Ruotsinsalmi-class minelayer
{{Short description|Finnish navy minelayer class}}
| {{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=Riilahti 18 June 1942.jpg |Ship caption=Riilahti }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Ruotsinsalmi class |Builders=Crichton-Vulcan, Turku |Operators={{navy|Finland}} |Class before= |Class after={{ship|Finnish minelayer|Keihässalmi | 2}}
|Subclasses= |Cost= |Built range= |In service range=1941–1975 |In commission range= |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed=2 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= |Total ships laid up= |Total ships lost=1 |Total ships retired=1 |Total ships preserved= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship type=Minelayer |Ship displacement={{cvt|310|t|LT|lk=on}} |Ship length={{cvt|50|m|ftin}} |Ship beam={{cvt|7.9|m|ftin}} |Ship draught={{cvt|1.5|m|ftin}} |Ship power= |Ship propulsion=2 × Rateau diesel, 2 props, {{cvt|1200|bhp|lk=on|order=flip}} |Ship speed={{convert|15|kn|lk=in}} |Ship range= |Ship endurance= |Ship complement=60 |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armament=* 1 × 75 mm 50 caliber Pattern 1892
|Ship armour= |Ship notes= }} |
The Ruotsinsalmi-class minelayers were a two-strong class of minelayers in the Finnish Navy. The two ships, comprising {{ship|Finnish minelayer|Ruotsinsalmi||2}} and {{ship|Finnish minelayer|Riilahti||2}},
were constructed in Finland and saw service in the Winter War and World War II. Riihahti was sunk in an engagement with Soviet motor torpedo boats on 23 August 1943. Ruotsinsalmi survived the wars and remained in service in the post war Finnish Navy until being withdrawn in the 1970s.{{efn|Moore{{sfn|Moore|1976|p=141}} and Westerlund & Chumbley{{sfn|Westerlund|Chumbley|1995|p=91}} claim the vessel was deleted in 1975 and Chesneau{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=365}} states the vessel was stricken in 1977.}}
Design and description
By the late-1930s, the Finnish Navy was focused on defence of the nation and the only ships under construction by Finland were the Ruotsinsalmi-class minelayers and assorted smaller craft. This was due to the majority of the defence budget being awarded to the Finnish Army.{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=363}} The Ruotsinsalmis measured {{convert|50|m|ftin}} long overall with a beam of {{cvt|7.9|m|ftin}} and a draught of {{cvt|1.5|m|ftin}}. They had a standard displacement of {{convert|310|t|LT|lk=on}}.{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=365}}{{efn|Couhat{{sfn|Couhat|1976|p=73}} has the standard displacement as {{cvt|270|t|LT}} and the full load displacement at 310 tonnes.}} The vessels were powered by two Rateau diesel engines turning two shafts creating {{convert|1200|bhp|lk=on|order=flip}} and giving the minelayers a maximum speed of {{convert|15|kn|lk=in}}. They had a complement of 60.{{sfn|Blackman|1969|p=87}}
The ships were armed with one 50-calibre 75 mm 50 caliber Pattern 1892, two Madsen 20 mm anti-aircraft cannon for anti-aircraft warfare. The vessels were also equipped with mine dropping rails, and could carry about 100 mines. Though not designed for anti-submarine warfare, the Ruotsinsalmi-class ships mounted two depth charge racks and two throwers.{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=365}}
Vessels of the class
| class="wikitable" | |
| colspan="6" align="center"| Ruotsinsalmi class construction data{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=365}}{{sfn|Blackman|1969|p=87}} | |
|---|---|
| scope="col"| Ship name
! scope="col"| Builder ! scope="col"| Laid down ! scope="col"| Launched ! scope="col"| Commissioned ! scope="col"| Fate | |
| scope="row"| {{ship|Finnish minelayer|Ruotsinsalmi | 2}}
| rowspan="2"| Crichton-Vulcan, Turku | rowspan="2"| 1938 | May 1940 | February 1941 | Deleted 1977 |
| scope="row"| {{ship|Finnish minelayer|Riilahti | 2}}
| 1940 | 1941 | Torpedoed and sunk, 23 August 1943 |
Construction and career
Both {{ship|Finnish minelayer|Riilahti||2}} and sister ship {{ship|Finnish minelayer|Ruotsinsalmi||2}} were laid down in 1938, launched in 1940 and completed in 1941.{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=365}} The minelayers were active in the Winter War and again in World War II both times engaged with the Soviet Union.{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=364}} In July 1943, Soviet forces attempted a breakout into the Baltic Sea from where the Finns had them blockaded via the Seeigel-Rukajärvi mine barrage. There were a number of naval encounters in the Soviet attempt and Riihahti was sunk on 23 August 1943 in a battle with Soviet motor torpedo boats.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|pp=224–225}}{{efn|Westerlund states that Riihahti was torpedoed by a submarine.{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=365}}}} Ruotsinsalmi survived the war and remained in the Finnish Navy even after the terms of the Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 that was signed following the end of World War II restricted the navy's operational capacities.{{sfn|Blackman|1969|p=86}} In the post war era, Ruotsinsalmi was rearmed with two {{cvt|40|mm|in}} guns and two 20 mm guns while retaining her minelaying capability.{{sfn|Couhat|1976|p=73}}{{sfn|Blackman|1969|p=87}} Moore{{sfn|Moore|1976|p=141}} and Westerlund & Chumbley{{sfn|Westerlund|Chumbley|1995|p=91}} claim the vessel was deleted in 1975 and Westerlund{{sfn|Westerlund|1980|p=365}} states the vessel was stricken in 1977.
Notes
{{notelist}}
Citations
{{reflist|30em}}
References
- {{cite book |editor-last=Blackman |editor-first=Raymond V. B. |year=1969 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1969–70 |publisher=McGraw-Hill Book Company |location=New York |oclc=30910135}}
- {{cite book |editor-last=Couhat |editor-first=Jean Labayle |year=1976 |title=Combat Fleets of the World 1976/77: Their Ships, Aircraft, and Armament |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-183-8}}
- {{cite book |editor-last=Moore |editor-first=John |year=1976 |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1976–77 |edition=79th |publisher=Franklin Watts Incorporated |location=New York |isbn=0-531-03261-2}}
- {{cite book |last=Rohwer |first=Jürgen |year=2005 |title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two |edition=Revised & Expanded |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-59114-119-2}}
- {{cite book |last=Westerlund |first=Karl-Erik |chapter=Finland |editor-last=Chesneau |editor-first=Roger |year=1980 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich, UK |isbn=0-85177-146-7 |pages=363–367}}
- {{cite book |last1=Westerlund |first1=Karl-Erik |last2=Chumbley |first2=Stephen C. |chapter=Finland |editor-last1=Gardiner |editor-first1=Robert |editor-last2=Chumbley |editor-first2=Stephen |editor-last3=Budzbon |editor-first3=Przemysław |name-list-style=amp |year=1995 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-132-7 |pages=91–94}}
{{WWII Finnish ships}}
Category:Mine warfare vessels of the Finnish Navy