Syöksy class motor torpedo boat
Encyclopedia
The Syöksy class motor torpedo boats (Attack) was a series of four British
Thornycroft type motor torpedo boat
s of the Finnish Navy
. The vessels were constructed in 1928 by the John Thornycroft & Co shipyard in Woolton
, UK. The vessels saw service in World War II
. The Thornycroft type released its torpedoes by dropping them from rails in the aft. The ship then had to steer away from the torpedoes path, a manoeuvre that could be quite tricky in the close waters of the Gulf of Finland
.
In 1942, the vessels received individual identification symbols on their superstructures. Nuoli had the ace of hearts, Vinha the ace of clubs, Syöksy the ace of diamonds, and Raju the ace of spades.
On the night between 19 and 20 July 1941 Finnish motor torpedo boats were patrolling of the coast of Estonia
when Soviet destroyer opened fire on them. Vinha was damaged and unable to move but Finns were able to tow it to safety while Syöksy made repeated torpedo runs towards the destroyer drawing its fire and distracting it.
On 1 September 1941 Syöksy and Vinha were patrolling south of Beryozovye Islands
when they came across a pair of Soviet freighters. Syöksy torpedoed and sunk the lead merchant (S/S Meero, 1866 tons).
On 22 September 1941 Syöksy sunk Soviet minehunter T-41 (Kirov) east of Gogland while it was patrolling near the island with Vinha.
On 1 October 1941 Nuoli participated to the sinking of Soviet minehunter though it was the torpedo of Sisu
that sunk the target.
Syöksy, Vinha and Vihuri, as well as a minelaying KM boat participated in the attack on the harbour of Lavansaari on November 18, 1942. Syöksy managed to torpedo the Soviet gunboat Krasnoye Znamya
(1,760 tons), which sunk.
Nuoli: Ex-MTV 5 in Finnish service. She was used as a torpedo boat until 1943, and then equipped with one 20 mm cannon and 3 mines.
Vinha: Ex-MTV 6 in Finnish service. She was used as a torpedo boat until 1943, and then equipped with one 20 mm cannon and 3 mines.
Raju: Ex-MTV 7 in Finnish service. She was destroyed on May 16, 1943, after having collided with a boom obstacle outside Koivisto.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Thornycroft type motor torpedo boat
Motor Torpedo Boat
Motor Torpedo Boat was the name given to fast torpedo boats by the Royal Navy, and the Royal Canadian Navy.The capitalised term is generally used for the Royal Navy boats and abbreviated to "MTB"...
s 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 vessels were constructed in 1928 by the John Thornycroft & Co shipyard in Woolton
Woolton
Woolton is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located at the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Hunts Cross, Allerton and Halewood. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 14,836.-History:...
, UK. The vessels saw service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Thornycroft type released its torpedoes by dropping them from rails in the aft. The ship then had to steer away from the torpedoes path, a manoeuvre that could be quite tricky in the close waters of 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...
.
In 1942, the vessels received individual identification symbols on their superstructures. Nuoli had the ace of hearts, Vinha the ace of clubs, Syöksy the ace of diamonds, and Raju the ace of spades.
Combat History
On 6 July 1941 Syöksy and Vinha were sortied to intercept a convey of three sailing ships headed for Hanko. In heavy seas the torpedoes did not function reliably and the boats could not hit their targets. Instead Syöksy dashed past the lead ship and dropped its depth charges in front of it which exploded and sunk the sailing ship. Both Finnish motor torpedo boats escapted unharmed before escorting Soviet ships could respond.On the night between 19 and 20 July 1941 Finnish motor torpedo boats were patrolling of the coast of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
when Soviet destroyer opened fire on them. Vinha was damaged and unable to move but Finns were able to tow it to safety while Syöksy made repeated torpedo runs towards the destroyer drawing its fire and distracting it.
On 1 September 1941 Syöksy and Vinha were patrolling south of Beryozovye Islands
Beryozovye Islands
Beryozovye Islands , alternatively spelled Berezovye Islands, is an island group in Leningrad Oblast, Russia. The islands are situated at the bottom of the Gulf of Finland, just outside the town of Primorsk on the Karelian Isthmus....
when they came across a pair of Soviet freighters. Syöksy torpedoed and sunk the lead merchant (S/S Meero, 1866 tons).
On 22 September 1941 Syöksy sunk Soviet minehunter T-41 (Kirov) east of Gogland while it was patrolling near the island with Vinha.
On 1 October 1941 Nuoli participated to the sinking of Soviet minehunter though it was the torpedo of Sisu
Sisu class motor torpedo boat
The Sisu class motor torpedo boats was a series of two Italian M.A.S. type motor torpedo boats of the Finnish Navy. The vessels were constructed in 1916 by the Orlando shipyard in Livorno, Italy. Sisu and Hurja were purchased by the Finns in 1920, and saw service in World War II...
that sunk the target.
Syöksy, Vinha and Vihuri, as well as a minelaying KM boat participated in the attack on the harbour of Lavansaari on November 18, 1942. Syöksy managed to torpedo the Soviet gunboat Krasnoye Znamya
Soviet gunboat Krasnoye Znamya
Krasnoye Znamya was a Soviet gunboat. The ship had been built in the late 19th century as the Khrabryi by the Russian Empire. The ship was the only craft of its class...
(1,760 tons), which sunk.
Vessels of the class
Syöksy: Ex-MTV 4 in Finnish service. She was used as a torpedo boat until 1943, and then equipped with one 20 mm cannon and 3 mines.Nuoli: Ex-MTV 5 in Finnish service. She was used as a torpedo boat until 1943, and then equipped with one 20 mm cannon and 3 mines.
Vinha: Ex-MTV 6 in Finnish service. She was used as a torpedo boat until 1943, and then equipped with one 20 mm cannon and 3 mines.
Raju: Ex-MTV 7 in Finnish service. She was destroyed on May 16, 1943, after having collided with a boom obstacle outside Koivisto.