Rauma-class missile boat

FNS Porvoo
Class overview
Name: Rauma
Preceded by: Helsinki-class missile boat
Succeeded by: Hamina-class missile boat
Completed: 4
Active: 4
General characteristics
Type:Fast attack craft
Displacement:240 tons
Length:48.5 m
Beam:8 m
Draught:1.5 m
Installed power:2 × MTU 16V 538 TB93 diesels, 6600 kW
Propulsion:2 × Riva Calzoni IRC 115 waterjets
Speed:34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Complement:19
Sensors and
processing systems:
Saab 9LV225 Mk4 Combat Management System
Saab CEROS 200 FCS
Saab Microwave System Sea Giraffe 9GA 208 Surface search radar
Raytheon ARPA Navigation radar
Simrad Subsea Toadfish 2400 sonar
Finnyards Sonac/PTA towed array sonar
Electronic warfare
and decoys:
MASS decoy system
Armament:1 × Bofors 40 mm/70
2 × NSV 12.7 mm machine guns
6 × Saab RBS-15 Mk3 SSM
2 × Saab Elma ASW-600 9-tube ASW mortars
Mine rails for tactical mines can be fitted instead of missiles

The Rauma-class missile boats (Finnish: Rauma-luokan ohjusvene) are a type of vessels in use by the Finnish Navy. It is the predecessor of the Hamina-class missile boats. The ships were constructed at the Hollming yards and Finnyards in Rauma, Finland. All the ships have their home port in Pansio.

All four vessels are currently undergoing a 70 million EUR modernization program at the Western Shipyard in Teijo. The program includes the installation of a new version of the 9LV225 control and command system made by SAAB (the Mk.3 has been replaced by a Mk.4), the replacement of the Mistral SAM missiles with a MASS decoy system. The MASS system also replaces the Philax chaff and IR flares, the Thales Matilda radar warning system, and the 6 × 103 mm rails for rocket illuminants, that were previously fitted. The sonar and ASW systems are being completely renewed (the previous Simrad ST 240 has been replaced by a ST2400). The modernization programme began late in 2010 and all four vessels are expected to be ready by autumn 2013. The first vesssel, Naantali, was handed over to the Finnish Navy in May 2013. The modernization will allow the vessels to be operational into the 2020s.[1]

The vessel were previously armed with a sextuple Mistral SAM launcher, which could be replaced by a Sako twin-barrel 23 mm/87 anti-aircraft cannon (a modified version of the ZU-23-2). Additionally the vessel had a portable Mistral SAM launcher pad that could be mounted on the ship's deck, or on land, in order to protect the moored vessel.

On 18 February 2015, the Finnish media reported that the Rauma class has been banned from use after fatigue damage was discovered from the vessels' hull.[2]

Vessels

FNS Rauma
Pennant number: 70.
Builder: Hollming.
Ordered: August 27, 1987.
Commissioned: October 18, 1990.
Home base: Pansio.
Current state: In active service.
FNS Raahe
Pennant number: 71.
Builder: Hollming.
Commissioned: August 20, 1991.
Modernized: June 26, 2013.
Home base: Pansio.
Current state: In active service.
FNS Porvoo
Pennant number: 72.
Builder: Finnyards.
Commissioned: April 27, 1992.
Home base: Pansio.
Current state: In active service.
FNS Naantali
Pennant number: 73.
Builder: Finnyards.
Commissioned: June 23, 1992.
Modernized: May 20, 2013.
Home base: Pansio.
Current state: In active service.

References

  1. The Finnish Defence Forces
  2. Rauma-luokan ohjusveneet käyttökieltoon. Turun Sanomat, 18 February 2015. Retrieved on 2015-02-18.
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