navy
. The ships were constructed in 1974-1975. All the vessels of the class were modified and modernized in the late 1990s. This included e.g. a lengthening of the hull.
The vessels have a glass fibre hull and are amongst the largest vessels built in this material. they are equipped with hydraulic machinery and the engines are placed in the aft part of the superstructure. The engines are separated from the hull with rubber springs. The engine power is transferred to the propeller unit (which can turn 360 degrees) through two separate hydraulic valves; in this manner the vessels are as quiet as possible and it has been possible to completely eliminate propeller axes, which are very difficult to silence, and easily damaged in mine explosions.
The vessels are very lightly armed with only a twin 23 mm anti-aircraft gun and a couple of heavy machine guns; Kuha 22 is an exception, as it assumes an anti-aircraft readiness role. It is therefore equipped with a couple more guns than its sister vessels.
The Kuha class vessels usually operate together with some vessels of the Kiiski class
and can sweep both impact and influence mines.
The Kuha class will be retired when the Katanpää class mine countermeasure vessels enter active service.
Kuha 2 (22)
Kuha 3 (23)
Kuha 4 (24)
Kuha 5 (25)
Kuha 6 (26): Commissioned 1975, rebuilt 1999
Minesweeper (ship)
A minesweeper is a small naval warship designed to counter the threat posed by naval mines. Minesweepers generally detect then neutralize mines in advance of other naval operations.-History:...
of the Finnish Navy
Finnish Navy
The Finnish Navy is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Navy employs 2,300 people and about 4,300 conscripts are trained each year. Finnish Navy vessels are given the ship prefix "FNS" simply short for "Finnish Navy Ship"...
. The ships were constructed in 1974-1975. All the vessels of the class were modified and modernized in the late 1990s. This included e.g. a lengthening of the hull.
The vessels have a glass fibre hull and are amongst the largest vessels built in this material. they are equipped with hydraulic machinery and the engines are placed in the aft part of the superstructure. The engines are separated from the hull with rubber springs. The engine power is transferred to the propeller unit (which can turn 360 degrees) through two separate hydraulic valves; in this manner the vessels are as quiet as possible and it has been possible to completely eliminate propeller axes, which are very difficult to silence, and easily damaged in mine explosions.
The vessels are very lightly armed with only a twin 23 mm anti-aircraft gun and a couple of heavy machine guns; Kuha 22 is an exception, as it assumes an anti-aircraft readiness role. It is therefore equipped with a couple more guns than its sister vessels.
The Kuha class vessels usually operate together with some vessels of the Kiiski class
Kiiski class minesweeper
The Kiiski class minesweepers are a series of seven small minesweepers of the Finnish Navy. The ships were constructed in 1975 and were modernized in the 1990s.-Vessels of the class:Kiiski 1 Kiiski 2 Kiiski 3 Kiiski 4 Kiiski 5...
and can sweep both impact and influence mines.
The Kuha class will be retired when the Katanpää class mine countermeasure vessels enter active service.
Vessels of the class
Kuha 1 (21)Kuha 2 (22)
Kuha 3 (23)
Kuha 4 (24)
Kuha 5 (25)
Kuha 6 (26): Commissioned 1975, rebuilt 1999