Hämeenmaa-class minelayer
{{Short description|Minelaying ship class}}
{{redirect|FNS Hämeenmaa|other ships|Hämeenmaa (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|FNS Uusimaa|other ships|Uusimaa (disambiguation)#Ships}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2013}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image | Ship image = FNS Uusimaa Helsinki 1.jpg | Ship caption = MLC Uusimaa }} {{Infobox ship class overview | Name = Hämeenmaa | Builders = Rauma shipyard | Operators = {{navy|Finland}} | Class before = | Class after = Pohjanmaa-class corvette | Subclasses = | Cost = | Built range = | In service range = | In commission range = | Total ships building = | Total ships planned = | Total ships completed = 2 | Total ships cancelled = | Total ships active = 2 | Total ships laid up = | Total ships lost = | Total ships retired = | Total ships preserved = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = Hämeenmaa | Ship type = MLC = Minelayer, Coastal | Ship tonnage = | Ship displacement = 1,450 tons | Ship length = {{convert|77.8|m|abbr=on}} | Ship beam = {{convert|11.6|m|abbr=on}} | Ship height = | Ship draught = {{convert|3.2|m|abbr=on}} | Ship draft = | Ship depth = | Ship hold depth = | Ship decks = | Ship deck clearance = | Ship ramps = | Ship ice class = | Ship power = * 2 × Wärtsilä Vasa 16V22 (2,600{{nbsp}}kW each) | Ship propulsion = Two shafts; KaMeWa controllable pitch propellers | Ship sail plan = | Ship speed = About {{convert|20|kn}} | Ship range = | Ship endurance = | Ship test depth = | Ship boats = | Ship capacity = | Ship troops = | Ship complement = 60 | Ship crew = | Ship time to activate = | Ship sensors = *ANCS-2000 CMS, Link-16, Link-22
| Ship EW = *Decoy: 2 × MASS (Multi Ammunition Softkill Systems)
| Ship armament = *1 × Bofors 57 mm/70 Mk1
| Ship armour = | Ship armor = Vital areas Kevlar- and ArmourSteel protection | Ship aircraft = | Ship aircraft facilities = | Ship notes = *Ships in class include: }} |
The Hämeenmaa-class minelayers ({{langx|fi|Hämeenmaa}}-luokan miinalaiva) is a two-vessel strong class of coastal minelayers, used by the Finnish Navy.
The Finnish Navy ordered the lead ship Hämeenmaa as a replacement for the venerable minelayer Keihässalmi, while the second ship brought the number of Finnish Navy minelayers to three, complementing the slightly larger Pohjanmaa. The ships were constructed at the Rauma shipyard by Finnyards.{{cite web |url=https://www.hs.fi/suomi/art-2000003137645.html |url-access=subscription |title=Merivoimille luovutettiin uusi miinalaiva Hämeenmaa |last1=Lapintie |first1=Pyry |date=16 April 1992 |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |publisher=Sanoma Media Finland |language=fi |trans-title=New minelayer Hämeenmaa handed over to the [Finnish] Navy |access-date=19 October 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241019004757/https://www.hs.fi/suomi/art-2000003137645.html |archive-date=19 October 2024 }}
The ships have a steel hull and aluminum alloy superstructure. The class has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A and can operate year-round in ice up to 40 cm thick.
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.
History
File:Minelayer Hämeenmaa Suomenlinna 2.JPG
The contract for the Hämeenmaa class was originally awarded to Wärtsilä Marine but following its bankruptcy the contract was transferred to Hollming. Turmoil in the Finnish shipbuilding industry did not stop there. In early 1992 Hollming and Rauma Yards merged their shipbuilding industry to form a new company called Finnyards.
=Modernization=
Both ships were modernized 2006{{en dash}}08. The purpose of the modernization was 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 {{sclass|Tuuli|hovercraft}} including the Umkhonto missile system. Also, a new fire control system Saab 9LV325E FCS, modern monitoring equipment including TRS-3D/16 ES surveillance radar and Kongsberg ST2400 Variable Depth Sonar and SS2030 Hull mounted sonar, were installed.
In October 2013, Hämeenmaa changed its homeport from Pansio to Upinniemi to replace the decommissioned {{ship|Finnish minelayer|Pohjanmaa||2}}.[https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/541403 Miinalaiva Hämeenmaa lähti Pansiosta]. Turun Sanomat, 1 October 2013. {{retrieved|accessdate=2013-10-01}}
In January 2024, it was announced that Uusimaa{{'}}s main engines would be replaced with new units.{{cite web|url=https://www.naval-technology.com/news/finnish-minelayer-fns-uusimaa-set-for-main-engine-replacement/|title=Finnish minelayer FNS Uusimaa set for main engine replacement|website=Naval Technology|date=25 January 2024|accessdate=27 January 2024}}
Role after modernization
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 add to the EU's capabilities, having relatively wide selection of roles that they can assume, from light espionage- and minelaying to escort- and anti-submarine warfare ship, these two vehicles are practically perfect for monitoring Russia's Baltic fleet.
File:Uusimaa Turku 2011 Bofors 57 mm 1.JPG
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Weaponry |
| Original
!After modernization |
|---|
| 2 × Bofors 40 mm dual-purpose guns
|1 × Bofors 57 mm dual-purpose gun |
| 2 × twin 23 mm anti-aircraft guns
|2 x 12.7mm machine guns |
| 1 × six-missile ItO 91 surface-to-air missile launcher
|1 × eight-cell ItO 04 surface-to-air missile launcher |
| 2 × anti-submarine rocket launchers
|2 × anti-submarine rocket launchers |
| 2 × depth charge rails
|2 × depth charge rails |
| 100-150 sea mines (four mine laying rails)
|100-150 sea mines (four mine laying rails) |
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 conducted sea trials on their new systems until the end of 2008, when operational readiness was achieved.{{Cite web |url=http://www.mil.fi/merivoimat/tiedotteet/3456.dsp |title=www.mil.fi 26.10.2007 |access-date=2007-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101074242/http://www.mil.fi/merivoimat/tiedotteet/3456.dsp |archive-date=2007-11-01 |url-status=dead }} In October 2013 Hämeenmaa took over the role of flagship of the Finnish Navy with the retirement of Pohjanmaa in 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-1288592301743.html|title=Miinalaiva Pohjanmaa jätti hyvästinsä torstaina - katso video - Kotimaan uutiset - Ilta-Sanomat|date=August 26, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826072450/http://www.iltasanomat.fi/kotimaa/art-1288592301743.html |archive-date=26 August 2013 }}
{{Clear}}
Vessels
;FNS Hämeenmaa
:Pennant number: 02.
:Builder: Finnyards Rauma shipyard.
:Ordered: 29 December 1989.
:Laid down: 2 April 1991.
:Launched: 11 November 1991.
:Commissioned: 15 April 1992.
:Home base: Upinniemi.
:Current status: In active service.
;FNS Uusimaa
:Pennant number: 05.
:Builder: Finnyards Rauma shipyard.
:Ordered: 13 February 1991.
:Laid down: 12 November 1991.
:Launched: June 1992.
:Commissioned: 2 December 1992.
:Home base: Pansio.
:Current status: In active service.
Citations
{{Commons category|Hämeenmaa class minelayer}}
{{Reflist}}
References
- {{cite web | title=Finnish Defence Forces | url=http://www.mil.fi | accessdate=August 6, 2005 }}
- {{cite web | title=Aker Finnyards | url=http://www.akerfinnyards.com | accessdate=August 6, 2005 }}
- {{cite book | author=Tuurnala, Alpo | title=Harmaat laivat | location=Helsinki | publisher=Art-Print | year=2004 | isbn=952-9745-16-8}}
{{Active ships of the Finnish Navy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hameenmaa class minelayer}}
Category:Mine warfare vessel classes
Category:Minelayers of the Finnish Navy