Helsinki class missile boat

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FNS Kotka
Class overview
Name:	Helsinki
Operators:	Finnish Navy, Croatian Navy
Preceded by:	Tuima class missile boats
Succeeded by:	Rauma class missile boats
Completed:	4
Active:	2
Laid up:	4
Retired:	2
General characteristics
Type:	Fast attack craft
Displacement:	300 tons
Length:	45 m
Beam:	8.8 m
Draught:	3 m
Propulsion:	3 × MTU 16V 538 TB92 diesels; 9,000 kW. 3 shafts.
Speed:	32 knots
Complement:	30
Sensors and processing systems:	Philips 9LV 225 fire control radar Saab EOS400 optical director 9GA 208 Surface search radar Raytheon ARPA Navigation radar Simrad SS304 hull mounted sonar Finnyards Sonac/PTA towed array sonar
Electronic warfare and decoys:	Philax chaff and IR flairs ESM: Argo Systems radar warning system 6× 103 mm rails for rocket illuminants
Armament:	1 × Bofors 57 mm/70 Mk1 2 × Sako twin-barreled 23 mm/87 (modified ZU-23-2) 8 × Saab RBS-15 SSM 2 × rails for depth charges
Notes:	Ships in class include: Helsinki (60) Turku (61) Oulu (62) Kotka (63)

The Helsinki class missile boats (Finnish: Helsinki-luokan ohjusvene) are a type of vessel which were in use by the Finnish Navy. They were the predecessors of the Rauma class missile boats. All the ships were constructed at the Wärtsilä yards in Helsinki, Finland.

The vessels were designed as fast attack crafts, but designated "missile boats" in the Finnish Navy, as to tone down their offensive capabilities. They were armed with up to eight RBS-15 SSMs, one dual-purpose Bofors 57 mm gun, 2 × 23 mm double-barreled anti-aircraft guns and two depth charge racks.

As planned during the late 1990s, the class was due to undergo a mid-life upgrade through 2006-2008 but this was rejected because of budget restrains, The ships have now been decommissioned and two of the vessels have been sold to the Croatian Navy for a symbolic price of €9 million (65 million kuna) due to the previous Croatian purchase of Patria AMV vehicles. The deal was signed on 17 July 2008 and the ships are to enter service in late 2008 after a basic refit.

All the ships of the Helsinki class had Pansio as their home port while serving in the Finnish Navy.

[edit] Vessels

FNS Helsinki

Pennant number: 60.

Builder: Wärtsilä.

Ordered: November 5, 1980.

Commissioned: September 1, 1981.

Current state: Decommissioned in 2002.

FNS Turku

Pennant number: 61.

Builder: Wärtsilä.

Ordered: January 13, 1983.

Commissioned: June 3, 1985.

Current state: Decommissioned in 2002.

FNS Oulu

Pennant number: 62.

Builder: Wärtsilä.

Ordered: January 13, 1983.

Commissioned: October 1, 1985.

Home base: Pansio.

Current state: Decomissioned in 2007. Awaiting delivery to Croatia.

FNS Kotka

Pennant number: 63.

Builder: Wärtsilä.

Ordered: January 13, 1983.

Commissioned: June 16, 1986.

Home base: Pansio.

Current state: Decomissioned in 2005. Awaiting delivery to Croatia.

[edit] References

• "Finnish Defence Forces". Retrieved on August 29, 2005.