FNS Uusimaa
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Class overview | |
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Name: | Hämeenmaa |
Operators: | Finnish Navy |
Preceded by: | Finnish minelayer Pohjanmaa |
Succeeded by: | - |
Completed: | 2 |
General characteristics | |
Type: | Minelayer |
Displacement: | 1,450 tons |
Length: | 77.8 m (255 ft) |
Beam: | 11.5 m (38 ft) |
Draught: | 3 m (9.8 ft) |
Propulsion: | 2 × Wärtsilä Vasa 16V22 diesel; 5,200 kW with 2 CW propellers |
Speed: | 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) |
Complement: | 60 |
Sensors and processing systems: |
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Electronic warfare & decoys: |
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Armament: |
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Notes: |
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The Hämeenmaa-class minelayers (Finnish: Hämeenmaa-luokan miinalaiva) is a two vessel strong class of minelayers, used by the Finnish Navy.
The ships have a steel hull and alloy superstructure. The class has an ice operating classification of ICE-1A and can operate year-round. The design included some first attempts on stealth technology in the Finnish Navy.
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.
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 didn't stop there. In early 1992 Hollming and Rauma Yards merged their shipbuilding industry to form a new company called Finnyards.
Both ships were modernized 2006–08. 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 Tuuli-class hovercraft including the Umkhonto missile system. Also a new fire control system Saab 9LV325E FCS, modern monitoring equipment including TRS3D-16ES 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 Pohjanmaa.
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 most likely be the most important ships for EU, having relatively wide selection of roles that they can assume, from light espionage- and minelayer ship to escort- and anti-submarine warfare ship, these two vehicles are practically perfect for monitoring Russia's Baltic fleet.