Pohjanmaa class minelayer

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Contents 1 Introduction 2 History 3 Specifications 4 Vessels 5 References

[edit] Introduction

The Pohjanmaa class minelayer (Finnish: Pohjanmaa-luokan miinalaiva) is a type of vessel in use by the Finnish Navy.

There is currently only one Pohjanmaa class vessel in service in the Finnish Navy. It is the flagship of the navy.
The ship has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A so it can operate all year round.

During a crisis the main task for Pohjanmaa is mine laying and acting as a command ship. It also acts as a school ship for the Naval Academy cadets. Part of their training includes an annual cruise abroad.

[edit] History

The Pohjanmaa was built in 1978 at the Wärtsilä dock Helsinki, Finland. It was christened on June 8, 1979 by Aili Haapkylä. The name comes from the old Sweden-Finland Pojama class of the 1770s. See Pohjanmaa for other uses of the name.

It first served as a school ship for the Naval Academy until 1992 when it was transferred to the Gulf of Finland Navy (Now called Gulf of Finland Naval Command). When it was completed it replaced the honourable mineship Ruotsinsalmi and as a school ship the famous Matti Kurki. On May 10, 1982 it was given the tradinitional shield of ocean faring vessels previously held by Suomen Joutsen, so in effect Pohjanmaa continues the tradition of three ships. It was heavily modernized in 1996-1998 including replacing its 120mm main gun and adding Surface-to-air missiles.

The annual training cruise for the cadets has taken the ship as far as Belém, Brazil.

On June 28, 2005 as part of their cruise, the Pohjanmaa participated in the International Fleet Review which is a part of the Trafalgar 200 celebrations.

[edit] Specifications

• Designation: Minelayer
• Displacement: 1450 tons
• Dimensions:
  • Length: 78 m
  • Width: 11.5 m
  • Draft: 3 m
• Propulsion: 2 * Wärtsilä Vasa 16V22 diesel; 4280 kW with propellers
• Speed: 18.5 knots (34 km/h)
• Range: 3500 miles
• Armament:
  • 2 * sextuple Mistral SAM launcher
  • 1 * Bofors 57 mm/70
  • 2 * Bofors 40 mm/70
  • 2 * Sako twin-barrel 23 mm/87 (modified ZU-23-2)
  • 2 * NSV 12.7 mm MGs
  • 2 * RBU 1200 5-tubed ASW mortars
  • 2 rails for depth charges
  • 120 mines (Seamine 2000)
• Countermeasures:
  • Decoy: Philax chaff and IR flairs
  • ESM: Argo radar intercept
• Electronics:
  • Signaal DA05 radar
  • Philips 9LV 220 FCS
  • Simrad hull-mounted sonar
• Crew: 70 (120 when acting as a school ship)
• Yard: Wärtsilä Helsinki, Finland

[edit] Vessels

Name	Pennant	Builder	Ordered	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Home port	Status
Finnish Navy
Pohjanmaa	01	Wärtsilä	1977	May 4, 1978	August 28, 1978	June 8, 1979	Upinniemi	Active

[edit] References

Finnish Defence Forces Website of The Finnish Defence Forces