Finnish Navy - WikiHQ

The Finnish Navy ( , ) is the naval branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. It employs approximately 2,300 personnel, and around 4,300 conscripts are trained annually. Finnish Navy vessels use the ship prefix FNS ("Finnish Navy Ship") in English-language contexts, although this prefix is not used in Finnish or Swedish. In addition to surface vessels, the Finnish Navy includes coastal forces and coastal artillery units.

Organization

The current Commander of the Navy is Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen.

Between 1941 and 1945, a total of 69,779 mines and mine-related obstacles were laid in the Gulf of Finland by Finnish, German, and Soviet forces. Of these, Soviet forces laid 16,179 mines and 2,441 obstacles, Finland laid 6,382 mines, and German forces laid approximately 45,000 mines, including about 3,000 magnetic mines. Mine clearance operations continued after the war, with the final major minesweeping season conducted in 1957. Mine hazards persisted for many years thereafter, and unexploded World War II-era mines remain in the Baltic Sea.

The Finnish Navy's greatest single loss occurred on 13 September 1941, when the coastal defence ship struck a mine and sank, resulting in the deaths of 271 crew members; 132 survived. Many survivors were subsequently reassigned to naval units on Lake Onega, which operated a variety of older and captured vessels.

In 1942, naval operations focused largely on anti-submarine warfare. Finnish and German forces sought to prevent Soviet submarines from entering the Baltic Sea. Although initial mine barriers proved insufficient, Soviet submarines nonetheless suffered significant losses. Soviet submarines sank 18 merchant vessels, including seven Finnish ships, while Finnish and German anti-submarine forces sank 12 Soviet submarines, three of which were destroyed by Finnish submarines.

To further restrict Soviet submarine access, anti-submarine nets were installed between Naissaar and Porkkala after the spring thaw of 1942. This barrier, combined with extensive minefields, effectively confined Soviet naval operations to the eastern Gulf of Finland until late 1944, when Soviet forces regained access following Finland’s armistice with the Soviet Union.

In April 1942, Finnish forces captured the strategically important island of Gogland. In July 1942, Soviet forces attempted to recapture the nearby island of Sommers in the Gulf of Finland, but the attack failed. Soviet losses included several small vessels and 128 personnel killed, while 102 Soviet soldiers were taken prisoner.

During 1943, the Finnish Navy received 14 new motor torpedo boats, which replaced older pre-war vessels.

In 1944, during the Soviet major offensive against Finland, the Finnish Navy supported ground operations in the Gulf of Vyborg. Facing overwhelming Soviet superiority, Finnish naval forces were eventually compelled to withdraw.

thumb|Finnish submarines

Lapland War

Following the Moscow Armistice in September 1944, Finland was required to expel German forces from its territory, leading to the Lapland War. While most combat operations took place in northern Finland, naval forces were also involved in operations in the Baltic Sea. In September 1944, German forces attempted to seize the strategically important island of Suursaari in Operation Tanne Ost, but the attack was repulsed. During the engagement, Finnish motor torpedo boats sank several German vessels.

The Finnish Navy’s final combat operations of the war took place during the amphibious landings at Tornio in October 1944, when Finnish troops were transported from Oulu. Finnish gunboats provided naval gunfire support by bombarding German coastal batteries that threatened the transport convoy, while their anti-aircraft armament helped defend against German air attacks. Finnish naval forces also conducted anti-submarine patrols against German U-boats in the Baltic Sea and laid the navy’s final defensive minefields of the war.

Under the terms of the armistice, Finland was subsequently required to clear extensive minefields in its territorial waters. This minesweeping operation continued until 1950 and resulted in significant casualties among Finnish naval personnel.

Cold War

thumb|250px|[[100 56 TK coastal artillery gun on Kuivasaari]]

During the 1950s and 1960s, the Finnish Navy replaced much of its wartime fleet. In line with Finland's policy of neutrality, naval procurement was balanced between Western and Soviet suppliers, while domestic shipbuilding was also developed.

From the United Kingdom, Finland acquired the for training purposes, two fast patrol boats (Vasama 1 and Vasama 2), and four s. From the Soviet Union, Finland acquired two s ( and ) and four missile boats, based on the Osa II-class design. Domestically, Finland constructed several vessels, including the two s ( and ) and the Nuoli-class gunboat.

The Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 imposed restrictions on the Finnish Defence Forces, including limits on naval strength. The navy was restricted to a maximum displacement of 10,000 tons and personnel strength of 4,500. Certain weapon systems, including submarines, torpedoes, mines, and missiles, were prohibited. These restrictions were gradually relaxed during the 1960s, allowing the reintroduction of missile and mine capabilities. Torpedoes remained restricted in practice, although some vessels retained latent torpedo capability. Torpedoes were formally reintroduced into Finnish naval service in 2018.

Following the end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the treaty restrictions ceased to apply. Despite this, the Finnish Navy has remained relatively stable in personnel size, although its overall displacement and technological capability have increased.

Current status

In the late 1990s, the Finnish Navy initiated development of a new missile squadron, designated Laivue 2000 ("Squadron 2000"). The original plan called for two Hamina-class missile boats, which had already been built, and four missile hovercraft. However, after testing a single prototype, the Navy announced in 2003 that the Tuuli class would not enter service and that no further vessels would be constructed. Instead, two additional Hamina-class missile boats were built, and some of the systems intended for the hovercraft were installed on the Hämeenmaa-class minelayers.

Following the completion of Squadron 2000, the Finnish Navy shifted its focus to mine countermeasures. This included the replacement of the ageing Kuha- and Kiiski-class minesweepers with three s, originally known as the MCMV 2010 and MITO programmes.

The cable layer and the pollution control vessel were replaced in 2011 by a new multipurpose vessel constructed by the Uudenkaupungin Työvene shipyard. An icebreaking oil spill response vessel, , entered service the same year.

The minelayer , commissioned in 1979, was decommissioned in 2013. Following its retirement, the minelayer Hämeenmaa assumed the role of flagship of the Finnish Navy.

In February 2015, fatigue damage was discovered in the hulls of the recently modernised Rauma-class missile boats. As a precaution, the vessels were temporarily withdrawn from active service pending investigation. While their peacetime use was restricted, the vessels remained available for operational deployment if required.

In 2018, the Finnish Navy announced the procurement of the Gabriel 5 naval strike missile system from Israel Aerospace Industries. The system will replace the existing RBS 15 anti-ship missiles currently in service. Designated PTO2020 (Pintatorjuntaohjus 2020, "Surface Strike Missile 2020"), the new missiles will be deployed on Hamina-class missile boats, Pohjanmaa-class corvettes, and land-based platforms. The system is expected to remain in service into the 2050s and forms part of the Finnish Defence Forces' joint strike capability against both naval and land targets.

Fleet modernisation

In October 2012, the Finnish Navy signed a €34 million contract with Marine Alutech for 12 fast transport boats, with an option for additional vessels. The entered service between 2015 and 2019. The vessels can carry 25 troops and exceed speeds of . They are equipped with remotely operated weapon stations capable of providing fire support during amphibious operations. The new class of landing craft has been named the .

The Finnish Navy's major modernisation programme, Laivue 2020 ("Squadron 2020"), resulted in the construction of four multi-role corvettes. Construction began in 2021 at the Rauma Marine Constructions shipyard. The class is intended to replace the Hämeenmaa-class minelayers, the Pohjanmaa, and the Rauma-class missile boats. The first vessel is expected to enter service in 2027.

In 2021, the Finnish Navy ordered four Kewatec Work 1920 service vessels, with delivery completed between 2022 and 2024.

In June 2023, Finland ordered an additional 17 Jurmo-class landing craft to expand its coastal transport capability.

Equipment

thumb|250px|[[Hamina-class missile boat|Hamina-class fast attack craft Pori before modernization in an MLU program]]

thumb|250px|[[Hämeenmaa-class minelayer|Hämeenmaa-class minelayer Uusimaa post-refit]]

thumb|250px|[[Jehu-class landing craft|Jehu-class landing craft]]

Vessels

Fast attack craft

Four Hamina-class fast attack craft
Four Rauma-class fast attack craft

Mine warfare

Two Hämeenmaa-class minelayers/escort ships
Three Pansio-class minelayers
Three Katanpää-class mine countermeasure vessels
Four Kuha-class minesweepers
Six Kiiski-class minesweepers

Coastal forces

The Finnish Navy's coastal forces consist of coastal infantry and marine units, known as the Coastal Jaegers, as well as coastal missile and surveillance units. Their primary role is to defend Finland’s territorial waters and archipelagos.

Unlike many other European countries, Finland has retained certain coastal artillery systems in operational service. These include the 130 53 TK fixed turret guns, which continue to provide long-range coastal fire support.

The main weapon systems of the coastal forces include:

Spike-ER coastal missile system (infantry-operated)
MTO 85M anti-ship missile system (truck-mounted RBS-15 Mk.3)
130 53 TK coastal artillery (fixed turret-mounted naval guns)
BOR-A 550 coastal surveillance radar

These systems are being supplemented by the new PTO2020 (Gabriel 5) missile system, which will gradually assume the primary coastal strike role.

Ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

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Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.