Ruotsinsalmi class minelayer
Encyclopedia
The Ruotsinsalmi class minelayers were a two-strong class of minelayer
s in the Finnish Navy
.
Both ships were launched in 1940 and named after famous 18th century sea battles between Sweden
and Russia
.
. Riilahti was launched on December 14, 1940, three weeks after her sister ship Ruotsinsalmi
.
The vessels differed somewhat, Riilahti having an extensively modified propulsion system and hull, compared to its sister vessel.
Originally, the vessels were intended as escort minesweepers
for the Finnish navy's coastal defence ships Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen, and they were therefore designed with a draft of only 1.5 metres. The ships were armed with one 75 mm gun, one Bofors 40 mm gun
s and two Madsen 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons. The vessel had three mine dropping rails, and could carry about 100 mines. The ship could also hunt submarines, and was equipped with sonar
, depth charge
throwers and rails. The vessel was also strong enough to be able to tow minesweeping equipment. It was equipped with smoke generators so it could protect itself, and other near-by vessel from enemy vessels.
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...
s in 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"...
.
Both ships were launched in 1940 and named after famous 18th century sea battles between Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
New minelayers for the navy
Funding for two new minelayers had been secured as early as in 1937, but instead the money was used to refurbish the garrison at MäkiluotoMäkiluoto
Mäkiluoto is a Finnish island in the Gulf of Finland, just to the south of Porkkala peninsula. It is part of Kirkkonummi municipality. The whole island is an unmanned military installation and access for civilians is heavily restricted. A number of coastal artillery guns are emplaced...
. Riilahti was launched on December 14, 1940, three weeks after her sister ship Ruotsinsalmi
Finnish minelayer Ruotsinsalmi
Ruotsinsalmi was a minelayer of the Finnish Navy and the namesake of her class. Ruotsinsalmi was commissioned in 1940 and remained in service until 1975...
.
The vessels differed somewhat, Riilahti having an extensively modified propulsion system and hull, compared to its sister vessel.
Originally, the vessels were intended as escort minesweepers
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:...
for the Finnish navy's coastal defence ships Ilmarinen and Väinämöinen, and they were therefore designed with a draft of only 1.5 metres. The ships were armed with one 75 mm gun, one Bofors 40 mm gun
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
s and two Madsen 20 mm anti-aircraft cannons. The vessel had three mine dropping rails, and could carry about 100 mines. The ship could also hunt submarines, and was equipped with sonar
Sonar
Sonar is a technique that uses sound propagation to navigate, communicate with or detect other vessels...
, depth charge
Depth charge
A depth charge is an anti-submarine warfare weapon intended to destroy or cripple a target submarine by the shock of exploding near it. Most use explosives and a fuze set to go off at a preselected depth in the ocean. Depth charges can be dropped by either surface ships, patrol aircraft, or from...
throwers and rails. The vessel was also strong enough to be able to tow minesweeping equipment. It was equipped with smoke generators so it could protect itself, and other near-by vessel from enemy vessels.
Vessels of the class
- RuotsinsalmiFinnish minelayer RuotsinsalmiRuotsinsalmi was a minelayer of the Finnish Navy and the namesake of her class. Ruotsinsalmi was commissioned in 1940 and remained in service until 1975...
- Riilahti