FNS Uusimaa |
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Hämeenmaa |
| Operators: | Finnish Navy |
| Preceded by: | Keihässalmi class minelayers |
| Succeeded by: | - |
| Completed: | 2 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Minelayer |
| Displacement: | 1,450 tons |
| Length: | 77.8 m |
| Beam: | 11.5 m |
| Draught: | 3 m |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Wärtsilä Vasa 16V22 diesel; 5,200 kW with 2 CW propellers |
| Speed: | 20 knots |
| Complement: | 60 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
Furuno S/X (nav radars) Saab 9LV325E FCS (Fire Control System) Simrad hull-mounted sonar EADS TRS3D-16ES (Surveillance Radar) Sagem EOMS (Electro Optical Multisensor System) |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: |
Decoy: 2 × MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill Systems) ESM: Thales DR3000 SIEWS (Shipborne Integrated Electronic Warfare System) |
| Armament: | 1 × Bofors 57 mm/70 Mk1 8-cell Denel Umkhonto-IR VLS SAM system 2 × 12.7 mm machine gun 2 × H&K GMG grenade machinegun 2 × RBU-1200 ASROC launcher 2 × rails for depth charges 4 × rails for 100-150 mines |
| Notes: | Ships in class include: FNS Hämeenmaa (02) FNS Uusimaa (05) |
The Hämeenmaa class minelayers (Finnish: Hämeenmaa-luokan miinalaiva) 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. The design included some first attempts on stealth technology in the Finnish Navy.
During a crisis the main task for the Hämeenmaa class ships is minelaying, but the vessels can also act as escort, transport and depot ships.
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The contract for the Hämeenmaa class was originally awarded to Wärtsilä Meriteollisuus, but following its bankruptcy the contract was transferred to Hollming. Turmoil in the Finnish shipbuilding industry didn't stop there. In early 1992 Hollming and Rauma Yards merged their shipbuilding industry to form a new company called Finnyards.
Both ships are being modernized 2006-2008. The purpose of the modernization is to firstly upgrade the ships' equipment to fit modern standards, and secondly, to enable the ships to participate in international operations, mainly European Security and Defence Policy operations. They are fitted with weapons systems transferred from the discontinued Tuuli class hovercrafts including the Umkhonto missile system. Also a new fire control system Saab 9LV325E FCS, modern monitoring equipment including TRS3D-16ES surveillance radar and Kongsberg ST2400 Variable Depth Sonar and SS2030 Hull mounted sonar, and possibly other modernised equipment will be installed.
Modernization of the two Hämeenmaa-class ships serves of course the interests of Finnish Navy, but also the ones of EU's Helsinki Headline Goal: these two ships will most likely be the most important ships for EU, having relatively wide selection of roles that they can assume, from light espionage- and minelayer ship to escort- and anti-submarine warfare ship, these two vehicles are practically perfect for monitoring Russia's Baltic fleet.
| Original | After modernization |
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Hämeenmaa was delivered from the dock back to the Navy on 13 April 2007 and Uusimaa, which had been under modernization since November 2006 at the Aker Yards dock in Rauma, was delivered on 26 October 2007. Hämeenmaa and Uusimaa will be conducting sea trials on their new systems until the end of 2008, when operational readiness is achieved.[1]
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