Pohjanmaa class minelayer
Encyclopedia
The Pohjanmaa class minelayer is a minelayer
in use by the Finnish Navy
.
There is currently only one Pohjanmaa class vessel in service in the Finnish Navy. She is the flagship
of the navy. The ship has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A so she can operate all year round.
During a crisis the main task for Pohjanmaa is mine laying and acting as a command ship
. She also acts as a school ship
for the Naval Academy cadets. Part of their training includes an annual cruise abroad.
Helsinki Shipyard
, Finland
.
The Pohjanmaa first served as a school ship for the Naval Academy until 1992 when she was transferred to the Gulf of Finland
Navy (Now called Gulf of Finland Naval Command
). When she was completed it replaced the minelayer Ruotsinsalmi and as a school ship the Matti Kurki. On 10 May 1982, she was given the traditional shield of ocean faring vessels previously held by Suomen Joutsen
, so in effect the Pohjanmaa continues the tradition of the three ships. The ship underwent a heavy modernization program in 1996-1998, which included a replacing her 120 mm main gun with a more modern Bofors 57 mm
fully automatic antiaircraft gun.
The annual training cruise for the cadets has taken the ship as far as Belém
, Brazil
. The accommodation capacity of the vessel for the long range cruises can be increased with accommodation containers.
On 28 June 2005, as part of their cruise, the Pohjanmaa participated in the International Fleet Review
which is a part of the Trafalgar 200
celebrations.
In 2007, the ship was refitted together with the Hämeenmaa class minelayers
and her colour scheme changed from camouflage to light grey. Her second aft gun was also removed from the aft deck due to narrow shooting sectors, which were even further narrowed due to a new bigger hydraulic crane of a new seaboat.
In 2010, it was decided that the Pohjanmaa will participate in Operation Atalanta
.
On 6 April 2011, Pohjanmaa captured a vessel suspected as pirate mothership along with two speedboats. The search onboard revealed assault rifles, RPGs and other weapons. Eighteen of the suspected pirates were incarcerated onboard Pohjanmaa. Since the Prosecutor General of Finland decided not to prosecute, the pirates were transferred to the jurisdiction of Operation Atalanta, which later released the pirates. The pirate ship and the speedboats were scuttled
at sea.
pojama galleys built in the 1770s — see "Pohjanmaa
" for other uses of the name.
The vessel has been nicknamed Puuhamaa
by the Finnish Navy conscripts after the Finnish amusement park.
as they are retired.
Minelayer
Minelaying is the act of deploying explosive mines. Historically this has been carried out by ships, submarines and aircraft. Additionally, since World War I the term minelayer refers specifically to a naval ship used for deploying naval mines...
in use by 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"...
.
There is currently only one Pohjanmaa class vessel in service in the Finnish Navy. She is the flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
of the navy. The ship has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A so she can operate all year round.
During a crisis the main task for Pohjanmaa is mine laying and acting as a command ship
Command ship
Command ships serve as the flagships of the Commander of a fleet. They provide communications, office space, and accommodations for a fleet commander and his staff, and serve to coordinate fleet activities....
. She also acts as a school ship
School ship
A training ship is a ship used to train students as sailors. The term is especially used for ships employed by navies to train future officers. Essentially there are two types: those used for training at sea and old hulks used to house classrooms....
for the Naval Academy cadets. Part of their training includes an annual cruise abroad.
History
The Pohjanmaa was built in 1978 at the WärtsiläWärtsilä
Wärtsilä is a Finnish corporation which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy markets. The core products of Wärtsilä include large combustion engines...
Helsinki Shipyard
Hietalahti shipyard
Hietalahti shipyard is a shipyard in Hietalahti, in downtown Helsinki, Finland. It is operated by Arctech Helsinki Shipyard, a joint venture between STX Finland Cruise Oy and United Shipbuilding Corporation....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
The Pohjanmaa first served as a school ship for the Naval Academy until 1992 when she was transferred to the Gulf of Finland
Gulf of Finland
The Gulf of Finland is the easternmost arm of the Baltic Sea. It extends between Finland and Estonia all the way to Saint Petersburg in Russia, where the river Neva drains into it. Other major cities around the gulf include Helsinki and Tallinn...
Navy (Now called Gulf of Finland Naval Command
Gulf of Finland Naval Command
Gulf of Finland Naval Command is a Finnish Navy unit headquartered in Upinniemi, Kirkkonummi.The main duty of the Gulf of Finland Naval Command during normal condition is the surveillance of Finnish territorial waters and maintaining territorial integrity. In addition, the Command trains...
). When she was completed it replaced the minelayer Ruotsinsalmi and as a school ship the Matti Kurki. On 10 May 1982, she was given the traditional shield of ocean faring vessels previously held by Suomen Joutsen
Suomen Joutsen
Suomen Joutsen is a three-mast, steel hull, full rigged ship. She was built in 1902 in St. Nazaire, France to serve in the trade between Atlantic and Pacific ports. In 1930, she was bought by the Government of Finland to serve as a Finnish Navy training ship. Before World War II she made eight...
, so in effect the Pohjanmaa continues the tradition of the three ships. The ship underwent a heavy modernization program in 1996-1998, which included a replacing her 120 mm main gun with a more modern Bofors 57 mm
Bofors 57 mm gun
The Bofors 57 mm guns are a series of dual-purpose naval guns designed and produced by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
fully automatic antiaircraft gun.
The annual training cruise for the cadets has taken the ship as far as Belém
Belém
Belém is a Brazilian city, the capital and largest city of state of Pará, in the country's north region. It is the entrance gate to the Amazon with a busy port, airport and bus/coach station...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. The accommodation capacity of the vessel for the long range cruises can be increased with accommodation containers.
On 28 June 2005, as part of their cruise, the Pohjanmaa participated in the International Fleet Review
International Fleet Review
For a full list of ships present, see List of ships present at International Fleet Review, 2005The International Fleet Review took place on 28 June 2005, as part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations to commemorate the 200th year after the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.- 2005 Review Line-up :During the...
which is a part of the Trafalgar 200
Trafalgar Day
Trafalgar Day is the celebration of the victory won by the Royal Navy, commanded by Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson over the combined French and Spanish fleets at the Battle of Trafalgar on 21 October 1805. The formation of the Navy League in 1894 gave added impetus to the movement to recognise...
celebrations.
In 2007, the ship was refitted together with the Hämeenmaa class minelayers
Hämeenmaa class minelayer
The Hämeenmaa class minelayers is a two vessel strong class of minelayers, used by the Finnish Navy.The ships have a steel hull and alloy superstructure. The class has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A and can operate around the year...
and her colour scheme changed from camouflage to light grey. Her second aft gun was also removed from the aft deck due to narrow shooting sectors, which were even further narrowed due to a new bigger hydraulic crane of a new seaboat.
In 2010, it was decided that the Pohjanmaa will participate in Operation Atalanta
Operation Atalanta
Operation Atalanta is a current military operation undertaken by the European Union and the European Union Naval Force. It is part of a larger global action by the EU in the Horn of Africa to deal with the Somali crisis; for example World Food Programme ships food aid to ports in Somalia and...
.
On 6 April 2011, Pohjanmaa captured a vessel suspected as pirate mothership along with two speedboats. The search onboard revealed assault rifles, RPGs and other weapons. Eighteen of the suspected pirates were incarcerated onboard Pohjanmaa. Since the Prosecutor General of Finland decided not to prosecute, the pirates were transferred to the jurisdiction of Operation Atalanta, which later released the pirates. The pirate ship and the speedboats were scuttled
Scuttling
Scuttling is the act of deliberately sinking a ship by allowing water to flow into the hull.This can be achieved in several ways—valves or hatches can be opened to the sea, or holes may be ripped into the hull with brute force or with explosives...
at sea.
Naming
The Pohjanmaa was christened on 8 June 1979 by Aili Haapkylä. The name comes from the old SwedishSwedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
pojama galleys built in the 1770s — see "Pohjanmaa
Pohjanmaa
Pohjanmaa is the name of a geographical region in Finland which can refer to:-Former entities:...
" for other uses of the name.
The vessel has been nicknamed Puuhamaa
Puuhamaa
Puuhamaa is a amusement park opened in 1984 in the village of Tervakoski, in the municipality of Janakkala, Finland. Instead of electrical rides, it mainly offers things to do for children: slides and waterslides, bouncy castles, race tracks, etc. It also has a minigolf course and a video arcade....
by the Finnish Navy conscripts after the Finnish amusement park.
Replacement
The Pohjanmaa is over 30 years old and, despite modernizations, will soon reach the end of her lifespan. She will be replaced by the next generation's surface combatant, bigger than the current missile boats and more capable for international co-operation, that is currently in pre-development stage. In addition to the Pohjanmaa the new class of multi-purpose naval vessels, dubbed MTA2020 (Monitoimialus 2020) in the preliminary papers, is intended to replace also Hämeenmaa class minelayers and Rauma class missile boatsRauma class missile boat
The Rauma class missile boats are a type of vessels in use by the Finnish Navy.It is the predecessor of the Hamina class missile boats. The ships were constructed at the Hollming yards and Finnyards in Rauma, Finland...
as they are retired.
Vessels
FNS Pohjanmaa- Pennant number: 01.
- Builder: WärtsiläWärtsiläWärtsilä is a Finnish corporation which manufactures and services power sources and other equipment in the marine and energy markets. The core products of Wärtsilä include large combustion engines...
Helsinki Shipyard - Ordered: 1977.
- Laid down: 4 May 1978.
- Launched: 28 August 1978.
- Commissioned: 8 June 1979.
- Home base: UpinniemiUpinniemiUpinniemi is a village in the municipality of Kirkkonummi in southern Finland. It is located approximately 12 km south of the municipal centre....
. - Current status: Active.