Finnish minelayer Pohjanmaa

The Pohjanmaa class minelayer (Finnish: "Pohjanmaa"-luokan miinalaiva) is a minelayer in use by the Finnish Navy.

There is currently only one Pohjanmaa class vessel in service in the Finnish Navy. She is the flagship of the navy. The ship has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A so she can operate all year round.

During a crisis the main task for Pohjanmaa is mine laying and acting as a command ship. She also acts as a school ship for the Naval Academy cadets. Part of their training includes an annual cruise abroad.

History

The Pohjanmaa was built in 1978 at the Wärtsilä dock Helsinki, Finland. She was christened on June 8, 1979 by Aili Haapkylä. The name comes from the old Sweden-Finland "Pojama" class of galleys built in the 1770s. See Pohjanmaa for other uses of the name.

The "Pohjanmaa" first served as a school ship for the Naval Academy until 1992 when she was transferred to the Gulf of Finland Navy (Now called Gulf of Finland Naval Command). When she was completed it replaced the minelayer "Ruotsinsalmi" and as a school ship the "Matti Kurki". On May 10, 1982, she was given the traditional shield of ocean faring vessels previously held by "Suomen Joutsen", so in effect Pohjanmaa continues the tradition of the three ships. The ship underwent a heavy modernization program in 1996-1998, which included a replacing its 120mm main gun with a more modern Bofors 57 mm antiaircraft gun.

The annual training cruise for the cadets has taken the ship as far as Belém, Brazil.

On June 28, 2005 as part of their cruise, the "Pohjanmaa" participated in the International Fleet Review which is a part of the "Trafalgar 200" celebrations.

In 2007 the ship has been refitted (as well as the Hämeenmaa -class) and colour scheme changed from camouflage to light grey. Its second aft gun was also removed from the aft deck due to narrow shooting sectors, which were even further narrowed due to a new bigger hydraulic crane of a new seaboat.

Vessels

;FNS "Pohjanmaa":Pennant number: 01.:Builder: Wärtsilä.:Ordered: 1977.:Laid down: 4 May, 1978.:Launched: 28 August, 1978.:Commissioned: 8 June, 1979.:Home base: Upinniemi.:Current status: Active.

References

[http://www.mil.fi Finnish Defence Forces] "Website of The Finnish Defence Forces"