Finnish motor torpedo boats of World War II

The Finnish Navy used several different types of motor torpedo boats during World War II. Four Soviet motor torpedo boats were captured and commissioned by the Finnish Navy during the World War II. One of these was of larger D-3 class while three others belonged to G-5 class.

Sisu-class motor torpedo boats

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Name Built Fate
Sisu 1916 Converted to patrol boat 1941. Stricken from navy lists 1942–1945
Hurja 1916 Stricken from navy lists 1940 due wear and tear

Isku-class motor torpedo boat

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Name Built Fate
Isku 1926 Stricken from navy lists 1942 due to wear and tear

Syöksy-class motor torpedo boats

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Name Translation Built Fate
Syöksy 1928 Converted to patrol boat 1943. Stricken from navy lists 1944
Nuoli 1928 Converted to patrol boat 1943. Stricken from navy lists 1943–1945
Vinha 1929 Converted to patrol boat 1943. Stricken from navy lists 1945
Raju 1929 Lost on 16 May 1943 due collision with underwater boom obstacle

Hurja-class motor torpedo boats

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Name Built In Finnish use Fate
H 1 Hyöky 1941 1943-1963 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 2 Hirmu 1941 1943-1963 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 3 Hurja 1941 1943-1963 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 4 Hyrsky 1941 1943-1963 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.
H 5 Häijy 1941 1943-1963 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1963.

Jymy-class motor torpedo boats

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[1] Name Built In Finnish Navy Fate
J 1 Jylhä 1939 1943-1961 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.
J 2 Jyry 1939 1943-1961 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.
J 3 Jyske 1939 1943-1961 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.
J 4 Jymy 1939 1943-1961 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1961.

Taisto-class motor torpedo boats

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Name Built In Finnish Navy Fate
T 1 Tarmo 1943 1943-1944 Lost 21 June 1944 in air attack.
T 2 Taisto 1943 1943-1962 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1962.
T 3 Tyrsky 1943 1943-1964 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Preserved at the Turku Maritime Museum .
T 4 Tuima 1943 1943-1964 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1964.
T 5 Tuisku 1943 1943-1964 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1964.
T 6 Tuuli 1943 1943-1977 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Rebuilt for water jets 1977. Stricken from the lists 1979.
T 7 Taisto 7 1946 1946-1965 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1965.
T 8 Taisto 8 1946 1946-1965 Converted to fast patrol boat 1949. Stricken from the lists 1965.

Captured D3-class motor torpedo boat

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General characteristics
Class and typeD-3
TypeMotor torpedo boat
Displacement35 tons
Length21.7 m (71 ft)
Beam3.9 m (13 ft)
Draught0.8 m (2 ft 7 in)
Speed34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)
Complement11
Armament
  • 2 × 450 mm torpedoes
  • 1 × 20 mm/60 Madsen
  • 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns
  • Later:
  • 1 × 40 mm/60 Bofors
  • 1 × 20 mm/60 Madsen
  • 2 × 12.7 mm machine guns
  • 4 × depth charges

Finnish ship of the class

[edit]
  • Vasama

Vasama: Ex-TK 52 in Soviet service. She was a Soviet D 3 type motor torpedo boat. She was found sunk at Borstö in October 1941, having run aground in a storm. She probably had tried to escape the German attack on Hiiumaa and Saaremaa. She was used as a torpedo boat in 1943, and changed into a patrol boat in 1943. Returned to Soviet Union after the Continuation War.

Captured G-5-class motor torpedo boats

[edit]
General characteristics
Class and typeG-5
TypeMotor torpedo boat
Displacement16 tons
Length19.3 m (63 ft)
Beam3.4 m (11 ft)
Draught0.7 m (2 ft 4 in)
Speed50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph)
Complement9
Armament
  • 2 × 530 mm torpedoes
  • 1 × 12.7 mm machine gun
  • 2 × depth charges

Finnish ships of the class

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  • Vihuri
  • Viima
  • V-3

All G-5 class motor torpedo boats were returned to Soviet Union after the Continuation War.

Vihuri
Also known as V 1 in Finnish service and ex-TK 141 in Soviet service. She was found abandoned at Koivisto in 1941, but she wasn't taken into use until 1943. The Soviet G-5 class motor torpedo boat released its torpedoes by dropping them from rails in the aft. The ship then had to steer away from the torpedoes path, a maneuver that could be quite tricky in the close waters of the Gulf of Finland. Vihuri participated in the attack on the harbour of Lavansaari on November 18, 1942, where Syöksy managed to torpedo the Soviet gunboat Krasnoye Znamya (1,760 tons), which sunk.
Viima
Also known as V 2 in Finnish service, ex-TK 64 in Soviet service. The Viima was a Soviet G 5 type motor torpedo boat, built in aluminum. She was found abandoned at Koivisto in 1941, but she wasn't taken into use until 1943.
V 3
Ex-TK 51 in Soviet service. She was captured at the Bay of Vyborg in June 1944.

Citations

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  1. ^ Westerlund & Chumbley, p. 91

Bibliography

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  • Karl-Eric, Westerlund & Chumbley, Stephen (1995). "Finland". In Chumbley, Stephen (ed.). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1947–1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 91–94. ISBN 1-55750-132-7.